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Ignition Learning — Activity Sheet

Cohesion & connectives

English · Year 8

Name: ______________________Date: ____________

Cohesion is what makes a text read as one connected piece of writing rather than a list of disconnected sentences. Connectives are one of the main tools for this: "however" signals a contrast, "therefore" signals cause and effect, "meanwhile" signals something happening at the same time, and "in addition" signals an extra point being added.

Example

"The team trained hard all season. However, they lost the final. Meanwhile, their rivals celebrated their first title. Therefore, next season's training plan has already changed."

Key terms

Cohesion:: How ideas link together to make a text feel connected.
Connective:: A word or phrase that shows the relationship between ideas.

Questions

1. 'However' is used to show:
- Addition
- Contrast
- Time
- Cause
2. 'Therefore' is used to show:
- Contrast
- Cause and effect
- Time
- An example
3. 'And' is a simple word used to:
- Add information
- Show contrast
- Ask a question
- Show time
4. 'Meanwhile' is mainly used to show:
- Contrast
- Time happening at once
- Cause
- A result
5. 'For example' is used to:
- Show contrast
- Give an example
- Ask a question
- Show a result
6. 'In addition' means:
- As well as
- Instead of
- Because of
- Despite
7. 'But' is used to show:
- Addition
- Contrast
- Time
- A result
8. "However" signals:
- Addition
- Contrast
- Cause
- Time
9. "Therefore" signals:
- Contrast
- Cause and effect
- Sequence
- Example
10. "In addition" signals:
- Contrast
- An extra point
- A result
- A time change
11. "Meanwhile" mainly signals:
- Contrast
- Simultaneous time
- Cause
- Conclusion
12. 'Firstly, secondly, finally' are connectives used to show:
- Contrast
- Sequence/order
- Cause
- Addition
13. 'As a result' signals:
- Contrast
- Cause and effect
- Time
- An example
14. 'Despite this' signals:
- Addition
- Contrast
- Cause
- Sequence
15. Read: 'She studied hard. However, she was still nervous. Therefore, she practised her breathing before the exam.' The word 'therefore' links which two ideas?
- Studying and being nervous
- Being nervous and practising breathing
- Studying and the exam
- None of these
16. Without any connectives, a paragraph tends to:
- Flow more smoothly
- Feel disconnected and choppy
- Automatically become persuasive
- Become shorter
17. Which connective best links 'It was raining' and 'we cancelled the picnic'?
- Meanwhile
- So
- In addition
- Although
18. Which connective best links 'He trained every day' and 'he was still nervous before the race'?
- Therefore
- Despite this
- Meanwhile
- For example
19. A paragraph that overuses 'and... and... and...' instead of varied connectives can feel:
- Highly sophisticated
- Repetitive and simplistic
- Perfectly cohesive
- Impossible to write
20. Choosing the right connective mainly helps a reader understand:
- The page number
- The relationship between ideas
- The font
- The writer's age
21. 'On the other hand' is closest in meaning to:
- Therefore
- However
- Meanwhile
- In addition

Answer key (parent copy)

1. Contrast
2. Cause and effect
3. Add information
4. Time happening at once
5. Give an example
6. As well as
7. Contrast
8. Contrast
9. Cause and effect
10. An extra point
11. Simultaneous time
12. Sequence/order
13. Cause and effect
14. Contrast
15. Being nervous and practising breathing
16. Feel disconnected and choppy
17. So
18. Despite this
19. Repetitive and simplistic
20. The relationship between ideas
21. However