Link Sentences

1. Link Sentences an important structural device Glenwood High School P Robinson 2005

2. Link Sentence • A Link sentence is an important structural element of a well-constructed argument. • It is one of those things that an examiner mentally ‘ticks’ as an indicator of quality work. • It can be found in formal essays, (Informative, Discursive, Critical, etc.) • There are marks in Close Reading for being able to explain how they work. P Robinson

3. A Link Sentence? • A link sentence is one step up from a topic sentence, which introduces the main idea of the paragraph. P Robinson

4. What’s in a Link Sentence? • There are three elements in a link sentence: • An expression that links back to the last idea; • An expression that introduces the new idea; • A conjunction (either as a single word or a phrase or clause). P Robinson

5. Remember Zorro P Robinson

6. Example A Thanks to the anonymous volunteers Unemployment is a huge issue all over the world. It ruins people’s lives; it destroys families. Some people recover from it – others never do. The paragraph continues . . . Homelessness is also a huge problem all over the world. It can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed, paying bills becomes progressively difficult. The paragraph continues . . . P Robinson

7. Example A (cont) Unemployment is a huge issue all over the world. It ruins people’s lives; it destroys families. Some people recover from it – others never do. The paragraph continues . . . Homelessness is also a huge problem all over the world. It can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed, paying bills becomes progressively difficult. The paragraph continues . . . Both paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. Each topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph. P Robinson

8. Example A (cont) Unemployment is a huge issue all over the world. It ruins people’s lives; it destroys families. Some people recover from it – others never do. The paragraph continues . . . Homelessness is also a huge problem all over the world. It can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed, paying bills becomes progressively difficult. The paragraph continues . . . Looking more closely, we can see that there is a link between the two ideas. In the second paragraph, the writer’s use of “also” shows that s/he recognises the link. The writer has also indicated a connection(in the next sentence) by saying that unemployment causes homelessness. P Robinson

9. Example A (cont) Unemployment is a huge issue all over the world. It ruins people’s lives; it destroys families. Some people recover from it – others never do. The paragraph continues . . . Homelessness is also a huge problem all over the world. It can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed, paying bills becomes progressively difficult. The paragraph continues . . . The writer shows that they know how to use topic sentences. Using a link sentence would make a stronger connection between these two paragraphs. A link sentence explicitly shows the connection between two paragraphs (and that the writer recognises that connection). P Robinson

10. Example A (cont) Unemployment is a huge issue all over the world. It ruins people’s lives; it destroys families. Some people recover from it – others never do. The paragraph continues . . . Homelessness is also a huge problem all over the world. It can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed, paying bills becomes progressively difficult. The paragraph continues . . . This is where a link sentence is required. A suitable link sentence would be Unemployment is a major concern, not least because it can lead to homelessness. (And then the paragraph continues as it did before.) Homelessness can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed . . . P Robinson

11. Example A (concluded) Unemployment is a major concern, not least because it can lead to homelessness. Homelessness can be caused by unemployment because, once a person is unemployed . . . ·expression that links back to old idea: “unemployment is a major concern”; ·expression that introduces the new idea: “it can lead to homelessness”; conjunctive phrase: “not least because” (the ‘not least’ reinforces the writer’s personal view, showing opinion). P Robinson

12. Example B Famous people are in the public eye; they must expect the paparazzi to follow them around. Everywhere they go, every move they make is scrutinised to see if it can become a front-page story. The paragraph continues . . . Others would say that famous people do deserve to have some privacy. After all, who wants someone raking through their rubbish bins looking for tomorrow’s headlines! The paragraph continues . . . P Robinson

13. Example B (cont) Famous people are in the public eye; they must expect the paparazzi to follow them around. Everywhere they go, every move they make is scrutinised to see if it can become a front-page story. The paragraph continues . . . Others would say that famous people do deserve to have some privacy. After all, who wants someone raking through their rubbish bins looking for tomorrow’s headlines! The paragraph continues . . . Both paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. Each topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph. P Robinson

14. Example B (cont) Famous people are in the public eye; they must expect the paparazzi to follow them around. Everywhere they go, every move they make is scrutinised to see if it can become a front-page story. The paragraph continues . . . Others would say that famous people do deserve to have some privacy. After all, who wants someone raking through their rubbish bins looking for tomorrow’s headlines! The paragraph continues . . . A link sentence would explicitly show the connection between two paragraphs (and that the writer recognises that connection). P Robinson

15. Example B (cont) Famous people are in the public eye; they must expect the paparazzi to follow them around. Everywhere they go, every move they make is scrutinised to see if it can become a front-page story. The paragraph continues . . . Others would say that famous people do deserve to have some privacy. After all, who wants someone raking through their rubbish bins looking for tomorrow’s headlines! The paragraph continues . . . A suitable link sentence would be: Although celebrities live in the public eye, many would say that they deserve some privacy. (And then the paragraph continues.) After all, who wants someone raking through . . . P Robinson

16. Example B (concluded) Although celebrities live in the public eye, many would say that they deserve some privacy. (And then the paragraph continues.) After all, who wants someone raking through . . . ·expression that links back to old idea: “celebrities live in the public eye”; ·expression that introduces the new idea: “many would say that they deserve some privacy”; conjunction: “although”. P Robinson

17. Another B For this same example, another suitable link sentence would be If it were not for public interest celebrities would not exist, but it is hard to argue that they do not deserve, at least, some privacy. (And then the paragraph continues.) After all, who wants someone raking through. . . P Robinson

18. Another B (cont) If it were not for public interest celebrities would not exist, but it is hard to argue that they do not deserve, at least, some privacy. (And then the paragraph continues.) After all, who wants someone raking through. . . ·expression that links back to old idea: “If it were not for public interest celebrities would not exist”; ·expression that introduces the new idea: “it is hard to argue that they do not deserve, at least, some privacy”; ·conjunction: “but” (notice also that the clause “it is hard to argue” makes the writer sound very certain and very reasonable; it makes the writer sound very fair – and assumes that others will agree - while the “at least” serves as additional supportive personal comment). P Robinson

19. Yet Another B Another example might be Without the paparazzi putting their pictures in the press, celebrities would lose some of their appeal, however that does not mean to say that they should expect the minutiae of their lives to be under such scrutiny permanently. (And then the paragraph continues.) After all, who wants someone raking through . . . P Robinson

20. Another B (concluded) Without the paparazzi putting their pictures in the press, celebrities would lose some of their appeal, however that does not mean to say that they should expect the minutiae of their lives to be under such scrutiny permanently. (And then the paragraph continues.) After all, who wants someone raking through . . . ·expression that links back to old idea: “Without the paparazzi putting their pictures in the press, celebrities would lose some of their appeal”; ·expression that introduces the new idea: “that does not mean to say that they should expect the minutiae of their lives to be under such scrutiny permanently”; ·conjunction: “however” (notice also the inverted structure at the start of this sentence). P Robinson

21. How does this help? • In your own writing link sentences make for a clearer line of thought (argument), showing you can effectively link ideas (gaining more marks). • In Close Reading you are often asked to explain how a sentence functions as a link within an argument. Knowing how link sentences work will help you secure more marks. P Robinson

22. Link Sentences an important structural device Better grades for Writing Marks for Close Reading Glenwood High School P Robinson 2005