How Events Connect: Story Cause and Effect

Events in a story are linked; one event causes the next.

Stories aren't just lists of events. Each event usually causes the next, making a chain of cause and effect. Explaining these links is a big part of retelling well. Use connecting words like because, so, as a result, and that's why. Look at this chain: Ava forgot to close the gate, so the goats escaped. Because the goats escaped, they ate Mr. Chen's vegetable garden.

As a result, Ava offered to help replant it. While working together, she and Mr. Chen became friends. Each event is both an effect of the one before and a cause of the one after. If you retell it as 'The goats escaped. Ava helped Mr. Chen,' listeners miss why. When you summarize, link your events with cause-and-effect words to show how the story fits together.

• 1Story events are linked by cause and effect.
• 2Each event can be both an effect and a cause.
• 3Use words like because, so, and as a result.