Informational Writing: Using Linking Words

Active learning works for this topic because students need to practice matching logical relationships with precise language. Transitions feel abstract until students test them in real sentences and paragraphs, where misfires become visible and correctable.

• 6th Grade
• English Language Arts
• 4 activities
• 15 min–25 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze pairs of sentences to identify the logical relationship (e.g., cause/effect, comparison, sequence) signaled by a given linking word.
2. Compare the meaning and impact of different linking words (e.g., 'however' vs. 'therefore') when substituted into a sentence.
3. Create original sentences that effectively connect two related ideas using a specific type of linking word (e.g., addition, contrast).
4. Evaluate the coherence of a paragraph by identifying instances where linking words clarify or obscure the relationship between ideas.

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Transition Tournament

Pairs receive pairs of sentences where the relationship is clear from context but the transition has been removed. Each pair chooses the most precise transition from a provided bank and explains why their choice is better than the alternatives. Pairs share choices and reasoning with the class.

Prepare & details

How do linking words improve the flow and coherence of an informational essay?

Facilitation Tip: During Transition Tournament, have students justify their word choices aloud to reinforce the habit of naming relationships before selecting transitions.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 25 min·Small Groups

Flow Check: Read-Aloud Pass

Students read their informational paragraphs aloud to their group. Listeners raise a hand whenever a transition feels missing or wrong. The writer marks those spots and revises with the group's help, then re-reads after revision to confirm the improvement.

Prepare & details

Differentiate between transition words used for comparison and those used for cause/effect.

Facilitation Tip: During Flow Check, model pausing to ask, 'How are these ideas connected?' to normalize the reasoning process.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

Relationship Sorting

Post sentence pairs on the board with no transitions. The class categorizes each pair's relationship , contrast, cause/effect, addition, example, emphasis, or sequence , before selecting a transition. This separates the reasoning step from the word-choice step.

Prepare & details

Construct sentences that effectively use linking words to connect complex ideas.

Facilitation Tip: During Relationship Sorting, circulate and prompt students to verbalize why they grouped certain transitions together.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 15 min·Individual

Transition Upgrade Challenge

Students receive a paragraph that uses only basic transitions , also, then, first, next. They rewrite it substituting more precise transitions that better signal the actual logical relationships, then share their revision with a partner and discuss the differences.

Prepare & details

How do linking words improve the flow and coherence of an informational essay?

Facilitation Tip: During Transition Upgrade Challenge, ask students to revise their own sentences first, then compare with a partner to build metacognitive awareness.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic by modeling your own thinking aloud when selecting transitions. Use think-alouds to show how you ask, 'Is this contrast or addition?' before choosing a word. Research shows that explicit instruction in naming relationships leads to more accurate transition use than rote memorization of lists.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students selecting transitions that match the intended relationship between ideas, not just inserting any transition word. Their writing should flow smoothly with no gaps or misdirections in logic.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Transition Tournament, watch for students who insert any transition word to 'win' the round, regardless of logical fit.

What to Teach Instead

Prompt students to state the relationship first (e.g., 'This is a contrast because...') before selecting a transition. Use the tournament scorecard to record reasoning, not just the word.

Common Misconception

During Flow Check, watch for students who assume transitions only belong at sentence beginnings.

What to Teach Instead

Provide examples of embedded transitions (e.g., 'The experiment failed, although the hypothesis was strong.') and ask students to locate and label them in mentor texts.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Transition Tournament, provide two simple sentences and ask students to combine them using a linking word that shows either cause/effect or sequence. Review for correct word choice and logical clarity.

Quick Check

During Relationship Sorting, display a list of transitions without labels and ask students to categorize them by relationship type. Use their groupings to identify patterns and misconceptions before moving to the next activity.

Peer Assessment

After Transition Upgrade Challenge, have students exchange paragraphs and highlight each transition. Partners then write the relationship signaled by the transition and discuss whether it matches the intended meaning.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Have students rewrite a peer's paragraph to include transitions that signal a different relationship, then compare the two versions' effects.
• Scaffolding: Provide a bank of transitions grouped by relationship type (e.g., 'Cause/Effect: therefore, as a result') and allow students to use it until they internalize the patterns.
• Deeper: Ask students to analyze a short informational article for transition use, identifying which signals are most effective and why.

Key Vocabulary

Linking Word	A word or phrase that connects ideas, sentences, or paragraphs, signaling the relationship between them. Examples include 'however,' 'therefore,' 'similarly,' and 'next.'
Transition	A word or phrase that helps guide the reader from one idea to another, ensuring smooth flow and logical connections within a text.
Coherence	The quality of being logical and consistent; in writing, it means that all parts of the text fit together and make sense as a whole.
Cause and Effect	A relationship where one event or action (the cause) makes another event happen (the effect). Linking words like 'because,' 'so,' and 'as a result' signal this relationship.
Comparison and Contrast	A relationship that highlights similarities (comparison) or differences (contrast) between two or more ideas. Words like 'similarly,' 'likewise,' 'however,' and 'on the other hand' signal these relationships.