ESL Lesson Plan · CEFR B2

Linkers of Cause, Result and Purpose ESL Lesson Plan (B2, 60 Minutes)

A complete 60-minute B2 lesson on Linkers of Cause, Result and Purpose, built round the theme "Urban Flooding: Causes and Solutions".

CEFR B2
60 minutes
Teenagers and adults
Grammar
Linking Words
Linkers of Cause, Result and Purpose

About this lesson

Who it is for. Upper-intermediate students who use because, so and contrast linkers accurately. In formal writing they mix the grammar of cause linkers (due to the rain was heavy), confuse cause and result linkers (Consequently of the rain), and use for + infinitive for purpose (for to reduce).

Everything the lesson needs is on this page: the language analysis, the timed stages with the teacher's own words and instruction-checking questions, the differentiation, the printable handouts and the answer key.

At a glance

Level: CEFR B2 (Upper-intermediate)
Learners: Teenagers and adults
Length: 60 minutes. For 45 minutes, run "Freer practice" once through without the second round and cut "Feedback and wrap-up" to board-based error correction.
Skills: Speaking and writing
Language focus: Grammar: Linkers of Cause, Result and Purpose (due to, owing to, as a result, consequently, so that, in order to)
Framework: PPP (presentation, practice, production)
Materials: Handout 1 (a short report), Handout 2 (language analysis), Handout 3 (practice), Handout 4 (problem cards and writing task).
Preparation: About 10 minutes: print Handouts 1 to 4, one per learner, and read the language analysis. The answer key is for you, not the class.

Download this lesson plan

Google Docs · 60 minutes · PPP (presentation, practice, production)

Download the PDF Word Make a copy

The PDF prints as it stands. The Word file and Make a copy are for adapting it: your copy is yours to change, and the original stays as it is.

Aims

Main aim. To clarify and practise formal linkers of cause (because of, due to, owing to + noun; as, since + clause), result (as a result, consequently, therefore, as a result of + noun) and purpose (to, in order to, so as to + infinitive; so that + clause).

Learning outcome. By the end of the lesson, students can explain causes, results and solutions in formal writing, e.g. Owing to heavy rainfall, several roads were closed. As a result, thousands of commuters were delayed. Drains must be cleaned regularly so that water can flow freely.

Subsidiary aim. To practise sentence-level punctuation with sentence linkers.
Subsidiary aim. To write a cause-and-solution paragraph for a report.

Language analysis

What to know before the lesson: the meaning, form and pronunciation of the target language, and the problems learners usually have with it.

Cause

Linker	What follows	Example
because of / due to / owing to	noun / -ing / the fact that + clause	Owing to heavy rain, the match was cancelled.
as / since	clause	As the drains were blocked, the water rose quickly.

Cause: notes

due to is common after be: The delay was due to the storm.

Result

Linker	Position	Example
as a result / consequently / therefore	new sentence (or after a semicolon) + comma	The river overflowed. As a result, many homes were damaged.
as a result of + noun	phrase	As a result of the flood, schools closed. (= cause!)
so	clause (informal)	It rained, so the roads flooded.

Result: notes

therefore can also go mid-sentence: The drains are old and therefore cannot cope.
Careful: as a result of introduces the cause; as a result introduces the result.

Purpose

Linker	What follows	Example
to / in order to / so as to	infinitive	The council cleaned the canals (in order) to reduce flooding.
in order not to / so as not to	infinitive	They moved the cars so as not to damage them.
so that	clause (often with can / could / will / would)	Drains were widened so that water could flow freely.

Purpose: notes

Not for to reduce or for reduce. for + noun is possible: for safety.

Pronunciation

Pause after sentence linkers: As a result, | many homes were damaged.

Concept-checking questions

Owing to the heavy rain, the roads were closed. What was the cause? (The heavy rain.) Can I say Owing to it rained heavily? (No; noun after owing to.)
As a result of the flood, schools closed. Is the flood a cause or a result? (A cause.)
They widened the drains so that water could flow. Why did they widen the drains? (For the water to flow; purpose.)

Anticipated problems and solutions

Problem	Solution
due to / owing to + clause.	Board: + noun / -ing / the fact that.
as a result vs as a result of confusion.	Arrow diagram: cause → As a result, → result; As a result of + cause, result.
Sentence linkers used as conjunctions (It rained, consequently the roads flooded).	Full stop or semicolon before them.
for to + verb for purpose.	Board: (in order) to + verb; for + noun.
so that + infinitive.	Board: so that + subject + can / could.

Board plan

Left: cause	Centre: result	Right: purpose
because of / due to / owing to + noun / -ing · as / since + clause · The delay was due to the storm. · not: due to it rained ✗
Sentence. As a result, / Consequently, / Therefore, + sentence. · As a result of + CAUSE, result. · not: ..., consequently the roads ... ✗ (comma splice)
(in order) to / so as to + infinitive · so as not to / in order not to · so that + subject + can / could · not: for to reduce ✗

Warm-up5 minutes · Pairs, whole class

Aim: To engage students with the topic.

Show a photo of a flooded street. Ask: "Why does this happen in cities? What are the effects?"

Pairs list two causes and two effects (2 minutes). Take ideas.

Presentation20 minutes · Individual, groups, whole class

Aim: To present formal cause, result and purpose linkers and clarify their grammar.

Part A: Reading (6 minutes)

Give out Handout 1. Say: "Read the extract from a report on urban flooding in a fictional city, Riverton. What are the two main causes? What solutions does it suggest?"

Pairs compare. Check as a class.

Part B: Analysis (6 minutes)

Give out Handout 2. Say: "In groups, find the linkers and classify them: cause, result or purpose. What follows each one?"

ICQs: "How many categories?" (Three.)

Monitor and help.

Part C: Clarification (8 minutes)

Feedback. Build the three columns on the board.

Ask the CCQs. Draw the as a result / as a result of arrow.

Board a comma splice (It rained heavily, consequently the roads flooded) and correct it.

Board for to reduce ✗ → (in order) to reduce.

Pronunciation. Drill sentences with a pause after the linker.

Controlled practice10 minutes · Individual, then pairs, then whole class

Aim: To practise the grammar accurately.

Give out Handout 3. Say: "Exercise A: choose the correct linker. Exercise B: join the sentences using the word in brackets. Seven minutes."

Pairs check. Check as a class.

Freer practice18 minutes · Groups of three, then individual, then whole class

Aim: To use the linkers in a short report.

Give out Handout 4. Groups choose a problem card (traffic congestion, rubbish on beaches, power cuts, dengue). They brainstorm causes, results and solutions (5 minutes).

Write (10 minutes). Each student writes a report paragraph (150 words) with at least two cause, two result and two purpose linkers.

ICQs: "How many of each type?" (At least two.)

Partners swap and underline the linkers, checking grammar (3 minutes).

Monitor and note language use.

Feedback and wrap-up7 minutes · Whole class

Aim: To give feedback and consolidate.

Board sentences from Stage 4 (correct and incorrect). Students correct them.

Quick fire: say a linker; students say cause, result or purpose and what follows.

Set the homework.

Homework Write a full problem–solution report (250 words) on another problem card. Use at least eight different linkers from today.

PPP (presentation, practice, production). Stage times add up to 60 minutes.

Differentiation

Support: Give weaker students the three-column table during writing. Provide a paragraph frame with gaps for the linkers.
Stretch: Stronger students use thus, hence, with the aim of + -ing, for fear of + -ing / that. They use Given that and In view of for cause.

Adapting the lesson

For	What to change
A large class (40 or more)	Keep the pairwork in "Freer practice" in fixed pairs rather than a mingle, and take feedback from four or five pairs instead of the whole room. Run "Write" once, with two pairs reporting, rather than hearing every pair. Monitor one half of the room during "Controlled practice" and the other half during "Freer practice".
A class with no photocopier	Put the exercises from Handout 3: Practice on the board for learners to copy into their notebooks, and read any text aloud twice instead of printing it. Handout 4: Problem Cards and Writing Task works read out from the front: learners note what they need rather than holding a card. The board plan above is this lesson's minimum - with that on the board, it runs on no paper at all.
An online class	Send Handouts 1 to 4 in the chat before the lesson and put the board plan on a shared slide. Use breakout rooms for "Write" and visit each room once. Have learners type the controlled answers in the chat, so you see every answer at once instead of nominating.
A different age group	With teenagers, shorten the analysis and get to the task sooner. With adults in a work context, keep the forms exactly as they are and swap the lesson's theme for one from their own field.

Checking learning

10 out of 12 or better on Handout 3. The paragraph includes at least two linkers of each type with correct grammar and punctuation. No comma splices with sentence linkers.

Teacher's reflection

Did the arrow diagram clarify as a result vs as a result of? Did students write in a consistently formal register?

Handout 1: Report Extract

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

Flooding in Riverton: Causes and Recommendations (fictional city)

Riverton has experienced serious flooding in four of the last five monsoon seasons. This is largely due to two factors.

Firstly, owing to rapid construction, many wetlands have been filled in. As these areas once absorbed rainwater, the water now runs directly onto roads. Secondly, many drains are blocked because of plastic waste. Consequently, even moderate rainfall can cause flooding within an hour.

As a result of the floods, thousands of commuters are delayed each year, and some homes have been damaged repeatedly. Therefore, urgent action is needed.

We recommend that the remaining wetlands be protected in order to absorb excess water. Drains should be cleaned before each monsoon so that water can flow freely. In addition, residents should be educated about waste disposal so as not to block drains in the future.

Answer the questions.

What are the two main causes of flooding? ______________________________
What are two effects? ______________________________
What are three recommendations? ______________________________

Handout 2: Language Analysis

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

Find the linkers in the report. Complete the table.

Answer the questions.

What follows owing to and because of: a noun or a clause? ______________________________
What follows As in As these areas once absorbed rainwater? ______________________________
As a result of the floods introduces a cause or a result? ______________________________
What follows so that? What follows in order to? ______________________________

Cause	Result	Purpose

Handout 3: Practice

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

A. Choose the correct linker.

B. Join the sentences using the word in brackets. Make any necessary changes.

The flight was delayed due to / as fog.
Since / Owing to the shop was closed, we went home.
The company lost money. As a result of / As a result, 200 workers lost their jobs.
She studied every night so that / in order to pass the exam.
We left early so as not to / so that not miss the train.
Because of / Consequently the strike, there were no buses.
The roads were icy. There were many accidents. (as a result) → ______________________________
The match was cancelled. It rained heavily. (owing to) → ______________________________
I wrote it down. I wouldn't forget it. (so that) → ______________________________
Prices increased. Demand was high. (since) → ______________________________
They planted trees. They wanted to reduce pollution. (in order to) → ______________________________
There was a storm. The ferry didn't sail. (as a result of) → ______________________________

Handout 4: Problem Cards and Writing Task

Plan

Use at least two of each:

Cause: because of · due to · owing to · as · since
Result: As a result, · Consequently, · Therefore, · as a result of
Purpose: (in order) to · so as (not) to · so that


Traffic congestion in the city centre	Rubbish on beaches
Power cuts in hot weather	Dengue cases rising after the rains

Causes	Results	Solutions (purpose)

Answer Key

Handout 1

Handout 2

Handout 3, Exercise A

Handout 3, Exercise B

Common errors to watch for

Construction on wetlands; drains blocked by plastic waste. · 2. Commuters delayed; homes damaged; (flooding even with moderate rain). · 3. Protect wetlands; clean drains before each monsoon; educate residents about waste disposal.
A noun (phrase). · 2. A clause (subject + verb). · 3. A cause (the floods). · 4. so that + clause (water can flow); in order to + infinitive (absorb).
due to · 2. Since · 3. As a result · 4. in order to · 5. so as not to · 6. Because of
The roads were icy. As a result, there were many accidents. · 2. The match was cancelled owing to heavy rain. / Owing to heavy rain, the match was cancelled. · 3. I wrote it down so that I wouldn't forget it. · 4. Since demand was high, prices increased. · 5. They planted trees in order to reduce pollution. · 6. As a result of the storm, the ferry didn't sail.

Cause	Result	Purpose
due to · owing to · as · because of · (as a result of + cause)
consequently · therefore
in order to · so that · so as not to

Error	Correction
Due to it rained, the match was cancelled.	Due to the rain, the match was cancelled. / As it rained, ...
It rained, consequently the roads flooded.	It rained. Consequently, the roads flooded.
They cleaned the drains for to reduce flooding.	They cleaned the drains (in order) to reduce flooding.
As a result the rain, ...	As a result of the rain, ...

Prints without the site's menus or advertisements.

Download this plan

Google Docs · 60 minutes

Download the PDF Word Make a copy

The same document as the one at the top of the page.

Elsewhere in Global English

Pages that help with this lesson in particular, rather than everything we have.

Written by RCF English to the RCF English international standard: levelled by the CEFR, original throughout, and suitable for classrooms in any country. Last reviewed 22 September 2026.

Linkers of Cause, Result and Purpose ESL Lesson Plan (B2, 60 Minutes)

About this lesson

At a glance

Download this lesson plan

Aims

Language analysis

Cause

Cause: notes

Result

Result: notes

Purpose

Purpose: notes

Pronunciation

Concept-checking questions

Anticipated problems and solutions

Board plan

Warm-up5 minutes · Pairs, whole class

Presentation20 minutes · Individual, groups, whole class

Controlled practice10 minutes · Individual, then pairs, then whole class

Freer practice18 minutes · Groups of three, then individual, then whole class

Feedback and wrap-up7 minutes · Whole class

Differentiation

Adapting the lesson

Checking learning

Teacher's reflection

Handout 1: Report Extract

Handout 2: Language Analysis

Handout 3: Practice

Handout 4: Problem Cards and Writing Task

Answer Key

Download this plan

Elsewhere in Global English

Share this lesson plan

More linking words plans