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Writing lesson · Sentence and paragraph craft
Linking Words: Connect Your Ideas With Transitions
Use linking words for time order, adding ideas, cause and effect, and contrast. Choose between words like however and so, then revise a choppy paragraph.
The idea
In the last lesson, you built a paragraph from a topic sentence, supporting details and a closing sentence. Now you will glue those sentences together. Linking words, also called transition words, show the reader how one idea connects to the next.
Every linking word has a job. Time-order words show the order things happen: first, next, after that, then, finally. Adding words bring in one more idea of the same kind: also, in addition, another. Cause-and-effect words show that one thing makes another happen: because, so, as a result. Contrast words show a surprise or a change of direction: but, however.
Before you choose a linking word, ask what the two ideas are doing. Do they happen one after the other? Does the second add to the first? Does the first cause the second? Or does the second go against what the reader expects? "It was raining, so we stayed inside" is cause and effect. "It was raining. However, the game went ahead" is a contrast. Swap the words and the sentences stop making sense.
Watch the direction of because and so. Because comes before the cause: "We wore mittens because it was cold." So comes before the effect: "It was cold, so we wore mittens." When a word such as However or As a result starts a sentence, put a comma after it. Use linking words where they help; a paragraph where every sentence starts with one can sound like a list. The garden paragraphs below are an invented example.
See the difference
A first attempt
Our class planted garlic in the school garden. We loosened the soil. We pushed each clove into the ground. The wind was cold. Nobody wanted to stop. Garlic needs a cold winter. It is planted in the fall. We covered the bed with straw. We made a sign. We watered the bed. We have to wait until summer.
Our class planted garlic in the school garden last week. First, we loosened the soil with small shovels. Next, we pushed each clove into the ground with the pointy end up. The wind was cold. However, nobody wanted to stop. Garlic needs a long, cold winter to grow big bulbs, so it is planted in the fall. After that, we covered the bed with straw. In addition, we made a sign so no one would step on it. Finally, we watered the bed, and now we have to wait until next summer to dig up the bulbs.
Why this works: Both versions (an invented example) tell the same facts, but the first is a string of short sentences that all sound equally important, so the reader has to guess how they connect. The clearer version uses First, Next, After that and Finally to show the order of the steps. However shows that the cold wind did not stop the class, which is a surprise. So shows that the cold winter is the reason garlic goes in the ground in fall, and In addition adds one more job of the same kind. Each linking word tells the reader what kind of connection to expect.
Worked examples
Example 1 · Name the job
"Pumpkins grow on long vines. In addition, their flowers are bright yellow." What job does In addition do?
- Read both ideas: pumpkins grow on vines; their flowers are yellow.
- Ask: does the second idea happen later, cause something, or go against the first? None of these.
- It is one more fact about pumpkins, so the job is adding.
In addition adds another idea of the same kind.
Example 2 · However or so?
"The path through the ravine was muddy. ___, we finished the whole hike." Choose However or So.
- Would mud usually make a hike easier to finish? No. It would make you expect people to turn back.
- The second idea goes against what the reader expects, so the job is contrast.
- So would mean the mud caused them to finish, which does not make sense.
However, we finished the whole hike.
Example 3 · Because or so?
Join these with because, then with so: "The ice on the pond is thin." "We cannot skate on it."
- Find the cause (thin ice) and the effect (no skating).
- Because goes right before the cause: We cannot skate on the pond because the ice is thin.
- So goes right before the effect: The ice on the pond is thin, so we cannot skate on it.
Both sentences are correct. Because points to the cause; so points to the effect.
Example 4 · Replace "and then"
Revise: "We got to the library and then we found the graphic novels and then we signed out three books and then we walked home."
- Notice that and then repeats three times, so every step sounds the same.
- Split the long sentence into steps.
- Use different time-order words for the middle and the last step.
We got to the library. First, we found the graphic novels. After that, we signed out three books. Finally, we walked home.
Common mistakes
Why this fails: "I studied hard, so I forgot my pencil" says studying caused the forgetting. The ideas go against each other, so a contrast word fits: "I studied hard, but I forgot my pencil."
Why this fails: "It was cold because we wore mittens" says the mittens caused the cold. Because goes before the cause; so goes before the effect.
Why this fails: However promises a surprise. "The park has swings. However, it has a slide" has no surprise, so use also or in addition.
Why this fails: Too many linking words, or the same one again and again, make writing sound like a list. Use them where the connection is not already obvious.
Foundation
Foundation practice
Name the job each linking word does and choose a time-order word.
1. "Our school has a big field. In addition, it has a new climber." What job does In addition do?
- Adds another idea
- Shows time order
- Shows a contrast
- Shows cause and effect
2. "The movie was long. However, nobody fell asleep." What job does However do?
- Adds another idea
- Shows time order
- Shows cause and effect
- Shows a contrast
3. "The power went out. As a result, the clocks were blinking." What job does As a result do?
- Adds another idea
- Shows cause and effect
- Shows time order
- Shows a contrast
4. Which word shows the last step? "___, put the lid on the jar."
- First
- However
- Finally
- Because
5. "I practised my spelling words every night, so I felt ready for the quiz." Does so fit?
- It fits
- It does not fit
Practice
Practice practice
Choose between linking words that are easy to mix up, and fix one that is wrong.
6. "It was pouring rain. ___, the soccer game went ahead."
- So
- As a result
- However
- Also
7. "The bus was twenty minutes late. ___, we missed the start of the assembly."
- However
- As a result
- In addition
- First
8. "We wore our warmest mittens ___ the wind was freezing."
- because
- so
- however
- finally
9. "Maple trees give us maple syrup. ___, their hard wood is used to make floors and furniture."
- However
- As a result
- Finally
- In addition
10. Rewrite with a linking word that fits: "I was excited to go skating on Saturday. So, the rink was closed for repairs."
11. Which set of linking words fits these steps for making toast? "___, put the bread in the toaster. ___, wait for it to pop up. ___, spread on the butter."
- First, Next, Finally
- Finally, Next, First
- However, Also, So
- Because, In addition, As a result
Think
Think practice
Explain your choices and revise a choppy paragraph.
12. A writer wrote: "The public library has thousands of books. However, it also has computers you can use." Why is However the wrong choice? What would fit better?
13. Which sentence uses but correctly?
- I love apples, but I eat one every day.
- It was cold outside, but I wore a hat.
- We planted seeds, but they grew into sunflowers.
- The trail was muddy, but we finished the hike.
14. Combine these two sentences with because: "The leaves are falling." "The days are getting shorter and colder."
15. Revise this choppy paragraph with at least three different linking words: "We made a scarecrow for the class garden. We stuffed old clothes with straw. We tied on a pumpkin head. It was windy. It stayed standing. Everyone wanted a photo."
Your turn to write
Write one paragraph of six to eight sentences about something you did or made in a few steps: a recipe, a craft, a garden job, a game you set up, or a trip to a park or library. Start with a topic sentence. Use at least four linking words, and include at least one from each group: time order, adding, cause and effect, and contrast.
Helpful sentence starters
- First, ...
- Next, ... / After that, ...
- In addition, ... / We also ...
- ..., so ... / ... because ...
- However, ... / ..., but ...
- Finally, ...
Write in a notebook or a document. The model and checklist are available without signing in.
Check and improve
- My paragraph starts with a topic sentence.
- I used at least four linking words, with at least one from each group: time order, adding, cause and effect, and contrast.
- Each linking word matches its job: so and as a result show an effect, but and however show a surprise or change.
- I checked the direction of because and so: because comes before the cause, so comes before the effect.
- I did not start every sentence with a linking word or repeat and then.
This checklist is for parent-and-child self-review. No automatic writing score is assigned.
Answer key
- 1. Adds another idea
It adds one more good thing about the school. Nothing happens in order, nothing causes anything, and the second idea does not go against the first. - 2. Shows a contrast
You might expect people to fall asleep during a long movie, but they did not. However signals that surprise. It does not add a similar idea or show that the length caused anything. - 3. Shows cause and effect
The power outage caused the blinking clocks. As a result can sound like it comes later in time, but its real job is to show an effect, not a step in a list. - 4. Finally
Finally marks the last step. First marks the beginning, However shows a contrast, and Because needs a reason after it. - 5. It fits
Practising caused the ready feeling, and so comes right before that effect. - 6. However
Rain would make you expect the game to be cancelled, so the second idea is a surprise. So and As a result would mean the rain caused the game to go ahead, and Also would treat the two ideas as the same kind. - 7. As a result
The late bus caused the missed start, so this is cause and effect. However would signal a surprise, In addition would add an unrelated fact, and First would start a list of steps. - 8. because
The freezing wind is the cause, and because comes right before the cause. So would point to an effect, giving "we wore mittens so the wind was freezing," which gets the cause and effect backwards. - 9. In addition
The second sentence is one more use of maple trees, so it adds an idea. However would mean the second fact goes against the first, As a result would mean syrup causes furniture, and Finally suggests the last step in a process. - 10. Example: I was excited to go skating on Saturday. However, the rink was closed for repairs.
Being excited did not cause the rink to close. The closure goes against what the writer hoped for, so a contrast word such as However or But fits. - 11. First, Next, Finally
The steps happen in order, so they need time-order words from beginning to end. The second choice runs backwards, and the other two use words that show contrast, adding or cause, not steps. - 12. Both sentences give good things about the library, so there is no surprise or contrast. Use an adding word: In addition, it has computers you can use.
However promises that the next idea goes against the first. When two ideas point the same way, use an adding word. - 13. The trail was muddy, but we finished the hike.
Mud makes finishing harder, so finishing anyway is a contrast. Eating apples every day and seeds growing into sunflowers are what you would expect, and wearing a hat is an effect of the cold, so so fits there instead of but. - 14. The leaves are falling because the days are getting shorter and colder.
Because goes right before the cause. The shorter, colder days are the cause, and the falling leaves are the effect. - 15. Example: We made a scarecrow for the class garden. First, we stuffed old clothes with straw. Next, we tied on a pumpkin head. It was very windy. However, the scarecrow stayed standing. As a result, everyone wanted a photo with it.
Check each linking word against its job: First and Next for steps, However for the surprise that it stayed up in the wind, As a result for the effect.