At B1, students start writing paragraphs instead of sentences — and suddenly their writing reads like a list. The missing piece is almost always linking words. The good news is that a small set of linkers, taught by function and with clear punctuation rules, transforms their writing quickly.
1. Show the problem before the solution
Give students a short paragraph with every linker removed: "The hotel was cheap. It was very clean. We didn't like the area. We moved to another hotel." Ask why it feels strange. Then show the linked version: "Although the hotel was cheap, it was very clean. However, we didn't like the area, so we moved." Students see immediately that linkers aren't decoration — they show the logic between ideas.
2. Teach by function, not as a list
Build a four-column chart on the board and keep it up all unit: reason (because), result (so, therefore), contrast (but, although, however) and comparison (while, whereas). When a student chooses the wrong linker, ask which column the idea belongs to. That question fixes most meaning errors on its own.
3. Make punctuation part of the meaning
The biggest difference between B1 and A2 writing is where linkers go in the sentence, and that is a punctuation issue:
- because, so, although, while, whereas join two clauses inside one sentence: "It was late, so we took a taxi."
- However and Therefore usually start a new sentence and take a comma: "It was expensive. However, we bought it."
- Although already contains the contrast, so it never needs but: "Although he was tired, he finished."
Error correction with these three rules is one of the most effective B1 writing activities you can run.
4. Finish with a paragraph, not sentences
Linkers only make sense in connected writing. Close the unit with a balanced opinion paragraph — a topic sentence, an argument for, an argument against, and a conclusion — where students must use at least five different linkers from the chart.
Common mistakes and how to catch them
- "However" as a conjunction: "It was cold, however we went out." → a full stop (or semicolon) before However,.
- "Although … but": double contrast. Delete but.
- "Because of" + clause: "because of she was late" → because she was late (because of + noun).
- Reason and result reversed: "We stayed inside so it was raining." Ask which column the idea belongs to.
A 45-minute lesson shape that works
- 5 min — Warm-up: the paragraph without linkers.
- 10 min — Sort linkers by function.
- 10 min — Punctuation: inside the sentence vs. starting a new one.
- 10 min — Join sentences and correct errors.
- 10 min — A balanced opinion paragraph.
Free worksheets for this lesson
- Linking Words and Paragraph Cohesion – Grammar — function, joining and punctuation.
- Linking Words and Paragraph Cohesion – Reading — an article on online learning, analysed for linkers.
- Linking Words and Paragraph Cohesion – Practice — extra practice and error correction.
- Linking Words and Paragraph Cohesion – Writing — planning and writing a balanced opinion paragraph.
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