Close Reading Workshop Linking Questions

In these questions, you are being asked to show how a certain sentence acts as a link between two paragraphs at a particular point in the passage.

Remember! Linking questions are usually worth 2 marks.

Remember! Four-step-method: Step 1. Quote. Step 2. Link back. Step 3. Quote again. Step 4. Link forward.

Remember! Four-step-method: Quote from the linking sentence. Step 2: Show how that quote makes a link back to earlier in the passage, using your own words. Step 3: Quote again from the linking sentence. Step 4: Show how that second quotation makes a link forward to what is to come in the passage, using your own words.

Example question Show how the underlined sentence acts as a link at this point in the passage (2) Her mother left her at the age of five. As a result, she was forced to fend for and pay for herself: ensuring she had enough to eat; clothes to wear and shelter from the elements. Despite her harsh childhood, Emma’s ancestry linked her to wealth and social standing. Her grandmother was Lady of the local clan, with a grand manse and estate to her family name, which was renowned throughout the country.

Model Answer: ‘Despite her harsh childhood,’ links back to the previous paragraph where the author writes about the poverty Emma experienced, as she was responsible for herself and had to find her own food and clothe herself. ‘Emma’s ancestry” links forward to where we are told that her family were well-known and had owned a large home with a great deal of land.

Show how the underlined sentence acts as a link at this point in the passage (2) William Shakespeare is easily the best known of our English writers. Virtually every man in the street can name some of his plays and his characters, and many people can also recite lines of his poetry by heart. However, despite our familiarity with his work, we know relatively little of the man himself. We do not know when or why he became an actor, we know nothing of his life in London, and almost nothing of his personal concerns.

Answer “our familiarity with his work” (Step 1) links back to the idea that Shakespeare's work is widely known (Step 2). “we know relatively little of the man himself” (Step 3) links forward to the idea that many things are not known about Shakespeare (Step 4).

It is extraordinarily rich in culture and history too It is extraordinarily rich in culture and history too. Here was where Guy Fawkes plotted, Isaac Newton did sums, The Beatles made records, the anti-slavery lobby was founded, Oscar Wilde partied…And there were bigger events: Roman invasions, plagues, fires, air raids. However, the culture and history don't stop at the city gates. Dotted around London are countless beautiful villages and exquisite country houses. Like a well-aged face, Greater London’s history shows in its lines. Some roads are straight, echoing old Roman roads; others follow the contour of the old city wall.

“culture and history” links back to where we are told of the prominent figures and important events in London’s past. “don’t stop at the city gates” links forward to where we are told of how outside London there is a lot of evidence of culture and history too.

Raised with six siblings in a one-bedroom apartment, he started getting good roles at age eight and was a millionaire by 10, but his rapid ascent seemed less adorable the more people learned about his home life. His father, Kit, ruled the family- “his kingdom”, says Culkin- by humiliation and physical abuse, eventually leaving the household. His mother filed a custody suit for him, which began a bitter public battle with Kit, and then Culkin had both his parents legally blocked from controlling his fortune.

“rapid ascent” links back to where we are told of how Culkin was earning a huge amount of money at a very young age. “home life” links forward to where we are told of the conflict and problems that were going on within his family.

P and N practice paper. 2013-2014 “Screening out the Downside to Technology”

Question 3 Explain how the one sentence paragraph in lines 12-14 works well as a link at this point in the passage (2)

“focused on the negatives” links back to where we are told of how technology can have many negative effects on our health and intelligence. “genuine paradigm shift” links forward to where we are told how using technology has changed the way we communicate and that it has improved things like spelling.

National 5 Exam April 2014 “Hey parents, leave those kids alone.”

Question 2 Explain how the two sentence paragraph in lines 12-14 works well as a link at this point in the passage (2)