firstly, secondly ... stop!

27
Firstly, Secondly … Stop!

Upload: martin-mcmorrow

Post on 11-Apr-2017

72 views

Category:

Education


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

Firstly, Secondly … Stop!

Page 2: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

CONTENTS

What are linking words?

Overuse of linking words

Effective use of linking words

Creating clarity and flow

Page 3: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

What are linking words?

Page 4: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

LINKING WORDS are words or phrases like ‘however’ and ‘as a result’.

They are used to EMPHASISE an important move in an argument or description.

Uber has certainly proved popular with consumers, given its convenience and competitive pricing; however, it has puta lot of taxi drivers out of work.

Synthetic milk can now be made in a laboratory, withoutthe need for cows or land; as a result, a major segment ofthe New Zealand economy is under threat.

Page 5: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

ORDER COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

ADDITION AND REINFORCEMENT

first

secondly

next

meanwhile

later

then

afterwards

finally

similarly

likewise

on the other hand

conversely

however

yet

furthermore

moreover

also

in addition

in fact

indeed

Some examples

Page 6: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

EXAMPLES EFFECT/ RESULT SUMMARY / CONCLUSION

for example

for instance

therefore

thus

consequently

as a result

hence

in brief

all in all

in short

in the end

For more examples and exercises, see:

tinyurl.com/firstlysecondly1tinyurl.com/firstlysecondly2tinyurl.com/firstlysecondly3

Page 7: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

OVERUSE OF LINKING WORDS

Page 8: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

This case study focuses on a chain of clothes shops. Firstly, the chain employs a thousand people in New Zealand. Secondly, the long-term future of this business is at risk because of rising costs and falling sales. On the other hand, a very attractive deal has been offered by a clothes exporter in a developing country. Moreover, profits could be significantly increased. Furthermore, concerns have been expressed by a sales manager regarding employee conditions at this exporter which affect the workers, the majority of whom are female. Therefore, Utilitarianism which means the “greatest happiness of the greatest number” (Mill, 1848) must be considered in this case.

How many linking words can you see in the paragraph on the next slide?

How many of them are used correctly?

Page 9: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

This case study focuses on a chain of clothes shops. Firstly, the chain employs a thousand people in New Zealand. Secondly, the long-term future of this business is at risk because of rising costs and falling sales. On the other hand, a very attractive deal has been offered by a clothes exporter in a developing country. Moreover, profits could be significantly increased. Furthermore, concerns have been expressed by a sales manager regarding employee conditions at this exporter which affect the workers, the majority of whom are female. Therefore, Utilitarianism which means the “greatest happiness of the greatest number” (Mill, 1848) must be considered in this case.

There are six linking words or phrases.

NOT ONE of them is used correctly!

Page 10: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

This case study focuses on a chain of clothes shops. Firstly, the chain employs a thousand people in New Zealand. Secondly, the long-term future of this business is at risk because of rising costs and falling sales. On the other hand, a very attractive deal has been offered by a clothes exporter in a developing country. Moreover, profits could be significantly increased. Furthermore, concerns have been expressed by a sales manager regarding employee conditions at this exporter which affect the workers, the majority of whom are female. Therefore, Utilitarianism which means the “greatest happiness of the greatest number” (Mill, 1848) must be considered in this case.

NOT a sequence!

NOT a contrast!

NOT reinforcement!

NOT a logical consequence!

Page 11: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

This case study focuses on a chain of clothes shops. The chain employs a thousand people in New Zealand. The long-term future of this business is at risk because of rising costs and falling sales. A very attractive deal has been offered by a clothes exporter in a developing country. Profits could be significantly increased. Concerns have been expressed by a sales manager regarding employee conditions at this exporter which affect the workers, the majority of whom are female.

The paragraph would be more natural and readable without any linking words (and by removing the last sentence, which doesn’t make sense).

Page 12: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

EFFECTIVE USE OF LINKING WORDS

Page 13: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

This case study focuses on a chain of clothes shops. The chain employs a thousand people in New Zealand. The long-term future of this business is at risk because of rising costs and falling sales. A very attractive deal has been offered by a clothes exporter in a developing country. Profits could be significantly increased. Concerns have been expressed by a sales manager regarding employee conditions at this exporter which affect the workers, the majority of whom are female.

If you could add just ONE linking word or phrase, WHICH ONE would you put in – and WHERE?

Page 14: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

This case study focuses on a chain of clothes shops. The chain employs a thousand people in New Zealand. The long-term future of this business is at risk because of rising costs and falling sales. A very attractive deal has been offered by a clothes exporter in a developing country. Profits could be significantly increased. However, concerns have been expressed by a sales manager regarding employee conditions at this exporter which affect the workers, the majority of whom are female.

Situation

Problem

Here, for example, it highlights the move from description of the situation to a focus on the problem (which will be the focus of the essay)

Page 15: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

It’s best to think of linking words as adding SPICE to a paragraph.

Page 16: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

A LITTLE spice, carefully matched to the dish, will enhance the flavour.

TOO MUCH will overwhelm the flavour and make the dish uneatable.

Page 17: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

See how in this well-written paragraph, just ONE linking phrase is used to highlight an important move.

Page 18: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

Another way to consider this decision is to focus on its consequences. Ethical theories which focus on the consequences are known as consequentialist (Smith, 2009). According to one of these theories, Utilitarianism, decision-makers need to focus on the consequences of an action for everyone who is affected. An action can only be considered justified if it is intended to bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people (Richards, 2011). The strength of this approach to ethics is that it encourages decision-makers to consider in a practical way the ‘bigger picture’ of their actions’ in terms of their effects on others, not only on themselves. On the other hand, as Brown (2006) points out, happiness cannot be objectively measured. And a narrow interpretation of this approach might lead to a view that any actions are allowed since ‘the end justifies the means’.

Explanation

Strength(s)

Weakness(es)

Introduction of theory

Page 19: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

CREATING CLARITY & FLOW

Page 20: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

People might overuse linking words because they think these words will help give their writing clarity and ‘flow’.

The problem is that linking words can’t create clarity or flow; they can only highlight elements that are already there.

And using too many of them can reduce their value and attract too much attention (like strong spice!).

More basic ways of creating clarity and flow are STRATEGIC REPETITION and OLD-NEW sentence structures.

Page 21: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

STRATEGIC REPETITION means repeating the key topic words (or associated words) in most sentences in a paragraph. It can give a paragraph a very clear focus on a theme.

Page 22: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

For instance, look again at the paragraph about Utilitarianism.

The theme of the whole essay is the decision which the manager needs to make.

The main theme of is that Utilitarianism is an ethical theory which focuses on the consequences of actions.

So the key words are ‘decision’, ‘ethical theory’ and ‘consequences’.

Notice how often these words (or associated words) are used.

Page 23: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

Another way to consider this decision is to focus on its consequences. Ethical theories which focus on the consequences are known as consequentialist (Smith, 2009). According to one of these theories, Utilitarianism, decision-makers need to focus on the consequences of an action for everyone who is affected. An action can only be considered justified if it is intended to bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people (Richards, 2011). The strength of this approach to ethics is that it encourages decision-makers to consider in a practical way the ‘bigger picture’ of their actions’ in terms of their effects on others, not only on themselves. On the other hand, as Brown (2006) points out, happiness cannot be objectively measured. And a narrow interpretation of this approach might lead to a view that any actions are allowed since ‘the end justifies the means’.

Page 24: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

OLD-NEW sentences make a smooth transition between the topic of the previous sentence(s) and the topic of the new one.

This is especially important in the TOPIC sentence at the beginning of a new paragraph.

Another way to consider this decision …

… is to focus on its consequences

Page 25: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

Another way to consider this decision …

… is to focus on its consequences.

Ethical theories which focus on the consequences …

… are known as consequentialist

According to one of these theories, Utilitarianism,

… decision-makers need to focus on the consequences …

Page 26: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

Another way to consider THIS decision …

… is to focus on its consequences.

According to one of THESE theories, Utilitarianism,

… decision-makers need to focus on the consequences …

‘This’ and ‘these’ help to link the sentence strongly to ideas in previous sentences.

Page 27: Firstly, secondly ... stop!

In this session you have learnt how to:

• Use linking words selectively to emphasise important shifts in an argument

• Use strategic repetition to focus strongly on the topic• Use ‘old-new’ sentences to construct a convincing and

readable argument

SUMMARY

• For more advice and resources, look under ‘Academic Support’ on Stream

• Visit us in the Centre for Teaching and Learning on Level 3 of the library.