Organising ideas and linking devices
IntroducedPlan, then write
- Spend one minute on a plan before you write.
- Note your main ideas and put them in order.
- A plan stops you forgetting a point or repeating yourself.
A plan takes a minute; rewriting the whole essay can take lunch.
Practice
Put the writing steps in order.
Plan, order, write, then check.
One idea per paragraph
- Put each main idea in its own paragraph.
- Start a new paragraph for a new idea.
- This makes your writing clear and easy to follow.
A one-minute plan becomes your paragraphs: one idea each, joined by linking words
Explore
Build a paragraph, rung by rung
A strong paragraph states the idea, explains it, proves it, then hands over to the next one.
Practice
Each paragraph should contain…
One main idea per paragraph keeps it clear.
Link your ideas
- Use linking words to join ideas smoothly.
- Adding: in addition, also. Contrast: however, although. Result: so, therefore.
- Linking words guide the reader through your writing.
Practice
Choose a result word: 'It rained, ___ we stayed inside.'
'So' shows the result of the rain.
Practice
Write two short sentences joined with the word 'however'.
Example: 'I wanted to go out. However, it was raining.'
Practice
Which TWO of these are contrast linkers?
'although' and 'however' turn the idea around; 'also' adds, 'therefore' concludes.
Watch a paragraph grow
- Topic sentence: "School trips teach more than classrooms sometimes can."
- Explain it: "As well as being fun, they make students plan, budget and work as a team."
- Example: "On our trip to Xi'an, my group managed the whole train timetable."
- Link forward: "However, trips only work when…" — the reader glides into your next paragraph.
Key idea
- Plan and order your ideas first.
- One main idea per paragraph.
- Linking words join your ideas smoothly.