Connections

As we work to enrich our paragraphs, we should consider how are ideas are pulled together. We aren't just building a bullet list of individual thoughts (a sorted brainstorming list?). Nor are we hoping for 11 short sentences (we call that "choppy writing"). Instead, we use various types of connectors to build longer sentences and to tie one sentence to the next.

Here is a bullet list of some popular conjunctions

• and
• but
• or
• nor
• for
• yet
• so
• although
• because
• since
• unless
• provided that
• as long as
• in order that
• so...that (surrounding an adverb or adjective)

A choppy paragraph has many short sentences. Each could be longer. Each could be connected to another sentence. They seem to start and stop quickly. It gives the reader a headache. We don't like that.

35 words / 6 sentences