Logical thinking is a big part of writing good compositions. Sentences need to flow with fluidity, as a fragmented composition will attract undue attention. Transitioning from paragraph to paragraph needs to be done well, using appropriate transition words. Paragraphs should be nicely signposted and wrapped up in a coherent and concise manner. These skills are not necessarily writing mechanics – many of them involve higher order thinking skills such as critical thinking, logic, and inference. WRITERS AT WORK teachers are here to help guide students towards developing these essential skills that will serve them well in future studies.
Why is It Important to Create a Logical Flow of Sentences?
Logic is an important skill for students to develop when writing their compositions. The last thing you want is for an examiner to scratch their heads and wonder why a student has written something in that particular order. A good essay will allow the reader to follow the narrative and completely understand the plot. There should not be any confusion as to what is happening and why – such confusion will cost the student dearly in terms of the marks they receive.
When writing a persuasive or argumentative essay, a logical flow will allow the reader to understand your train of thought. When the readers can understand your position or how you arrived at a conclusion, it strengthens your position. This will allow the examiner to find that your essay has persuaded them as to your stance, and they will award you more marks.
What is Sentence Order?
When writing your essay, it will be easier to recognise when sentences flow poorly as opposed to well, because effective flow will be unnoticeable to your readers. When sentences flow well together, readers will move through the text seamlessly, like how a hot knife cuts through butter or aunties sliding towards the MRT seats.
What Are Some Ways of Knowing That a Sentence is Poorly Constructed?
How Can Students Ensure Sentences Are in a Logical Order?
Try to find places to introduce transition words – they are usually at the beginning of the paragraph or at the end. Then, make sure that each sentence expands on the idea presented by the sentence which came before it. Students should stick to making one point per paragraph as a general rule of thumb – introducing too many new ideas in one single paragraph does not help your flow. Lastly, students should look for any sentences which repeat themselves or are redundant and remove these sentences – they will hinder the overall flow of the essay if not.
Examples of Good and Poor Sentence Flow:
Describe an event that you looked forward to which turned out to be disappointing. Explain why you were excited about it and why it didn’t live up to your expectations.
Good Sentence Flow
The loud music hurt my ears – I was feeling rather uncomfortable in the corner, next to the speakers. This was the first party I had attended – after hearing my parents say that they wanted me to get out and socialise more, I felt slightly excited about going. I thought of the prospect of meeting new friends and cheered up a little. Now, standing in the corner, all I wanted to do was leave. Suddenly, a familiar face caught my eye – it was Stacey! I waved her over and we chatted excitedly. We talked of school, and our hobbies, and what we planned to do over the summer. When our favourite song came on, I gestured for her to come dance with me, and she did. We felt many pairs of eyes on us as we did so, and I felt rather shy and wanted to stop.
Poor Sentence Flow
I knew that I would not enjoy the party. Last time, when they had parties like this, I never came because I did not want to interact with others because I am shy. This party is equally a failure and I just wanted to leave. Then, I saw my friend Stacey. We are in the same class together. We shared recess together as well. I approached her and started to chat with her. Then, I asked her to dance. Then, we saw other people looking at us. I was embarrassed and wanted to stop.
Master the English Language with WRITERS AT WORK!
At WRITERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. W@W reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!
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