Signposting
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Dicussion
General introduction of article
Literature review
Methodology
Sample
Data collection strategies
Data abalysis strategies
Discussion
General conclusion
PLEASE USE SIGNPOSTS thankyou
From VanHooft et al.
With communication there is content- what the author is trying to say, and there is form, the way in which the author is saying it. One way of doing this is with the use of signposts.
Signposts are words or phrases that tell us how the contents of a text are organized. There are many signposts, having a variety of functions.
1. In informative texts, signposts may be used for listing points or for showing the order of priority in a series of points, for example:
Firstly In the first place The next point is to note
Fourthly Finally Moreover
2. They may show that an author is about to offer an illustration of an idea or an example of it:
For example For instance
Let’s take Suppose
An instance/example of this was
3. When the text has a narrative content, signposts may be used to indicate a time relationship
Then While When
After that Later Next
4. An important class of signposts is one which shows that the author is about to sum up what she is trying to say, or a part of it:
If I could just sum up In other words
To summarize It amounts to this
What I have been saying is that
5. Signposts may be used to re-phrase what has already been said, to introduce a definition or to clarify:
Let me put it this way That is to say
To put it another way In other words
6. Signposts may be used to emphasize or draw attention to important points in the text:
It is worth noting Most importantly
Let me emphasize that Especially
Particularly
7. Or they may be used to indicate that a point is not a crucial part of exposition:
As an aside, we should note that
In parenthesis, it is worth noting
(in written texts, the use of parentheses or brackets)
8. Signposts can indicate hypothetical or conditional statements:
If…. Then Assuming that
Unless Would only happen if
Suppose that Provided that
9. They can indicate a relationship of implication between one idea and another:
Because Therefore Thus Since So It follows that
10. Signposts can introduce an idea which is contrary to what has been said:
Nevertheless On the other hand
But Although
And yet However
11. They can introduce an idea that the author wishes to mention but does not agree with:
Some people claim that… but
It has been argued that… on the other hand
In his important book, Smith (1994) says… but
12. Signposts can also include attitudes:
Unfortunately Luckily
It is regrettable that
13. Some signposts are logical connectives which indicate inclusion, exclusion or possible alternatives;
And Or Neither…nor Either…or Only Nothing but
14. Signposts that indicate exhortation include:
Ought Should
15. Along with the many words that can be used in evaluative communication, clear signposts of evaluations are:
Good Better Best Bad Worse
Worst Effective Efficient Successful
16. Some signposts are used to qualify the strength with which a statement is being made:
Might Probably It is likely that May
17. While others serve to place a stress on a statement (especially when the audience might be expected not to have known it before)
Indeed In fact
18. Some signposts indicate causal relationships or that an explanation is about to be given:
By Because
19. Some signposts indicate that the author is appealing to the audience to agree with a statement because that statement is on e that everyone might be expected to agree with:
It goes without saying that Of course
20. A group of signposts that is often taken for granted is the group which indicates negation:
Not Never None Nothing
Signposts help us understand the content and context of the text. It helps lead the reader to understand where you going. It helps the reader follow your train of thought.
