The goal of the cause-and-effect essay is to identify how distinct events are connected to one another. The thesis expresses the writer's viewpoint on the primary cause, primary effect, or numerous causes and consequences of a condition or occurrence. It may be a simple statement of fact or it may be a full-blown argument. In order to develop an understanding of the cause-and-effect structure, it helps to understand what it is not. A good cause-and-effect essay does not bely opinion, nor does it offer a judgment about the facts at hand. It simply states the relationship between two things - whether they be events, objects, people, or ideas - without expressing an opinion about them. Furthermore, a good cause-and-effect essay does not contain random information. Even if you were to leave out all of the details that do not pertain to the topic at hand, there still would be a clear indication as to what evidence supports what claim or assertion. Random facts or anecdotes are irrelevant to the essay's message. Finally, a good cause-and-effect essay does not rely solely on statistical data. While numbers can help to support a point, they are not necessary for success.