cohesion : signposting and punctuation

Cohesion:Signposting and punctuationReferences:

Bailey, S. 2011. Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students. Routledge: Oxon.

Swales, J. & Feak, C. 1994. Academic Writing for Graduate Students. The University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor.

Swan, M. 1995 Practical English Usage. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press: Oxford

Websites:www.uefap.comhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/http://sana.tkk.fi/awe’

We’ve been talking about flow…

− Language of academic papers vocabulary shift− Organizing information in a paper paragraphs and sentences

− Now, to establish a clear connection of ideas…

− Use linking words and phrases as well as punctuation.

Part 1: Linking words and phrases Can help maintain flow and establish clear relationships between ideas

Can be arranged according to their function and grammatical use.

Also called a ’discourse marker’

Discourse means ’pieces of language longer than a sentence’. Some words and expressions are used to show how discourse is constructed. They can show the connection between what a speaker is saying and what has already been said or what is going to be said; they can indicate what speakers think about what they are saying or what others have said. (Swan, 1995, p. 159)

More commonly called signposts because they show you the way…

EXPLANATIONS

Subordinators:

Sentence connectors:

Phrase linkers:

introduce a dependent clause. It must be joined to an independent clause to complete the sentence and to give the full meaning.

introduce a complete sentence (independent clause).

introduce a noun phrase, usually at the beginning of a sentence (but not always).

EXAMPLE

Subordinator Sentence Coordinator

Phrase linker

Because he was handy, he was always asked to come and repair something.

Therefore, he was always asked to come and repair something

Because of his handiness, he was always asked to come and repair something

Independent clause: He was handy.

What they are and what they do

Formal, academic style

Addition

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

-- Furthermore,In addition,Moreover,Also Additionally, Another thing to note isWhat is more,

In addition to…As well as…

Informal: So, Another thing is, In any case, Besides,…= not acceptable

Adversativity: opposition (emphatic contrast)

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

AlthoughEven though

However,Nevertheless,Nonetheless,

DespiteIn spite of

Cause and effect

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

BecauseSinceInsofar as

Therefore,As a result,Consequently,Hence,Thus**,

Because ofDue toAs a result ofOwing to

Informal: So, Then, … = unacceptable

Clarification

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

-- In other words,That is to say (i.e.)

--

Contrast: difference

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

WhileWhereas

In contrast,However,On the other hand,Conversely,Meanwhile,

Unlike

Generalization

Subordinators Sentence Connectors Phrase linkers

On the whole,In general,Broadly speaking,To a great extent,Overall,

Apart from,Except for,(exceptions to generalizations)

Illustration

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase inside a sentence

-- For example,For instance,

especiallyspecificallyfor examplefor instancesuch as

Intensification

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

-- On the contraryAs a matter of fact,In fact

--

Parallelism/Comparing

Subordinators: introduce a dependent clause that must be joined to complete a sentence

Sentence connectors:Introduce a complete sentence

Phrase linkers:Introduce a noun phrase

While Simultaneously,At the same time,Similarly,Likewise,Meanwhile,

--

Referring

Subordinators Sentence Connectors Phrase linkers

As was previously mentioned,As has been noted,

With reference toRegarding Concerning

Structuring

Subordinators Sentence Connectors Phrase linkers

First, Second, Third…Finally,..

Firstly, Secondly, …

First, then, after that, next, Finally, To begin with,To start with,To conclude,To summerize,

Additional information

Using English for Academic Purposes (UEFAP)Rhetorical functions: http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm

Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue UniversityWriting transitions: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/574/01/ Transitional devices: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/574/02/

Academic Writing in English (AWE) websiteSignposts: http://sana.tkk.fi/awe/cohesion/signposts/index.html

Bailey, S. (2011) Academic Writing: A Handbook for International StudentsPart 2 (pgs. 101-149)

Other linking words

This (these)+ summary word

− ESL lecturers know that students need to understand the differences between formal and informal language. However, this understanding cannot usually be aquired quickly.

− This = demonstrative pronoun

− Refers to the previous phrase (givennew)

Other pronoun possibilities…

− Basics – he, she, it, they, we− Posessive – his, her(s),its, their(s), our (not common in AW)− Objective – her, him, them, us (not common in AW)− Demonstrative – this, that, these, those− Other – the former, the latter, the aforementioned, the abovementioned,

Homework

− Reading textbook− Chapters:

− 2.4: Comparisons− 2.9: Problems and solutions− 3.9: Punctuation

Part 2: PunctuationSentence connectors raise the important issue of punctuation

You have to learn the proper use of punctuation in English and in your field

We only deal with some punctuation, namely comma (,), semicolon (;), colon (:) and dash(-)

Semicolon

− Joins two (completely independent) clauses/phrases that are related or connected to each other.

− Works much like a full stop (period)− Air traffic delays due to high traffic volume have increased considerably

over the last decade; these delays have become a major public policy issue.

− Some argue that it’s stronger than comma and weaker than a period.

− Can be used with sentence connectors− Increasing the size of airports is one solution to traffic congestion;

however, this is a long-term solution whose benefits may not be seen for many years into the future.

Semicolon

− Can be used to separate rather long items in list :− Some of the solutions to the air traffic delay problem include increasing

the size of airports that routinely experiece flight delays; overhauling the air traffic control system so that more flights can be safely handled; and increasing landing fees.

− Is usually used if the information is grammatically complex.

Colon and Comma

− Weaker stops− Comma (,) separates items in a list− Colon (:) introduces a list and explanations

− The meeting was postponed: the Dean was ill.

− Commas used with conjunctions (and, but, or) and subordinators (although, if, whereas)

− There are four main causes of airport congestion: bad weather, excessive volume, runway closures, and equipment outages.

Dash

− Sometimes a dash is used to introduce a list− They are used to intrude additional information to a sentence, much like

brackets ().− There are four main causes of airport congestion: bad weather – such

as a snowstorm – may ground planes…

− Mostly, though, a dash is more often used in informal texts.