Lesson video

Hello, everybody again, it's Mrs. Hardisty for your English lesson.

In today's lesson we are going to be learning all about how to use formal conjunctions properly in our writing.

So when you're ready, let's begin.

This is what we are going to do in our lesson today.

We're going to start by recapping the chocolate making process and making sure that we really understand each stage and we know each stage.

And then we're going to look at how to use formal conjunctions correctly.

And then finally spend a bit of time looking at causal conjunctions.

For this lesson you will need an exercise book or paper, and a pencil.

So please can you make sure you have those things and then we can start our lesson.

We'll begin with some key vocabulary.

Formal conjunction.

So a formal conduction is a word which connects other words or phrases or clauses or sentences.

Causal conjunction.

So this is a conjunction that links a cause and effect.

We'll be explaining both of those in more detail as the lesson goes on.

So let's have a recap of what we know about the chocolate making process.

I have some pictures here of the different stages of how chocolate is made.

But can you see that I've got four sections that are missing.

So I've got the pods growing on the trees and then I've got the beans being spewed out and then I've got something missing before they're dried on the straw mats.

And then I've got them resting in the oven, but then what happens after those beans have finished roasting? And then before the milk and sugar is added, something needs to happen.

Can you remember what it was? And then finally, after they're kind of, the paste is rolled and all the lumps have been removed.

What happens right at the end? So can you pause the video now and explain what happens before the straw mats? What happens after the roasting? What happens before the milk and sugar is added? And what happens at the end of the process? Pause the video now.

Well done.

Let's see if you got it right.

So before they're dried, remember they are fermented underneath the banana leaves.

After they're roasted, they're put through that winnower machine so that the shells can be removed.

And then before the milk and sugar is added, those nibs are ground by the heavy rollers.

And then at the end, the chocolate is melted and then poured into the moulds.

So to the main part of today, we are thinking about formal conjunctions.

So we have done this already in lesson one, but let's just have a recap.

So formal conjunctions come in two things, if you remember.

It can mean, but, where they are linking two contrasting or different ideas, So a positive and a negative, good and the bad or the other way around.

And they can mean, and.

So they can mean joining two ideas that are similar to each other.

So we have but formal conjunctions and and formal conjunctions.

So here are the formal conjunctions that we've already looked at that mean but.

Despite, nevertheless, however.

And I've added one more for today's lesson and that's in spite of, which is very similar to despite.

And you can see that all of them start with a capital letter, 'cause if you remember our formal conjunctions start a sentence.

They always need to start with a capital letter.

And each of them have a comma.

And so here are our formal conjunctions that mean, and, that join two ideas that are similar.

We have in addition, moreover, furthermore, and also.

So now let's think about how we use these formal conjunctions.

Why do we use formal conjunctions? So formal conjunctions help our writing to flow and give it a sense of cohesion.

They link ideas and sentences.

So what that means is that formal conjunctions help signpost your reader.

They help you read and know what's coming next.

And this is really important for something like an explanation text.

Especially one that describes so many different stages like in our chocolate making.

Because it can end up just sounding like a whole, long list of different things.

It can get quite boring and confusing for your reader.

Whereas if you use formal conjunctions, it helps link those ideas together so that your reader can find connections between them.

And it also helps that writing flow rather than just sounding like a whole long list.

Let's see this in practise.

So here I've got two sentences without a formal conjunction.

The chocolate liquor is mixed with different amounts of sugar and milk to make white, milk or dark chocolate.

The maker can add other ingredients such as fruit or nuts.

So you can see already my writing sounds a little bit like a list.

I've got two sentences that tell the reader very similar things.

So by adding in a formal conjunction, I can link those sentences and my reader can see the connection between them.

Let's have a look.

The chocolate liquor is mixed with different amounts of sugar and milk to make white, milk or dark chocolate.

In addition, the maker can add other ingredients such as fruit or nuts.

So by having that, in addition, your reader then and starts to think, "Oh, what else is added?" "What else is going to happen?" And so it helps them read on, it helps them make a connection to what you're then going to explain next.

Let's look at a different example now.

The combination is now chocolate.

It is quite dry and crumbly and not ready to eat.

So here I've got two sentences that are contrasting, they are different to each other.

One is talking about, yes, the chocolate is ready.

And the next sentence is saying, well, it's quite dry and crumbly.

And so if you were a reader then might think, "Oh, oh!" And they might get a little bit confused.

Let's add in our formal conjunction.

So now we have, the combination is now chocolate.

However, it is quite dry and crumbly and not ready to eat.

So by putting in that word, however, straight away, you're helping your read and know what's going to happen.

Oh, the chocolate is ready.

Ah, but something else I need to find out about.

Oh, it's crumbly and dry.

So again, it helps your writing flow and helps your reader.

So now it's your turn to try and choose some formal conjunctions for writing.

I've got four different examples.

And in a moment, you're going to pause the video and write down what you think.

But before we do that, I'm going to read out the examples.

For each one you'll see there's a gap.

And in that gap we need a formal conjunction.

You need to decide, first of all, if you think it's an and formal conjunction or a but formal conjunction.

And then once you've decided that you can then choose which one you would like to put in the gap.

Let me read them out to you.

Number one.

The cocoa trees grow very tall.

, the workers are extremely skilled in harvesting the fruit growing up high.

So we've got the cocoa trees are really tall, oh, oh, but the workers are really skilled.

So think about is that contrasting or it really similar.

And therefore what sort of conjunction.

Would it be and for joining similar or would it be, but for joining different ones, what do you think? Okay.

We're not going to pause yet, I'm going to read the rest and then you're going to write down your ideas.

Number two.

At this stage, the chocolate paste is very dry.

it can be extremely crumbly.

Okay.

So now I've got dry one sentence and then describing the paste as being crumbly in the next.

They're quite similar, I wonder which one would it be but or would it be and.

Have a think, what would you choose? Okay.

Then number three is talking about the banana leaves covering over the beach.

the simple equipment, this technique is very effective.

So now we've got our formal conjunction at the start of this complex sentence.

We're talking about, it's really simple equipment, but it's really effective.

So I wonder whether that would be a but or an and.

And then which one would you put in.

So number four, nuts and fruit can be added.

different flavourings can be used.

So nuts and fruit can be added different flavourings can be used.

So on your paper, write one, two, three, four, and then next to each number can you write the conjunction that you would use.

Pause your video and do that now.

Well done, let's see what I thought.

So for the first one, tress are tall, but the workers are skilled.

They are different ideas and so I'm going to use a but formal conjunction.

So I've used nevertheless.

The trees grow very tall.

Nevertheless, the workers are extremely skilled.

I hope you've also used a but conjunction.

You might have chosen, however.

Number two, at this stage, the chocolate paste is very dry.

Moreover, it can be extremely crumbly.

So these two ideas are very similar so I've used an and.

And I'm saying it's dry and it's crumbly, so I've used, moreover.

You might've used in addition.

Number three was slightly different, wasn't it? So we know that there are two contrasting ideas, the simple equipment, but the technique is very effective.

And so again, we know it's but, and I've chosen to use a conjunction in spite of.

You might have used despite 'cause they're really similar.

So in spite of the simple equipment or despite the simple equipment, sorry, this technique is very effective.

Now for the last one I thought it could be an adding one an and, so nuts and fruit can be added.

In addition, different flavourings can be used.

However, you might have thought, well, different flavourings, it's slightly different to nuts and fruit and you might have decided it was a but one.

Nuts or fruit can be added.

Nevertheless, different flavourings can be used.

But I don't think that really works.

'Cause what we're actually saying is things are added to the chocolate, both sentences are about that.

So although the flavourings are different to the nuts and fruits it's still an and one.

So before we move on to causal conjunctions, I would like you to now write one more sentence using a formal conjunction.

So here I have got the beans I'm nearly ready to pack and I would like you to write the next sentence and use a formal conjunction to start it.

So it could mean the beans are nearly ready to pack, but, and then what needs to happen.

Or the beans are nearly ready to pack, and.

Now I think we want to talk about them needing to be dried out before so that they don't get mouldy.

So I think you want to use a but formal conjunction.

The beans and any ready to pack and then finish off that second sentence.

So I'd like you to now pause the video and then start your sentence with a formal conjunction that would carry on from mine and then write a sentence to complete the information.

Pause the video and write now.

Well done.

Let's see what I put.

So the beans are nearly ready to pack.

However, they must first be dried in the sun to stop them getting mouldy.

Did you choose a similar formal conjunction? Did you write something similar or did you do something slightly different? Have a look at yours and compare it to mine.

So we're going to finish by looking at causal conjunctions.

Now, causal conjunctions link two different things that happen and one causes the other.

There are cause and effect.

So in this example, my cause is the machine uses fans to blow away the shells, the winnower.

And my effect is that only the inside of the beans is left.

And so to help my reader see the link between them, I can use a causal conjunction.

There are three main ones.

Consequently, as a result, therefore.

So I can say the machine uses fans to blow away the shells.

Consequently, only the inside of the beans is left.

So the final thing that I'd like you to do now is write two sentences all about the fermenting.

So the beans fermenting underneath the banana leaves.

And I'd like you to start your second sentence with a causal conjunction, consequently, therefore, as a result.

So I'm going to tell you one of my examples, and then you can pause and try it yourself.

So, banana leaves are placed on top of the beans.

As a result, the beans underneath, start to ferment.

That was my try.

Now, can you have a go? This is what I wrote.

The beans are placed under banana leaves to ferment.

As a result, they warm up and their white pulp breaks down.

So I used as a result.

Did you use that or did you use something else? Let's recap what we have done today.

So we made sure that we knew every stage of the chocolate making process.

And then we learned how to use formal, and and but conjunctions to give our writing a sense of flow and cohesion.

And then we learned how to use causal conjunctions to link a cause and effect.

Brilliant work everyone.

I know that all of these types of conjunctions are going to make your writing so fantastic when we come on to explain the chocolate making process ourselves.

Bye bye.