Ways of Linking Sentences (1) - Worksheet

Read this piece of discursive writing. It contains three kinds of linkers: conjunctions, pronouns and signalling phrases.

1. Highlight all the linkers of these kinds.
2. Categorise them.

Examples:
Conjunctions: But, in spite of, though, as, while, because
Pronouns: she, we, one, they, these
Signalling phrases: I’d now like to discuss the advantages ... ; my second argument against this statement is ... ; finally I would like to ...

Topic:

It is generally accepted that families are not as close as they used to be.
Why has this change happened and what could be done to bring families closer together?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your experience.

We can see examples all over the world of how families are not as close as they used to be. There are lots of reasons for this.

Firstly, let’s look at these reasons. In my view the main reason is probably the fact that members of the family all have different jobs in different firms rather than all working in the same place as they used to. This means that members of the family have less regular daily contact with one another, or even none. In addition, society encourages all of us to follow individual rather than family goals, and so we drift even further apart. I can see examples of this in my own family in which one of my sisters is studying in Australia and a brother is working in Malaysia.

Although it is true that society is pushing families apart there are things that the members of the family can do to maintain their unity. For example, all members of the family can make sure they meet up with one another for big feasts such as Eid, Chinese New Year or Christmas. They can also make sure they have a strong family life themselves bringing up their children with lots of love and time spent together for doing things as a family. It’s important, for instance, that families should eat their meals together as I see many families doing in my country.

My conclusion is that while it is difficult and even undesirable for families to keep together in small units as they used to, there are lots of things each member of the family can still do to maintain and even strengthen family links.