Connectors make ideas flow: Cohesion is what turns a pile of correct sentences into a piece of writing that flows. You get it from connectors (conectores) — little linking words like además, sin embargo, por eso — that signpost how one idea relates to the next. Good connectors raise Criterion A (range and accuracy of language) and help Criterion B, because organised ideas are easier to follow.
The jobs connectors do: Connectors come in families, grouped by the job they do. Learn the Spanish words as vocabulary; the job each one does is named in English.
- la adición: además, también
- el contraste: sin embargo, aunque
- la causa: porque, ya que
- la consecuencia: por eso, por lo tanto
Variety beats repetition: Examiners reward a range of connectors. If every sentence starts with y (and) or pero (but), you cap your Criterion A mark. Aim to use several different linkers across your answer — the toolkit in the next section gives you one for each job.
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One connector for each job: Connectors come in families, grouped by the job they do. Learn one or two from each family and you can link any two ideas. The trick is matching the connector to the relationship: are you adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or showing a result?
- Addition (adding an idea): «además», «también» — «El deporte es sano; además, es divertido.»
- Contrast (setting ideas against each other): «sin embargo», «aunque», «no obstante» — «Me gusta correr; sin embargo, prefiero nadar.»
- Cause (giving a reason): «porque», «ya que» — «No salí porque llovía.» / «Estudio español, ya que quiero viajar.»
- Consequence (showing a result): «por eso», «por lo tanto», «así que» — «Llovía; por eso, me quedé en casa.»
- Sequence (ordering ideas): «primero», «luego», «finalmente» — «Primero calienta, luego entrena y finalmente estira.»
- Examples (illustrating a point): «por ejemplo», «es decir» — «Hago deporte; por ejemplo, juego al baloncesto.»
Six jobs to memorise: Addition · Contrast · Cause · Consequence · Sequence · Examples. Keep one go-to connector for each in your head — además · sin embargo · porque · por eso · luego · por ejemplo — and you'll always have a way to join your next idea on.
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Topic → develop → example → transition: A cohesive paragraph isn't a list of sentences — it's one idea, developed. Open with a topic sentence, develop it with a connector, back it up with an example, then transition to the next paragraph. The same four moves work for every paragraph you write.
Build a cohesive paragraph — 4 steps
1
Write a topic sentence
State the paragraph's main idea in one clear sentence — «El deporte mejora la salud.»
2
Develop it with a connector
Extend the idea using a linker: «Además, reduce el estrés y mejora el sueño.»
3
Add an example
Make it concrete with «por ejemplo» or «es decir»: «Por ejemplo, correr veinte minutos al día me ayuda a dormir.»
4
Conclude or transition
Close the idea or move on with «por eso», «en resumen» or «por otro lado»: «Por eso, recomiendo hacer deporte a diario.»
Topic → Develop → Example → Transition
One idea per paragraph: Don't cram three points into one block. Give each idea its own paragraph built with these four moves — that's what makes your answer readable and protects your Criterion B (organisation) marks.
Choppy vs cohesive, side by side: Here are the same five ideas written two ways: first as choppy, disconnected sentences, then linked into one flowing paragraph with connectors. Watch how the second version reads better without adding any new content. The Spanish is the example text; the English explains it.
From choppy sentences to a cohesive paragraph
The same ideas, linked
- «El deporte es bueno. Hace ejercicio. Conoces a gente. Aprendes disciplina. Es divertido.»
- «El deporte mejora la vida de los jóvenes. Además de mantenerte en forma, te ayuda a conocer a gente nueva; por ejemplo, en mi equipo hice grandes amigos. También enseña disciplina, ya que hay que entrenar con constancia. Por eso, lo recomiendo a todo el mundo.»
- The connectors that did the work: «Además de» (addition), «por ejemplo» (example), «También» (addition), «ya que» (cause) and «Por eso» (consequence). Each one signposts the relationship between ideas — that signposting is cohesion.
Same ideas, better marks: Notice the second version added no new information — only connectors. That's the cheapest mark in Paper 1: take the ideas you already have and link them. A handful of well-placed conectores visibly lifts your Criterion A and B.
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Linking done well vs done badly: Cohesion goes wrong in predictable ways: starting a sentence with porque as a fragment, leaning on y for everything, or repeating one connector until it loses meaning. Here's the contrast between strong and weak linking.
Good use of connectors
- Start a result sentence with «por eso».
- Vary connectors by their job.
- Use «porque» inside the sentence, not as a loose opener.
- Split ideas into clear paragraphs.
Mistakes that cost marks
- Start a sentence with «Porque…» as a fragment (use «Por eso…»).
- Join everything with «y… y… y…».
- Repeat the same connector in every sentence.
- Write one giant paragraph with no breaks.
«Porque» links, «por eso» opens: Don't start a sentence with «Porque…» on its own — it leaves a fragment. If you want to open with a result, use «Por eso…» (that's why). Keep «porque» for joining a reason inside a sentence: «Estudio porque quiero aprobar.»