Cohesive Devices – KS2 Writing Features Challenge Mat Worksheets

This writing review worksheet is an excellent way to develop children’s understanding and use of cohesive devices within paragraphs. There are a number of activities that demonstrate different types of cohesive writing, and challenge students to rewrite passages to improve the flow.

There are images to included to help inspire children’s writing, as well as prompts and partial sentences for them to complete.

It’s a great way to revise previous learning, and to experiment with new ideas.

This primary resource is divided into five sections:

• Understand
  Add words to complete each sentence.
• Explain
  Read each pair of sentences and explain which cohesive device has been used to link them together.
• Test
  Write two sentences which are linked, starting your second sentence with the word or phrase in blue. Then rewrite the text given, adding cohesive devices so that it flows better.
• Challenge
  Write two sentences about each of the pictures, using a cohesive device to link the sentences in each pair.
• Apply
  Use the image provided to write a story that answers the questions given. Use the cohesive devices supplied in your story to make sure that your tale hangs together.

What are cohesive devices?

Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, sentences and paragraphs. As the name suggests, they add coherence to what we are saying.

Examples of cohesive devices

• Therefore
• So
• In addition
• Alternatively
• On the other hand
• But
• Because of this
• As a result
• Due to
• Firstly/secondly/finally
• In conclusion
• In my opinion

National Curriculum English programme of study links

• Draft and write by using a wide range of devices to build cohesion within and across paragraphs
• Linking ideas across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices: repetition of a word or phrase, grammatical connections [for example, the use of adverbials such as on the other hand, in contrast, or as a consequence], and ellipsis

This resource is part of the Effective Writing collection.
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