在雅思写作的四大评分标准当中，连贯性与衔接性是其中的一项评分标准，连贯性与衔接性其中一方面就是用连接手段（即连接词）来实现的。连接词本身是非常繁琐的知识，在教授连接词时也会遇到很多困难，那么学连接词首先把连接词词性掌握并掌握各词性的用法，学连接词就简便得多。连接词大体可分为四种词性：连词，副词，介词和短语，它们各自的用法又不一样。

连词

如but, and,后接句子，连接并列句时前面逗号可有可无。当然连词也可放句首，这一点在考官范文里有很多体现。

例：In the past, populations were partly regulated by frequent war and widespread disease, but in recent years the effects of those factors have been diminished.  (并列句中的连词)

段落开始： But how should it be achieved? ( 连词放句首)

介词

如before, despite：后接名词或动名词

例：Before talking about the essential role of death penalty, you have to think about the meaning, and the purpose, of any kind of punishment.

副词

副词连接并列句，前面用句号或分号，后面用逗号（当然，如果副词前用句号，那就是另起一句了，不称之为并列句）

例：In many places today, children start primary school at around the age of six or seven. However, because it is more likely now that both parents work, there is little opportunities for children to stay in their own home up to that age.( 副词另起一句)

The crime rate is increasingly high; therefore, the government needs to enforce more laws to curb this situation. ( 副词在并列句中)

短语

如on the contrary, in addition：用法和副词用法完全一样

例：They feel this is one area of life where they have the right to make decisions for themselves. For that reason, it would seem that the best approach would be work by persuasion rather than compulsion.

The government plays a crucial role in scientific research; on the other hand, private companies hold certain advantages in conducting scientific research. ( 短语在并列句中)

掌握连接词的四大词性及用法以后，连接词的教学和运用就容易展开。我们可以参看考官范文，看看各类关系的时候考官如何使用连接词，使文章凸显出来。

因果关系

根据词性及用法可归结于:

because / since/ as / for, so (连词),

because of/ due to / owing to/ as a result of (介词)

for that reason/as a result/ therefore/ accordingly (短语和副词)

例：I think the amount of waste produced is also as a result of our tendency to use sth once and throw it away. （可代替词汇because of/ due to / owing to）