Connective
Confusion!
Once again, last year’s
SATs writing papers
revealed some more
connective howlers.
Children all over the
county were choosing
ambitious, but misguided,
connectives recalled from
their working walls and
word banks.
We encourage children to take risks, and
we want them to widen their vocabulary
for precision, clarity and effect. However,
this can go horribly wrong when choices
are random rather than considered.
Sometimes, less is more. A simple
connective is always better than a
wrongly used sophisticated one. e.g.
‘Phenomenally, the boy looked at the
floor.’ ‘Moreover, it was busy with people
rushing about getting their shopping,’
It is therefore crucial to make sure that
children understand the functions of
different connectives and the way in which
their connective choice affects meaning.
Remember too, the creative connectives
on our Table Top Tips 3 available for
download from www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/
nationalstrategy/literacy.
Below is a chart that we published in a
previous newsletter. It is by no means
a definitive list but we repeat it here in
response to what we have seen in some
children’s writing over the past year.
Choices
Time
Compare and contrast
Function:
Words/phrases that
signal the passing of
time
Function:
Words/phrases that signal
or link choice and are used
instead of ‘or’.
On the other hand
Either/or
Another
Otherwise
Another possibility
Alternatively
Linking
Just
Then
While
Meanwhile
As
Before
In due course
In the end
After that
Later
Finally
Before
In the beginning
Until then
Up to that time
In the meantime
Simultaneously
Function:
Words/phrases that signal or link
choice and are used instead of
‘however’ ‘likewise’
Similarly
Although
Otherwise
But
Yet
On the other hand
The opposing view
Cause and effect
Order
Function:
Words/phrases that signal
addition and are used instead
of ‘and’ ‘also’.
Moreover
Besides and further
In the same way
Likewise
What is more
Additionally
Too
As well as
Function:
Words/phrases that signal or link
chronology and are used instead of
‘and then’
Finally
After this
Next
First, second
Presently
Subsequently
Eventually
Function:
Words/phrases that signal or link
causes and are used instead of ‘because’
Then
Therefore
Accordingly
Consequently
For
If
So
Unless
Because