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CRITERION B: ORGANISATION - ESSAY
CRITERION B
Cohesive devices: LINK WORDS
(Key words at very bottom)
The word cohesion comes from a Latin word meaning hanging together. Sentences need to be connected to sentences, paragraphs to paragraphs.
Cohesive devices: KEY WORDS
Key words are important words in you essay which you use in the last sentence of one paragraph, to be picked up in the first sentence of the next paragraph. They also add cohesion within a paragraph. Ask your teacher for a ample essay demonstrating the use of key words.
A sample essay shows rather than tells how to use key words. Moreover, it will show you how key and link words combine to increase cohesion. HEY! That was a small demonstration...
title
Introduction, ending in a sentence expressing the main argument of the essay. We call this the
THESIS STATEMENT
This is the stand you take, the position you are going to defend.
This main argument needs to be supported by a number of arguments (at least three) in the body of the essay.
argument 1: The first support for the thesis statement. We call this the
topic sentence
The topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph, just as the thesis statement expresses the main idea of the essay.
This topic sentence, in turn, needs to be supported
Supporting arguments need to be illustrated
(tell me, then show me)
The final sentence of the paragraph prepares the reader for the next
argument 2: More support for the thesis statement, in another
topic sentence
The topic sentence may begin with a link word, and should pick up a keyword from the end of the previous paragraph
This topic sentence, in turn, needs to be supported
Supporting arguments need to be illustrated
(tell me, then show me)
The final sentence of the paragraph prepares the reader for the next
argument 3: More support for the thesis statement, in another
topic sentence
The topic sentence may begin with a link word, and should pick up a keyword from the end of the previous paragraph
This topic sentence, in turn, needs to be supported
Supporting arguments need to be illustrated
(tell me, then show me)
The final sentence of the paragraph prepares the reader for the next
conclusion
A brief summary of the arguments made in the body. The essay should end with a reference to the thesis statement and may make some reference to the opening sentence.
Then, the conclusion broadens out.
this is the skeleton of an essay. it needs flesh on the bones (content, crit. A) and life (vivid language, crit C)
verbal bridges
CRITERION B
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Link words may signal:
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1. ADDITION |
2. CAUSE and EFFECT |
3. COMPARISON and CONTRAST |
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4. CLARIFICATION and EXAMPLE |
5. POSSIBLE COUNTERCLAIMS |
6. CONCLUSION |
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Old |
Transition |
New |
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She is rich. |
ADDITION |
She is virtuous. |
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Besides |
Moreover, |
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Additionally, |
Furthermore, |
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Lastly, |
Finally, |
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Also, |
Not only ..but ..as well |
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Equally important, |
First, Second, Third, |
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What's more, |
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An effect |
Transition
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Cause/Reason |
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CAUSE/REASON |
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I was late |
As |
Because |
The buses didn’t run |
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Because of |
Due to |
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For |
For the simple reason that |
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Since |
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Cause/Reason |
EFFECT/RESULT |
An effect |
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The buses didn’t run |
As a result |
So |
I was late |
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Because of this, |
So that |
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For this reason, |
Therefore, |
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Consequently, |
Thus, |
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Just read |
Transition |
About to read |
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COMPARISON/CONTRAST (not equal or equal) |
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On this map Africa is almost equal in size to Greenland.
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Although |
Yet |
Africa is actually fourteen times larger than Greenland.
The relative area of Europe is presented inaccurately. |
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Whereas |
Nevertheless, |
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When in fact, |
Nonetheless, |
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But |
However, |
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Still, |
On the contrary, |
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On (the) one hand, |
…., on the other hand, |
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In contrast, |
In comparison,
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Similarly, |
In the same way |
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Likewise, |
At the same time |
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Point just read |
Transition |
Clarification |
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CLARIFICATION (to be more precise) |
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My life has become less complicated. |
In other words, |
That is to say |
I have far fewer things on my mind. |
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In this case, |
I mean |
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Generalization |
EXAMPLES (to illustrate) |
Examples |
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Pets improve the quality of people’s lives. |
For instance, |
Namely, |
Lonely people who buy a dog get out of the house more and get more exercise. |
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Especially, |
Notably, |
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For example, |
Particularly, |
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Own point |
Transition
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Others may have a point |
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RESERVATION (even so, ) |
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The country is prepared to negotiate. |
Admittedly, |
Granted, |
The prime minister says that negotiations are going to be tough. |
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Others may have a point |
DISMISSAL (but) |
Reason why own point is stronger |
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The prime minister says that negotiations are going to be tough. |
All the same, |
In any case |
This is the time to start finding a way towards peace. |
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At any rate, |
Either way, |
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Even so, |
Nevertheless, |
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Despite this |
Still, |
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Points made |
Transition
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Summary |
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SUMMARY (in a nutshell) |
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All in all, |
To sum up, |
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All together, |
On the whole, |
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As I mentioned, |
Overall, |
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As I stated, |
In brief, |
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Briefly, |
In short, |
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Points made |
CONCLUSION (I’m going to wrap up now) |
Conclusion |
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…,then,… |
In conclusion, |
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Thus, |
So |
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To conclude, |
Therefore, |
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