The Cause or Effect essays below are written by first semester Mexican university students, all non-native speakers of English, and all with TOEFL scores of 550 or more.  I'd like to give a hearty "thanks" to these students, first, for being such great students, second, for writing such great essays and, third, for allowing me to publish them here.

Effects of Being an Athlete by Benjamin Centurión
Causes of Poverty in Mexico by Daniel Loret de la Mola
Effects of Entering a University by Jessica Hernandez
The Effects of Alcoholism by Cynthia Sámano
The Effects of Being a Foreign Student by Manuel Gutierrez
Standing Up Your Girlfriend on a Date by Manuel Gomez
Effects of Cigarette Smoking by Regina Garcia 
Causes of Anorexia by Martha Miguel
The Effects of Exercise by Leonardo Olaes
Effects of Living in a Foreign Country by Anonymous
Effects of Overpopulation in Mexico by Luisa

The common denominator to all these essays is good organization. When writers state the organization of their essays as clearly as these students did in these essays, the essay is both easier for the writers to write and for the readers to read. In addition, readers can readily see that these writers have something specific to say.

HOME