How do I make a cause and effect graphic organizer?

Type your event, story, or text into the prompt box, choose a layout (single cause to many effects, many causes to one effect, a chain, or a two-column chart), pick a style, then click Generate. Figviz produces a print-ready cause and effect organizer. Refine the description and regenerate until it fits your lesson.

What layouts can I choose from?

Figviz can create single cause to multiple effects, multiple causes to a single effect, a cause-effect chain (domino sequence), and a simple two-column cause and effect chart. Just describe the layout you want in your prompt and the AI will build it.

Can I get a cause and effect graphic organizer pdf?

Yes. Generate your organizer, download the high-resolution image, and drop it into a document or print it directly to create a cause and effect graphic organizer pdf for your class. You can also generate a blank version with empty boxes and ruled lines for students to fill in.

Is the cause and effect organizer generator free?

Yes. Every Figviz account starts with free credits you can use right away, no credit card required. A pay-as-you-go credit pack removes the watermark and unlocks 4K export resolution for large printing. Credits never expire.

Is this the same as a fishbone diagram?

No. This generator makes the reading and writing style cause and effect organizer used in classrooms, with boxes and arrows linking causes to effects. A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram is a business and quality-management tool for root-cause analysis. If you need the business version, try the Fishbone Diagram Generator instead.

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Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer Generator Cause and Effect

Describe any event, story, or text and get a clear cause and effect graphic organizer in seconds. Single cause to many effects, many causes to one effect, cause-effect chains, and simple two-column charts. Print or share digitally.

Last updated: 2026-06-21

✓Reading comprehension and writing topics✓Single cause, multiple cause, chain, and two-column layouts✓Classic, colorful and minimal styles✓Free for teachers and students

Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer Generator

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Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer Examples

Browse cause and effect organizers made with Figviz, or generate your own above

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Single Cause, Multiple Effects

A layout with one cause on the left connected by arrows to several effect boxes, ideal for showing the ripple effects of a single event.

readingsingle causecomprehension

Multiple Causes, Single Effect

Several cause boxes on the left feed arrows into a single effect box on the right, perfect for analyzing why one outcome happened.

readingmultiple causesanalysis

Cause and Effect Chain

A domino-style chain where each event causes the next, showing how one action triggers a sequence of effects across linked boxes.

writingchainsequence

Two-Column Cause and Effect Chart

A simple two-column chart with a Cause heading on the left and an Effect heading on the right, with rows for pairing each cause with its effect.

templatecharttwo-column

Blank Cause and Effect Template

A clean blank cause and effect template with empty cause and effect boxes and ruled lines, ready to print and fill in by hand or annotate digitally.

templateblankprintable

Reading Comprehension Example

A worked reading comprehension example showing how a cause from a short story leads to its effect, with example sentences in each box.

readingELAexample

What is a cause and effect graphic organizer?

A cause and effect graphic organizer is a visual chart that helps students see how one event (the cause) leads to another (the effect). It is one of the most common reading comprehension tools in the elementary and middle school classroom, used to break down stories, history, science processes, and real-life situations. By placing causes and effects in labeled boxes connected by arrows, students can clearly trace why something happened and what resulted from it. Figviz turns a short description into a finished, printable organizer in seconds, with no markers, templates, or design skills needed.

How to make a cause and effect graphic organizer with Figviz

Pick your topic: type in the event, story, or text you want to analyze, for example why the dinosaurs went extinct or the plot of a story you are reading.

Choose a layout: decide whether you need a single cause with multiple effects, multiple causes with one effect, a cause-effect chain, or a simple two-column chart.

Add detail: mention the grade level and any specific causes or effects you want included so the chart matches your lesson.

Pick a style: Classic keeps things simple, Colorful uses bright color-coded boxes, and Minimal works well for clean digital displays.

Choose an orientation: portrait (3:4) suits a worksheet or wall display, landscape (4:3) fits a projector or chain layout, and square (1:1) exports cleanly for digital platforms.

Generate and download: click Generate, refine the description if needed, then export at 4K resolution for crisp printing or sharing.

Types of cause and effect layouts

Single cause to multiple effects: one cause box connects to several effect boxes, ideal for showing the many results of a single event such as a drought or a new law.

Multiple causes to single effect: several cause boxes feed into one effect box, perfect for analyzing why one outcome happened, such as the reasons behind a character decision.

Cause and effect chain: a domino-style sequence where each event causes the next, useful for plot summaries and step-by-step processes like the water cycle.

Two-column cause and effect chart: a simple table with a Cause column and an Effect column, great for quick matching practice and reading checks.

Classroom and reading uses

Cause and effect organizers support reading comprehension across fiction and nonfiction. In ELA, students use them to map plot events, explain character motivation, and analyze how one part of a story drives the next. In science, they trace processes such as photosynthesis, the water cycle, or how pollution affects ecosystems. In social studies, they break down historical events, showing the causes and consequences of wars, migrations, and inventions. Teachers also use them as writing scaffolds: once students fill in causes and effects, the chart becomes an outline for an explanatory paragraph or essay. Because the same structure works at every grade level, a cause and effect organizer is a reliable go-to for guided reading, independent work, and assessment.

Can I get a blank cause and effect template?

Yes. To generate a blank cause and effect graphic organizer template, describe the structure you want, for example "a blank cause and effect chart with one cause box, an arrow, and one effect box with ruled lines." Figviz will draw the layout with empty boxes and writing lines you can print and fill in by hand, or annotate digitally in any PDF editor. Many teachers search for a cause and effect graphic organizer pdf to hand out; with Figviz you simply download the image and drop it into a document or print it directly. Blank templates are especially useful for co-creating charts with students during a lesson.

Frequently asked questions

A cause and effect graphic organizer is a visual chart that shows how one event (the cause) leads to another (the effect). Students use it for reading comprehension, writing, science, and social studies. With Figviz, you describe your topic and the AI designs a clear, labeled organizer with arrows connecting causes to effects in seconds.

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