Explore how to structure your assignments, introduce new topics and take your reader on a journey
Essays can be considered a journey from the introduction to the conclusion. You're the driver, your readers are the passengers, and signposts are the roads you choose to take. The principles discussed here apply to most types of assignment.
Not signposting your essay is a bit like sleeping on a journey and only waking up occasionally – it can be disorientating. You'll wonder where you are and how you got there. Your tutors can feel this way if your content isn't clearly signposted.
The examples below are suggestions and you don't need to reproduce them exactly; each word and phrase has a precise meaning so you should check their meaning before you use them. Most of these terms can be used in any section of an essay, but some will suits particular fields more than others.
What signposting means
Signposting means using words to tell your reader about the content of your essay to help them understand as clearly as possible. Here are three examples of signposts and what they mean:
Signpost example
Meaning
…in order to explain and understand the causes of this offence, it would be useful to apply the criminological theory.
The reader knows that you'll use theory to explore and explain a criminal offence.
There are several ways in which the new style shopping centres may be seen as attractive.
The reader knows that you'll include at least two aspects of attractiveness.
Another issue which often concerns feminists is the pay gap.
The reader is reminded that you've already covered one issue, and introduces another.
Types of signposting
You can signposting using single words, short phrases, long phrases, or whole sentences. Examples of each are provided below:
single words: however, furthermore, initially
short phrases: in contrast, in conclusion, an additional point is
sentence: Having discussed the reliability of the research, this report will next address its validity.
Signposting in the introduction, body and conclusion
These lists include some terms you could use for signposting in your introduction, main body and conclusion.
Signposting in the introduction
You could use an opening statement like this to signpost your introduction:
This essay will:
It will then:
To quantify what your essay will do, you could say: 'This essay will address three aspects'. You could also signpost how this will be done, for example: 'This essay will attempt to determine whether cats are better pets than dogs by analysing studies of their behaviour.'
Signposting in the body
These examples show a word or phrase and what it tells the reader:
'This essay will now' — introduces what is next
'Furthermore' — takes the point, issue, or data further
'In contrast' — includes a strong alternative or challenge
'However' — adds an alternative or challenge, but less strongly than the phrase 'In contrast'
Signposting don't always have a statement of intent (like 'It will then', or 'In addition'). You could say: 'Cats are often seen as less affectionate than dogs'.
Signposting in conclusions
You can use many terms and phrases from the introduction and main body of your essay in the conclusion too, but not all of them are appropriate. You shouldn't introduce new material in a conclusion and can use the past perfect tense ('This essay has focused on') or present tense ('This essay shows that').
Download our signposting for better essays revision sheet
Download this page as a PDF for your essay signposting revision notes.
Writing: flow and coherence
Commas and its
Reflective writing introduction
Effective Signposting
Signposts are words or phrases that help articulate the structure of a piece of writing and ensure that readers don’t get lost. Signposting will flag the most important parts of an argument, signal transitions, and clarify the stakes of an argument.
Here are some examples of helpful signposts:
“This essay examines biblical symbolism in Moby-Dick . . . ” This signpost states the focus of the essay .
“After a review of recent scholarship on biblical symbolism, I consider how Melville relates funerary symbolism to both death and rebirth . . . ” This signpost clarifies how the author’s focus is distinguished from previous scholarship .
“My purpose in focusing on Queequeg’s coffin . . . ” This signpost clarifies the stakes of the author’s argument .
Single words and short phrases can be useful signposts, such as additionally , consequently , however , also , in contrast . But make sure to use these words correctly. However should be used to pivot to an opposing idea or to acknowledge another side of an argument, and consequently indicates that an idea is a result or consequence of a previously discussed idea or point. Signposts that identify the sequence or direction of your argument can also be effective: for example, first , next , then , finally ; or first , second , third , and so on.
Using signposts can improve your writing by giving it structure and direction, but excessive signposting creates unnecessary wordiness and can give the impression that you don’t trust the reader’s ability to follow your argument or that you’re grafting signposts on to compensate for a poorly articulated argument. Here are some signposts that may do more harm than good:
“ It’s important to note that Melville’s treatment . . . ” Show, don’t tell, what is important.
“ What I want to call attention to in this passage . . . ” Skip the wordy opening; lead with “In this passage . . . ”
“ I will now turn to the pulpit of Father Mapple . . . ” If you’ve signposted your essay’s structure at its beginning, you don’t have to give directions throughout .
“ As I argued in the previous section, the symbolism of the white whale . . . ” If the point has been well made, your reader will remember it. Summarize it briefly, but you don’t need to mention the earlier section .
Early drafts of an essay are likely to include some extra signposting, because you may be developing and revising the essay’s structure as you write. For this reason, it’s a good idea to read the final draft of a piece of writing with an eye toward its transitions and signposts, to make sure that they support and clarify your argument. At this stage of revision, you can eliminate any wordy or excessive signposts.
Frank Nzewi 07 October 2021 AT 10:10 AM
This topic is useful to me, because it clarifies the use of signposting.
Your e-mail address will not be published
Join the Conversation
We invite you to comment on this post and exchange ideas with other site visitors. Comments are moderated and subject to terms of service.
If you have a question for the MLA's editors, submit it to Ask the MLA!
Place order
Signposting words and Phrases to use in Essays
Every professor or instructor will tell you that they undoubtedly enjoy reading and grading an essay or academic task where signposting words and phrases have been used. This is a secret that only the top grade and talented students have discovered. It is the reason they score As.
Essays that have a logical flow, where signposting words and phrases have been used, are appealing to read. When you signpost, no one struggles to read through your essay, identify your thoughts, claims, counterclaims, and arguments. In the end, such essays achieve their intended purpose, which then earns you the best grade.
Any student who aspires to score the best grades for their essays must master the art of signposting. Not only in essays but also in other academic tasks, assignments, or homework. It is a skill that sets you miles ahead of the rest.
In this guide, we take you through the best practices of signposting using examples for illustration and deep understanding before giving you a list of signposting words and phrases.
What is signposting?
You are probably wondering, "what are signposts in writing?" Let us begin by defining signposting before we head on to focus on signpost examples.
Signposting is a commonly used strategy when writing academic and professional papers. It refers to the use of phrases and words to guide readers through the content of a piece of written work such as an essay, research paper, term paper, proposal, or dissertation. It entails flagging the most significant parts of your arguments, signaling transitions, and clarifying any stakes of an argument.
Signposts are these words and phrases that help you articulate the structure of any given piece of writing to ensure that your writers flow with the ideas.
There are two classes of signposting: Major signposts and linking words and short phrases.
Major signposting entails the introduction , conclusion, and outlining of main arguments or the direction of arguments. It equally entails the use of opening phrases. On the other hand, linking words and short phrases encompass any connecting words that guide the readers through the main arguments by linking sentences, ideas, and paragraphs.
Example of signposting
To understand Biden's foreign policy for China, it is imperative to evaluate the policy direction of Trump's regime.
This example helps the reader to understand in advance that you will be taking them through the characteristics of Trump's foreign policy for China before exploring Biden's current foreign policy to China in a cross-comparative approach.
Another way to view the issue of global warming is'
In this example, you are trying to remind the reader that although you have covered some aspects of global warming, they should note another vital point.
How to Signpost in an Essay for more effortless Flow of Ideas
When you signpost, a reader whose mind is preoccupied can read your essay or piece of academic writing and understand your point without struggling. It is a bulletproof strategy that helps your readers comprehend each point. The readers can connect points, sentences, ideas, and paragraphs, which gives an ideal flow as they read.
Signposting also makes your writing enjoyable; you sound professional in your arguments. In addition, when you signpost, the structure of your essay, especially in the introduction, helps you present your arguments well.
Here are eight effective strategies , tips, and tricks you can use when signposting to write an essay that scores an A .
1. Use Verbs to Signpost
When introducing quotes or referring to the sources or references, use various verbs to signpost your readers that you are about to introduce a quote, then connect it to the main argument.
You can use verbs such as asserts, opines, contends, reasons, reports, concludes, demonstrates, claims, shows, concurs with, refutes, opposes, etc.
Be vigilant enough not to use the wrong verbs in a given context when using these verbs. Besides, ensure that you are precise. Use these verbs to endorse what the scholar said, refute or oppose what the scholar said, or compare the opinion of scholars on a given issue.
2. Use Retrospective Signposts to Reiterate
When writing an essay or dissertation, capturing your readers' attention becomes your ultimate goal. And while you capture their attention, you must also keep them motivated and engaged so they stick to your work.
One way to achieve this is by reminding the readers about the key points you have covered and where you are headed. You prepare your readers for what is coming.
You can use phrases such as "as is now evident," "as mentioned earlier," "in other words," "as a complement to the last point on," or "the main point is"
Using retrospective signposts can help you show how the previous points matter to the existing idea or argument. In addition, it helps the readers to take keen note of a point before introducing a new idea.
In most cases, you can do this at the end of paragraphs where you want to highlight the earlier point and expose its relevance to the essay question.
You can as well apply this strategy to your conclusion. Also, you can repeat complicated ideas, points, or arguments to avoid sparking controversy or creating abrupt surprises.
When you remind the readers about these key points, your intended direction, and your expected destination, you orient them through your reading to allow some good flow of ideas.
Repetition makes your readers get bored by reading something so many times. However, when you signpost these ideas, you help them see that you address a different point connected to the past ideas.
3. Effectively use Transitions
Transitions knit together ideas in an essay or academic writing task. Using transition words and phrases, you can link ideas in two sentences or paragraphs. You can use different transition words when writing, depending on your goal. Only ensure that your intention and the choice of a transition align.
You can illustrate your previous point using transitions such as 'for example,' 'for instance,' 'as an illustration,' or 'to further expound on.'
You can compare, show cause and consequence, or give additional points to what you have already covered. And when you use transitions, be wise enough not to overuse or place them for the sake of it.
Related Reading: How to write explosive compare and contrast essays.
4. Precisely use Signposts
Although signposting is intended for all the good reasons we have explained, your work will sound sloppy when abused. For instance, using words such as 'conversely' or 'however' in the wrong context makes you look foolish.
Resist any urge to sprinkle signposting words all over your written piece. Instead, you must be meticulous and link sentences, paragraphs, or ideas only when necessary.
Choose a transition or linking word that fits the context. For example, only use 'as a result' to signpost when the following idea is a consequence of an idea you previously wrote.
As usual, precise language will enable smooth and accurate communication with your audience; you must stick to it when writing your essay.
Related Read: How to make good paragraphs in an essay.
5. Signpost in your introduction
When signposting in the introduction, clearly elaborate:
The overall aim of your essay, e.g., 'This essay argues'.'
The main ideas you will discuss and in what order, e.g., 'First, second, third'.'
The rationale of choosing your main argument for the topic, e.g., 'Given that'.' Or ''will form the key focus of this essay.'
Quantify the content or aims of your essay, e.g., 'This essay discusses the three strategies'.'
In short, your introduction should present the essay's overall aim and share the points you discuss in the body paragraphs.
6. Signpost throughout the body paragraphs
You need to use paragraph breaks and subheadings to signpost through your essay. It is a way to keep the readers focused on the main points of your essay. However, you can only do this for long essays such as term papers, research papers, or dissertations.
Writing three to four sentences to effectively use paragraph breaks before starting another paragraph. Paragraph breaks are the single line space, indentation, or both that mark the end of one paragraph and the beginning of the next.
In your body paragraphs, you can tell your readers about specific points to come or what has been discussed already.
Example: Having discussed the overall direction of Trump's foreign policy, it is necessary to consider Biden's current policy.
You can equally use words and short phrases within the paragraphs. For example, you can use words such as 'Consequently,' 'as a result,' 'therefore,' 'alternatively,' or 'however' to signal direction.
7. Signpost in your conclusion
Like the introduction, the conclusion of an essay also plays a critical role - a signpost in your conclusion to bring some element of closure and close the loop for your readers.
To signpost well, look for the verbs you used in the introduction and use the same verbs in their past tense. For example, "t his essay has discussed and concluded."
Ensure that your conclusion reminds the readers about the main points, arguments, and reasoning you have achieved in your essay and how your essay has answered the question.
A good essay outline should help you signpost ideas in your conclusion. That way, you can craft a conclusion that satisfies your readers' appetite.
8. Ensure that your topic is clear earlier on
Provide a rationale for choosing your topic early enough. Then, you have a few seconds to capture the attention of your readers, after which you either keep or lose their interest.
To have your readers engaged in reading your essay past the title, let the reader know the direction. Begin by writing a great hook , providing a detailed background, and explaining how the topic is relevant to your essay. Also, ensure that your main arguments are clear off the bat.
List of Signposting Words and Phrases for Essays
Now that you understand what it is, its significance, and various approaches to achieve it, let's have a quick look at the phrases and words or signposts that you can use in your essay.
Introducing new idea
Firstly, secondly, thirdly'
First, second, third'.
The first/next/final section'
The current debate'.
The current issue'.
Adding similar points
In addition
On the same note
Specifying a particular idea
Considering
Specifically
In particular
More specifically
In relation to
In terms of
With respect to
Giving examples or illustrating
For instance
For example
As an illustration
This can be explained by
To further illustrate
Summarizing ideas
To conclude
As evident from the discussion
As is clear from the discussion above
To summarize
In conclusion
The main issue that is apparent
The main points here
It is clear that
The strength of this approach
Making comparison
On the one hand
On the other hand
Compared to
In comparison
In contrast
This contrasts'
This conflicts'
This is contrary
Another angle
Linking or developing a new idea
Having said that'.
Picking from the last point
Having established
To further understand'
To elaborate further
In addition to
As well as'
Another issue'
Of equal importance
Extending the argument further
Related Reading: How to write a compare and contrast essay.
Final Remarks
Signposting is a single ingredient that makes your essay stronger, more understandable, and more flowing. In addition, it improves the taste of your essay even when your instructor is in no good mood.
Using the signposting tips and tricks we have discussed can help you achieve so much, even when writing a short essay, as you would with a longer essay.
When creating a good flow, the instructor or professor can identify with your argument. You invite them to your world and keep them to the end of the essay. Even as you signpost, be meticulous just as you would with transition words. Ensure that you use it sparingly and as necessary.
We have expert essay writers who can write a researched, structured, and organized essay if you are struggling with your essay. Leave planning, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising an essay to our writers and receive a top-grade grade essay.
Need a Discount to Order?
15% off first order, what you get from us.
Plagiarism-free papers
Our papers are 100% original and unique to pass online plagiarism checkers.
Well-researched academic papers
Even when we say essays for sale, they meet academic writing conventions.
24/7 online support
Hit us up on live chat or Messenger for continuous help with your essays.
Easy communication with writers
Order essays and begin communicating with your writer directly and anonymously.
Current Students
News & Press
Exam Technique for In-Person Exams
Revising for 24 Hour Take Home Exams
Introduction to 24 Hour Take Home Exams
Before the 24 Hour Take Home Exam
Exam Technique for 24 Hour Take Home Exams
Structuring a Literature Review
Writing Coursework under Time Constraints
Reflective Writing
Writing a Synopsis
Structuring a Science Report
Presentations
How the University works out your degree award
Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC)
Accessing your assignment feedback via Canvas
Inspera Digital Exams
Writing Introductions and Conclusions
Paragraphing
Reporting Verbs
Signposting
Proofreading
Working with a Proofreader
Writing Concisely
The 1-Hour Writing Challenge
Editing strategies
Apostrophes
Semi-colons
Run-on sentences
How to Improve your Grammar (native English)
How to Improve your Grammar (non-native English)
Independent Learning for Online Study
Reflective Practice
Academic Reading
Strategic Reading Framework
Note-taking Strategies
Note-taking in Lectures
Making Notes from Reading
Using Evidence to Support your Argument
Integrating Scholarship
Managing Time and Motivation
Dealing with Procrastination
How to Paraphrase
Quote or Paraphrase?
How to Quote
Referencing
Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity
Use and limitations of generative AI
Acknowledging use of AI
Numeracy, Maths & Statistics
Library Search
Search Techniques
Keeping up to date
Evaluating Information
Managing Information
Thinking Critically about AI
Using Information generated by AI
Digital Capabilities
SensusAccess
Develop Your Digital Skills
Digital Tools to Help You Study
Explore different ways of guiding the reader through your assignment.
Newcastle University
Academic Skills Kit
Academic Writing
Signposting language can help you guide the reader through your writing and make sure the order is clear and flows well. These are small words or phrases that help the reader follow your argument, understand the relationship between your ideas and anticipate what’s going to come next.
These words may not seem important, but they’re really the glue that holds a piece of writing together. Without signposting language, writing can lose direction, become confused and read like a series of unrelated points. Try reading the paragraph without them and see how it changes the meaning.
Signposting words are useful in the introduction to signal your structure, and echoed in the first lines of paragraphs to indicate how the paragraphs relate to each other. They are also useful at sentence level to make the links between them clear. There are different kinds of links and relationships, so you need to choose a signposting word that does the right job.
Signposting of order
You can use these kinds of signposting words to direct the reader through your writing, provide a ‘roadmap’ for the order in which you’re going to talk about things, help them keep on track throughout and remind them of key information or anticipate questions. This kind of signposting can be especially useful for introductions, conclusions and when transitioning from one big idea to another or talking about methods and procedures.
Informs readers of the writing’s overall structure.
First/Firstly,…
To begin with…
Second/Secondly,…
Afterwards,…
Following this…
To conclude,…
Helps readers anticipate content that’ll appear later in the writing.
In the following section…
As we shall see,…
As explored below,…
As will be explained later,…
Reminds readers of important information mentioned earlier.
In the previous section,…
As we have seen,…
As demonstrated above,…
As indicated earlier,…
As discussed previously,…
Prior to this,…
Initially,…
Helps readers identify where they are in the writing’s overall structure.
Turning now to…
Moving on to…
Having considered…we will now consider…
It is now necessary to…
This section identifies…
Signposting of relations
You can use these kinds of signposting words to show that you are constructing logical steps in your argument, show the relationship between ideas and make it clear to the reader where you’re identifying similarities and differences, cause and effect, summaries, examples or particularly important pieces of information.
Tells the reader that this point builds on the previous.
As well as,…
In addition…
Additionally,…
What is more…
To elaborate,…
Tells the reader that this point is a further example of the previous.
Similarly,…
Just as…, so too…
In the same way,…
Correspondingly,…
Complementary to this…
Prepares the reader for an example.
For example,…
For instance,…
To illustrate,…
In particular,
…including…
…as can be seen in…
…as demonstrated by…
…exemplifies…
Tells the reader that this point is in opposition to the previous.
In contrast,…
In comparison,…
Conversely,…
On the other hand,…
Otherwise,…
Alternatively,…
Despite this,…
Nonetheless,…
Nevertheless,…
That aside,…
While this may be true…
Notwithstanding…
Then again,…
On the contrary,…
Tells the reader that this point is a result of the previous.
Therefore,…
Consequently,…
Accordingly,…
As a result,…
This means that…
This causes…
For this reason…
Because of this…
In view of this,…
With this in mind…
It can be seen that…
Resulting from this…
This suggests that…
Subsequently,…
Prepares the reader for a summary of previous points.
In summary,…
Altogether,…
On the whole,…
To review,…
Provides the reader with another way of saying the same thing.
In other words,…
Better still,…
Stated otherwise,…
That is to say,…
Put simply...
To look at this another way....
Helps the reader identify key information.
In particular,…
Especially…
Importantly,…
Furthermore,…
Tips for using signposting language
Choose wisely.
Signposting words aren’t interchangeable and can be really confusing for the reader if used inappropriately. So make sure you choose the right word to reflect the relationship you’re trying to communicate.
Use deliberately
You don’t need to use a signposting word in every sentence, so before you do ask yourself if it helps make the meaning clearer, or just bogs down the writing.
Edit carefully
When you want to get the wordcount down, you might be tempted to get rid of signposting words first so you can keep more of the information. This might not be as useful as it seems, though, because lots of information without any signposting can make it really difficult for the reader to understand what you’re trying to say.
Download this guide as a PDF
Explore different ways of guiding the reader through your assignment. **PDF Download**
More in this section
Find out how to structure an academic paragraph.
Reporting verbs
Explore different ways of referring to literature and foregrounding your voice.
Signposting is how you guide your reader and indicate to them the direction your writing will take. It can help to make your discussion flow smoothly by connecting the ideas and arguments in your writing and avoid the reader having to guess what is happening or what is being argued.
A lack of signposting can lead to writing with abrupt, disjointed breaks, stopping and starting with each new point, leaving the reader wondering what your points have to do with one another or what their relevance is. In this way, your writing can lose direction, become confused and read more like a series of unrelated points. A lack of signposting can also indicate that your argument is more descriptive than analytical.
introductions, conclusions and outlining main arguments; the signalling of key points in paragraphs through topic sentences.
connecting sentences/words that help guide the reader through the argument by linking ideas within your writing and indicating the direction of the discussion.
In addition to presenting your argument, you should guide the reader as you are doing it. Tell the reader what you will discuss next, then discuss it, then tell them what you have just done. These are your major signposts. Doing this helps the reader understand why you are discussing something and how it relates to the overall argument. At the same time, it forces you to write more concisely and avoid unnecessary repetition. The reader expects and needs signposts. You need to include headings or transitional sentences between major sections of your writing to indicate to your reader that you have finished one section and are moving on to another. Major signposts are used in the introduction to indicate how you are going to address the assignment, the key themes you will cover and in which order. They are also used to direct the reader throughout the assignment and to signal the conclusion. They can also indicate to the reader the important elements of your writing such as the purpose and connection between points.
Signposts can also be used to signal transition in your writing. These signposts are words or phrases that express a connection between two ideas and make the transition from one point to the next in sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your writing and help your reader understand the logic of how your ideas fit together and the direction of your discussion. Without them, it can be difficult to follow the flow of ideas in your writing. They can help your reader see how a part of your argument is being continued, developed, challenged, changed, or summarised. Used within your paragraphs, they can help your reader move from one idea to another as well as move to the next paragraph and avoids any jarring changes of topic that leave your reader struggling to understand the connection between two paragraphs. Rather than leap from one idea to the next, a transitional word or phrase can help your ideas connect and flow and make your writing more reader friendly. You can also think of a transition as a sort of bridge between ideas or between paragraphs. Transition sentences can inform the reader when your writing is moving from one idea to another, and how those ideas are connected. Clear transitions will help to avoid a list style paper of seemingly unconnected points about an issue.
a clear challenge for
a different view is
admittedly
against this
all the same
alternatively
although
although this may be true
although true
(and) yet
another possibility
at the same time
balanced against
besides
better/worse still
claims
but
contrastingly
conversely
correspondingly
despite this/being
differing from
equally
even so
even though
for all that
however
in/by comparison
in/by contrast
in fact
in opposition
in spite of
instead
likewise
nevertheless
nonetheless
notwithstanding
on the contrary
on the one/other hand
otherwise
rather
though
unlike
whereas
while/whilst
an example of this is
an illustration of this is
another example
as an example
as an illustration
as follows
a typical/particular/key example
chiefly
clearly
especially
for example
for instance
including
in effect
in other words
in particular
in the case of
in this case
in this situation
mainly
most importantly
namely
naturally
notably
not least
obviously
one such
particularly
primarily
say
significantly
specifically
such as
that is
that is to say
thus
to be more precise
to demonstrate/this demonstrates
to illustrate
to show that
to simplify
typical of this/such
above all
accordingly
additionally
again
also
another
apart from this
as a result
as well as
as with
at the same time
besides
collectively
comparatively
compared to
correspondingly
coupled with
equally
equally important
equivalent to
further
furthermore
in addition
in a similar way/fashion
in/by comparison
indeed
in essence
in the same way/manner
it could also be said
just as…so too
likewise
more importantly
moreover
next
relatedly
similarly
similar to
taken together
too
accepting/assuming this
accordingly
as a result/consequence
as previously stated
as such
as this assignment/research has demonstrated
because of this/that
clearly then
consequently
the effect of this is
finally
from the evidence detailed it seems that
from this it can be seen that
for this/that reason
given these points
has been noted/shown
hence
in all
in brief
in conclusion
in essence
in order to
in short
in summary
in the end
in the final analysis
in this/that case
in view of this
it follows that
it is evident
it might be concluded from this
leading to
on the whole
otherwise
overall
owing to/due to the fact that
resulting from/in consequence of this
since
so
subsequently
then
therefore
these examples show that
this evidence strongly suggests that
this implies
this may stem from
this suggests that
throughout
thus
to conclude
to summarise
to sum up
ultimately
whenever
above all
additionally
after
after that
afterwards
another
as long as
as soon as
at first
at last
at length
at present
at that/this time
at the same time
at this/that point
before
concurrently
consequently
currently
during
earlier
eventually
first and foremost
first and most importantly
finally
first(ly)
first of all
followed by
following on
following this
formerly
gradually
henceforth
immediately
in addition
initially
in the first/second place
in the past
lastly
lastly and most importantly
meanwhile
more/most importantly
moreover
next
once
previously
primarily
prior to (that)
recently
second(ly)
simultaneously
since
so far
soon
subsequently
then
thereafter
third(ly)
to begin/start with
ultimately
until now
while
above all
certainly
chiefly
clearly
conceivably
conclusively
crucially
doubtless
especially
evidently
for this reason
indeed
in fact
it should be noted
no doubt
of course
particularly
significantly
singularly
surely
undoubtedly
unfortunately
unquestionably
with attention to
as a rule
as usual
for the most part
generally
generally speaking
in most cases
on the whole
ordinarily
usually
Communications from the Library: Please note all communications from the library, concerning renewal of books, overdue books and reservations will be sent to your NCI student email account.
When should you signpost, signposting in conclusions.
How to use signposts
Conclusion and further reading
Signposting in an introduction
The signposts in your introduction should indicate:
what is the overall aim of your essay ('This essay intends to...')
what ideas or factors will be discussed and in what order ('Firstly... secondly... finally...').
You may also wish to:
Justify why you have chosen to focus on certain aspects of a topic ('For this reason... will be the main focus of the essay.')
Quantify your aims or the content of your essay ('This essay will discuss three approaches to the issue of...')
Signposting throughout an essay
Throughout an essay you will probably use two types of signposting: small and large scale.
1. Large Scale signposting tells the reader specifics about what is to come or what has gone before, for example:
'Having discussed the arguments in favour of the Third Way, it is also necessary to consider its limitations'.
2. Small scale signposts are individual words or short phrases which help to signal direction, such as:
Consequently
As a result
Alternatively
Additionally
The conclusion should remind your reader of the line of reasoning you have guided them through, and how your essay has answered the original question.
Verbs can be signposts, too
When introducing quotes or referring to other people's work, think about the verbs you can use. These can act as signposts to the reader in terms of how you feel about the theories or ideas you are discussing.
For example:
Shoolbred (2013) demonstrates...
Cooper (2014) claims...
Verbs like 'shows' or 'demonstrates' give the impression that you are endorsing a scholar's viewpoint, whereas verbs like 'asserts' or 'claims' indicate that you might be about to challenge their perspective. Never use a verb like 'proves' if that person did not actually prove something. Additionally, be careful with words like 'portrays' and 'conveys'. Find out their exact meaning and use them wisely.
What is Signposting in an Essay (+ 43 Signposting Words)
Table of contents
Have you ever read any piece of academic work and come across phrases like “In this essay,” “this essay is about,” or “as we conclude?” These are signposting words or phrases, and we commonly use them in supporting points throughout an essay.
Essays need to have a logical flow and using signposting words can help you achieve that. They play an important role in keeping your readers focused on the point of discussion and the overall aim of the essay.
As a result, signposting in an essay is a technique you must have in your writing skillset . It is a surefire way to help readers understand your point or the connection between points, guide readers through your essay or remind them when you change direction and of key points.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what is signposting in an essay and also share 40 signposting words you can use.
Signposting in an Essay How It Works
Signposting gives your essays a certain flow and style that readers love. It shows how each point is connected, the link between paragraphs, what you are discussing, and where you are, so your readers can follow your essay with ease.
It involves using words and phrases that will require the reader much less concentration to understand your point.
Apart from helping the reader to easily follow your work, signposting in an essay makes your work enjoyable to read, as you will sound professional. Signposting the structure of your essay strengthens the presentation of your argument, especially when used in the introduction.
Here are six tips to keep in mind when using signposting words, to help you write an essay that stands out.
1. Address the main topic early on
You have only eight seconds to capture the reader’s attention. Besides, as little as 20% of readers read past the headline of an article or essay.
Your chances of having more people read past your essay headline lie in revealing to the reader where the text is heading early on.
Failure to do so, other things will distract them or they’ll begin to prejudice. As a result, don’t be afraid to tell readers what your essay is all about before you set off writing the meaty part of it.
For example, in your introduction, you can say, “this essay will discuss three factors affecting the gender pay gap...”.
2. Reiterate key points
As a writer, you can’t stop capturing your readers’ attention. You also need to keep them engaged and motivated to continue reading your essay.
You can achieve this by reminding your readers of where you are headed, key points, what you have covered, and what is coming. For example, you can use phrases like “the key point here is...” or “in other words...” or “I had already mentioned earlier that X == Y...”.
When you do so, it shows that the point matters and they need to take it into serious account. Another reason for reminding readers of the destination or key points is it brings them back to your essay just in case their minds wander away.
Consider also repeating complicated points—ones that are hard to comprehend because they may cause controversy or create unnecessary surprises.
Reminding readers of key points, destinations, and what you intend to write is a good orientation technique. So if you are talking about the same point, the reader will know from the repetition likewise, if you are talking about a different point.
3. Use paragraphs breaks and subheadings
Paragraph breaks and subheadings are also a form of signposting signals that keep readers focused on your essay by informing them when you are starting a new subsection or a new argument.
They are mostly ideal in longer essays such as research essays or after major headings like Methodology and Result which tend to get longer.
The trick around paragraph breaks is to use three to four paragraphs before starting another one. But we also know that some sentences will be shorter and others longer, so it is upon you to make the right judgment when using paragraph breaks or when splitting sentences.
Consider also using boldface to signal transition, while italics, underlining, and solid caps, keep the reader focused on your piece.
4. Use transitions well
Sometimes, a reader will easily understand how two sentences or paragraphs relate. Sometimes they won’t. If it is not obvious, make it obvious by adding transitions .
There are different transitions you can use to show different things. To illustrate a previous point, use “for example” or “for instance”.
To develop a point further, use “even more,” “in addition,” “furthermore,” or “similarly.” To contrast, a point, use “despite,” “however,” or “nevertheless.” This is just a snapshot. You can find more transitions in the next section of this text. Even so, cap the number of transitions you use to avoid boring the reader.
5. Write clear introductions and conclusions
Write clear introductions and conclusions . For instance, in the introduction, give the overall aim of the essay and share what will be discussed. In the body, signal what you intend to discuss and what is to come. Similarly, in conclusion, remind readers what you have discussed and whether you have answered the original question.
Essays tend to become complicated to read, and without a proper introduction and conclusion, your readers will lose interest.
It’s also a good idea to create an outline before you start drafting the essay. Outlines are like roadmaps. It gives your paper structure and guides you through the writing process.
6. Use signposting sparingly
The best way to communicate something to a reader more effectively and accurately is to use precise language and words. That is why it is prudent to carefully consider what words you are using and where in the text to place them. To avoid making your work look sloppy, avoid excessive signposting in an essay.
When you decide to link two paragraphs or two texts, think carefully about what words you would want to effectively convey your message. For example, if you choose a word like “in contrast,” ensure you want to add a strong alternative or challenge something. Do not use it if you want to add more weight to a previous point.
43 Signposting Words You Can Consider for your Essays
Having hinted at the importance of using signposting sparingly, we want to look at the common signposting words and phrases and where to use them to link your paragraphs or words so that your ideas have a logical connection and are easily understandable.
Here are the different ways you can use signposting, along with examples for inspiration.
A. To highlight a point
Importantly
More importantly
Furthermore
It is also important to highlight
B. Making a comparison
In contrast
On one hand
On the other hand
In comparison
Another point to consider is
Compared to
C. Summarizing
In conclusion
To summarize
The (number) main points are
D. Giving an example
For example
This can be illustrated by
For instance
E. Introducing a new perspective
Illustrates
F. Adding a similar point
G. being more specific.
In particular
More specifically
In relation to
In terms of
With respect to
In summary, we have discussed ways to make your writing or essay stronger, more easily understandable, and improve your writing as a whole through the use of signposting.
When your professors find your line of reasoning and links between ideas easy to follow and understandable, they will be more engaged. You can achieve this by using signposting sparingly, adding paragraph breaks and subheadings, repeating key points and phrases, and revealing the main point or argument at the start of your essay.
Wondering how to submit a well-structured essay that doesn’t bore your readers? Write to us at Writers Per Hour and we’ll get our professional writers on the job. From researching and outlining to drafting the easy and revising it, you’re sure to receive A-grade essays.
Share this article
Achieve Academic Success with Expert Assistance!
Crafted from Scratch for You.
Ensuring Your Work’s Originality.
Transform Your Draft into Excellence.
Perfecting Your Paper’s Grammar, Style, and Format (APA, MLA, etc.).
Calculate the cost of your paper
Get ideas for your essay
ALL ARTICLES
How To Study Effectively
Motivation & Stress
Smarter Study Habits
Memorise Faster
Ace The Exam
Write Better Essays
Easiest AP Classes Ranked
Outsmart Your Exams
Outsmart Your Studies
Recommended Reads
For Your Students: Revision Workshops
For Your Teaching Staff: Memory Science CPD
Our Research: The Revision Census
All Courses & Resources
For School Students and Their Parents
For University Students
For Professionals Taking Exams
Study Smarter Network
Testimonials
How To Use Signposting Words: Easy Vocab and Examples for Excellent Essays
by William Wadsworth | 0 comments
by William Wadsworth
The Cambridge-educated memory psychologist & study coach on a mission to help YOU ace your exams . Helping half a million students in 175+ countries every year to study smarter, not harder. Supercharge your studies today with our time-saving, grade-boosting “genius” study tips sheet .
Looking to take your essay to the next level WITHOUT learning a load of complex structures, knotty grammar and fancy vocabulary? It’s simple: start using signposting words and you’ll level up your essays, dissertations and assignments in no time at all!
And here’s how to use signposting words to improve your writing in 5 easy steps:
First up, what is signposting in writing?
Not sure what I’m talking about? It’s actually pretty simple:
Signposting in writing acts just like signposts on a hike! Imagine a handily placed wooden post that proudly proclaims “ You are here! Conclusion: 3 miles “.
Essentially, they stop your reader from getting lost in the forest of your words and arguments.
Using signposting in your essays is all about adding strategically placed words and phrases to create a clear map of your structure. You need to scatter them throughout the path of your essay to show your reader where they are in the discussion and what’s up next – just like the physical signposts that point the way on a hike!
There are two common uses for signposts in your writing:
Firstly, to point out the structure of your overall essay or next section / chapter – usually in the introduction
And secondly, to remind your reader of that structure and show how everything links together
You probably already use some signposting words and phrases naturally as you write. Did you spot how I used it in the bullet points above?
For a truly top-mark essay, it’s best to plan out where you want to put some signposts to make your essay as streamlined and persuasive as possible!
Why bother using signposting words? An example!
There are plenty of benefits to using signposting words and phrases in your writing!
Most importantly, signposting language improves the clarity and readability of your essay. These are both important things that help your examiner understand your argument as smoothly as possible (great for top marks!).
Your examiner / teacher won’t get lost, have to re-read a paragraph or two, get frustrated … and dock you marks ! All achieved by some simple, well-placed vocab.
Let me show you the power of using signposting words in your essay writing:
Take a look at this example of writing without any signposting language. It reads like a series of disjointed information. Do you understand it easily?
So how can we improve this paragraph, and make the structure of our argument crystal clear – simply by adding signposting words?
Take a look at the next version of this example, now with signposting – it’s so much easier to understand !
Thanks to History On The Net for refreshing my high school history to be able to write these examples…
You can see how the highlighted green signposting language immediately makes the listed causes and examples easily identifiable. As an added bonus: any vague phrases ( “several factors”, “these factors” ) have been clarified with specifics, and paragraph breaks make the structure obvious!
Signposting makes everyone happy – trust me!
Your examiners, teachers and tutors LOVE it when you use signposting. And not just because it makes their job easier! But because:
Using signposting properly helps your writing s ound professional, establishing your authority and skill in your topic instantly . This is a great skill to develop before college applications are due!
Plus, you’re creating a sense of anticipation for what is to come in your reader – you’ll make reading your arguments enjoyable!
No one loves spending time marking, so by making your reader’s life easier, they may be inclined to generosity when it comes to awarding your mark.
By making your argument and structure as clear as possible , you give yourself the best possible chance of getting all the credit you deserve! Both for the quality of the points you made, and the style with which you strung them together.
Free: Exam Success Cheat Sheet
My Top 6 Strategies To Study Smarter and Ace Your Exams
Privacy protected because life’s too short for spam. Unsubcribe anytime.
How to use signposting words in your writing: 5 easy steps!
So, how to start incorporating signposting into your essays?
Remember that analogy between signposting language and actual signposts that keep you from getting lost on countryside hikes?
Well, it’s time to set out your latest essay draft on the table like an unchartered forest, and make a map ! Your signposting vocab list: that’s your stash of wooden arrows to hammer into the ground next to forks in the trees. Or (if you prefer different imagery) your Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs, or luminous glow-sticks!
So grab a pen and some scrap paper for mapping out your overall structure and noting where you might need a signpost. And then start at the beginning 😊
Leave no reader behind!
Step 1: Give your reader the map
One of the most important places to add clear signposting words to your essay is right at the beginning, in the introduction.
This is where you hand your unsuspecting reader a map that shows them what to expect from the structure of your essay.
Here’s an example of structural signposting in an introduction:
“ This essay will explore the beautiful scenery surrounding Yorkshire’s magical Malham Cove. The analysis begins with a gentle riverside stroll to explore the argument surrounding the history of Janet’s Foss. This is followed by a short walk into the dramatic evaluation of five pros and cons of rock climbing at Gordale Scar . Next, this essay will examine the geological evidence during a scenic hilly stroll across to the beautiful Limestone Pavement at the top of Malham Cove. Finally, the conclusion will draw together the themes of history and tourism and will suggest that future walks should be finished at the pub in Malham.
Immediately, our reader (or hiker) will know to expect in order: an analysis, historical argument, five pros and cons, and an examination of the evidence. And they also know what themes and suggestions our conclusion will focus on – great for keeping their mind focused on these concepts as they read.
In our short WWI example above, the map is quite simple but clear. I started by saying that “ there were five interlinked causes ”. That’s all that was needed for our reader to know to watch for 5 signposts on the route!
Top tip : It’s important to be as specific as you can when signposting! Notice there were five causes, and five pros and cons. Not “ some causes “, not even “ the pros and cons “. That number is really helpful in setting out the map.
Here are some more examples of introductory signposting in action:
“There are six reasons why…”
“… happened in eight steps”
“We need to evaluate three factors when deciding…”
“There are two reasons to support X, and three reasons to support Y.”
“There are three good reasons to …, but one strong reason not to”
A good introduction should include at least one sentence with signposting like this, to prepare your reader.
Want to learn some more kick-ass techniques for starting your essay off on the right foot ? Check out our guide to all things introduction, from mysteries and drama to facts and assumptions!
Step 1 BONUS: point out the sights for a more detailed map
For longer essays or dissertations, you might offer more than a single introductory paragraph.
In that case, part of your signposting might be a short description of what each area of discussion or chapter will cover :
For example, heading back to the causes of WWI : if we were writing several long paragraphs exploring the historical context of each of the five causes, then setting all five out in the introduction would be helpful to the reader.
This style of signposting makes use of lots of listing words and phrases: firstly, secondly, this will be followed by … and is often presented in a long list following a colon ( : ) and separated by semi-colons ( ; ).
You might also give an overview of any facts and evidence explored, or theories questioned .
Think of it like a note in your hike directions: “ Along this stretch of the river there have been several reported sightings of the elusive signposting moth, and this analysis will examine their validity in light of … “
This will give your reader a better understanding of the arguments within your overall structure – and fuel their anticipation!
Here are some examples of signposting phrases for complex arguments:
“First, evidence for … will be put forward.”
“ Second, I will discuss …”
“This will lead, third, to an examination of…”
“… which will be followed, fourth, by exploration of…”
Here’s a quick toolbox of useful verbs you can use to keep your writing varied when presenting more complex “maps” of this nature: discuss, divide, examine, explore, present, put forward evidence for .
Step 2: Show them where they are on your map
If you’ve given your reader a clear map at the start, then this step is simple to add to your essays! It’s the big “ YOU ARE HERE! ” marker on the map.
As you progress through your essay – and especially at the start of new sections:
You just refer back to the structure you told them you were following , and explain which section you are moving into as you make each fresh argument.
For a simple list of points (as in the First World War example above), this could be as simple as starting each paragraph with a s ignposting word that points to your list (in words, never a numeral!):
“The first of these five underlying causes was …”
“Secondly, imperialism, which often … “
“Fourth, there was strong nationalism in …”
For longer essays, your reminder signposts might be as simple as repeating the purpose of this next section. State your signposting directly and clearly, for example:
This analysis of the arguments surrounding the history of Janet’s Foss begins with …
Following on from this dispute, it is necessary to examine the geological evidence found on the Limestone Pavement at the top of Malham Cove.
Even if a reader is skimming your essay quickly, it will still be obvious where they are in the overall structure of your argument. Even better, it makes it easy for them to skip ahead or go back to check an earlier point without getting totally lost.
Step 3: Use connectives to join up the journey
When it comes to effective essay writing, connective words are an important tool in your arsenal.
And connective words can be a great help when it comes to signposting too. Think of them as a thread you can use to connect your essay into a logical flow (detours included!).
Having a list of signposting connective words on hand is great for linking together points, paragraphs and arguments. You can use them to:
Show contrasting sides of a debate
Develop a point further
Describe things in order
Provide examples
Demonstrate results
So to get you started, here’s a list of some of the top signposting words for connecting up your essay:
Here are some examples of how you can put together connecting signposting words at the start of a new section to indicate different things:
Nevertheless, the following two counter-arguments are …
Furthermore, we found that X was … as demonstrated by …
Third, and in contrast, X was not a common feature of …
Step 4: Break up long journeys with paragraph breaks and subheadings
Nobody likes encountering a long and daunting wall of text.
Happily, paragraph breaks are a form of signposting in and of themselves. They show the reader when you are entering a new sub-section of your argument .
I’m not a big fan of a hard-and-fast rules about how many sentences a paragraph should contain: some sentences are short, others are long. Sometimes, a good paragraph might only be a couple of relatively long sentences. Other times, you might have five or six shorter ones.
If you’re not sure about the paragraph conventions of your writing genre, check out our ultimate guide to paragraph lengths for some specific advice!
In the meantime, remember that:
Signposting will help to keep your essay clear even as you make longer, multi-paragraph points. Use connectives to indicate which paragraphs belong to which sections of your overall structure.
In many areas of academia, there is an established protocol for headings (e.g. “Abstract / Introduction / Methodology / Results / Conclusion”).
Feel free to add subheadings under these major headings if you feel it will help your reader, especially in the sections that tend to get longer, such as the Methodology and Results.
Top Tip: Make sure to check that your newly signposted sentences and paragraphs still make sense grammatically with available tools such as Grammarly * – even the free version will give your mistake-checking a boost!
5. Signpost the destination to conclude smartly
Finally, be sure to wrap things up with a clear conclusion statement that heralds your reader’s arrival back at the pub in Malham after their long (but hopefully enjoyable) hike!
You might begin with a phrase like this:
To summarise
In conclusion
To conclude
Your conclusion might also remind the reader of all the sights they’ve strolled through – a sort of reverse of the introduction, in which all your threads are pulled together to support your concluding arguments.
Here are some examples of concluding signposting phrases in action:
“ Finally, to summarise the geological and historical debates surrounding the impact of tourism in Malham Cove …”
“In conclusion, while these five factors were powerful on their own, what in my opinion made them particularly dangerous was their interlinked nature, where one would fuel the other…”
And so, in conclusion…
…when used well, signposting words will help YOU do well in your essays this year.
Just remember to make it obvious, and be specific – especially when it comes to numbers!
And once you’ve got your essay written and signposted, check out my guides for successful proofreading , and printing and binding , to make sure that you hand in a winning assignment!
For more help becoming a phenomenal essay and exam-answers writer, I am currently accepting clients for 1:1 coaching – read more and get in touch here .
The Science Of Studying Smart
Download my free exam success cheat sheet: all my #1 must-know strategies to supercharge your learning today.
Your privacy protected. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
* Please note : Grammarly is one of very few products I’m sufficiently enthusiastic about to recommend to my readers, and I may earn a small commission if you sign up to Grammarly services through the above link.
Latest Posts
Avoiding Burnout for Students – with Hannah Tackett [PODCAST] - 21 Jun 2024
Test Taking Anxiety – with Dr Wallace & Dr Artyom [PODCAST] - 21 Jun 2024
On Mnemonics, Memory Palaces and Making Mistakes: With Anthony Metivier [PODCAST] - 5 Jun 2024
Submit a Comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .
Read My Test-Taking Technique Book For More Marks In Exams
Top Picks: Recommended Reading From The Blog
How To Study Effectively : Ultimate Guide [READER FAVOURITE]
Why Study [READER FAVOURITE]
Exam Memorization Secrets
Inspirational Exam Quotes
Finding The Perfect Study Routine
Pomodoro Method : 9-Step Guide
Best Books About Studying
Listen To The Podcast
Critical writing: Signposting
Managing your reading
Source reliability
Critical reading
Descriptive vs critical
Deciding your position
The overall argument
Individual arguments
Signposting
Alternative viewpoints
Critical thinking videos
Jump to content on this page:
“Do not expect your reader to make the connections in your ideas ... make those connections explicit” Andy Gillet, Angela Hammond and Mary Martala, Successful Academic Writing
Signposting words and phrases are essential elements of academic writing - they make your writing flow. By making explicit how points are connected to each other you make it easier for your reader to follow your arguments . The reader is, after all, your marker and you don't want to make their job too hard. This page gives you a selection of common phrases that you can use to link together your paragraphs and so make logical connections between your ideas.
Signposts to introduce something new
One aspect which illustrates … can be identified as …
The current debate about … illustrates/identifies/highlights …
With regard to…/ with respect to…
Initially/secondly/finally, …
Continuing an argument with a related point
Furthermore, …
To further understand the role of …
In addition, …
Similarly, …
Likewise, …
What is more, …
Moreover, …
Another issue regarding … is …
Another line of thought on … is …
Going into more detail on a point/rephrasing
In particular, …
Specifically, …
Concentrating on …
By focusing on … in more detail, it is possible to …
To be more precise, …
In other words, …
To put simply … /To simplify, ...
Linking to a different point
Having established …, it is possible to consider …
… is one key issue; another of equal/ similar importance/significance is …
Also of importance is the issue of …
Reintroducing a topic
As discussed/explained earlier, …
The earlier discussion on … can be developed further here, …
As stated previously, …
As noted above, …
Introducing an opposing/alternative view
However, …
Conversely, …
In contrast, …
Alternatively, …
Nevertheless/Nonetheless, …
An alternative perspective is given by … who suggests/argues that …
Despite this, …
This conflicts with the view held by …
Reasoning/summarising the point
Consequently/As a consequence, …
Accordingly, …
Therefore, …
What this means/suggests is...
It could be concluded that …
The strength of such an approach is that …
For this reason …
Evidently*, …
Clearly/It is clear that, …*
Naturally*, …
It is clear that* …
In short, …
From this, it can be concluded/inferred/suggested that …
The evidence highlights that …
------ *Only use such phrases if you really are sure that your arguments cannot be challenged.
These are just a selection of the phrases you can you to make your writing flow and to keep the reader with you and following your line of argument. Academics often complain about a lack of this in assignments they mark so make sure you use them in your writing.
Don't overdo it . Only use signposts when they add clarity to your work. Some students try to put a signposting word into every sentence which can actually obscure meaning.
Be precise . The signposting words have very specific meanings. Only use a word like 'consequently' if you really mean that the following sentence is a true consequence of the previous one!
<< Previous: Individual arguments
Next: Your voice >>
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2024 10:53 AM
URL: https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/criticalwriting
Login to LibApps
Library websites Privacy Policy
University of Hull privacy policy & cookies
Website terms and conditions
Accessibility
Report a problem
What Is Signposting in English and Why Does It Matter?
Published on, july 1, 2022, november 15, 2022, this article may contain affiliate links.
Signposting is a simple and easy-to-learn technique that can improve your listening, writing and even presentation skills. In fact, once you know this technique, you will see it everywhere! Let us explain it to you with this step-by-step guide.
Table of contents
A presentation is very similar to a school essay, if you think about it. Both have an introduction. Both have a conclusion. Both have a certain number of main points. An essay is a structured way of writing. A presentation is a structured way of speaking.
But when you read an essay, you know exactly where you are - you can look at the page and see if you are near the beginning of the essay or near the end. You can see which main point you’re reading, by glancing at the paragraphs.
What about when listening to a presentation? Do you know “where” you are? With a good presenter, the answer is yes! Because a good presenter uses a technique called signposting.
So what exactly is signposting?
Just like a signpost by the road that tells you where you are going, signposting in a presentation tells the listener what is coming next.
Here is an example:
Now that we have looked at the causes of work-related stress, let’s examine the solutions.
The first solution that I would like to highlight is…
The language used here clearly signals that the speaker is moving on from talking about the causes of stress to talking about the solutions.
When we use language like this, the structure of our presentation is clear and transparent to everyone listening. Remember, listeners like to know “where” they are in a presentation.
At the sentence level, we can use signposting language to show what we are about to say. Here’s an example:
The best thing about Steve is that he is a trustworthy friend.
The simple signposting phrase in bold tells the listener what to expect next in the sentence. It may seem like a trivial thing, but this style of communication greatly improves understanding.
Signposting can help you with your listening
So far, we have looked at signposting from the speaker’s point of view. However, signposting is also something that can help you with your listening.
Imagine that you hear this sentence:
George is a conscientious guy.
Let’s assume that conscientious is a word that you don’t know. Is the speaker saying something good about George or something bad? Did they say ‘conscientious' or ‘contentious’?
As a listener, you’ll still be puzzling over the word ‘conscientious’ as the speaker continues, and you will lose the flow of the conversation.
But, in fact, we usually speak like this:
What I like about George is that he is a conscientious guy.
Now that we can recognise the signpost (in bold), we can at least understand that being conscientious is a positive trait (it describes a person who likes to do the correct thing) and we know that the speaker didn’t say ‘contentious’ (argumentative). We can move on with the rest of the conversation.
If you are attending a lecture or a talk, listening for signposting language will help you structure your notes. As soon as you hear, “I’m going to mention three methods to lose weight…”, you can prepare a space to write method one, method two and method three.
You should especially listen out for cues that the speaker is moving on to a new topic, giving an example or ending the talk.
You need to listen for phrases like these:
My next point is…
The next main point is…
The next thing I wish to highlight is…
Now that we have discussed…, let’s move on to…
For example…
For instance…
Here’s an example…
To conclude…
In conclusion…
To conclude this talk, I would like to…
Signposting can help you with your writing
The main difference between writing and speaking is structure. When speaking, you simply say the first thing that comes to mind. But when writing, you take time to plan out what to say. You plan the order of your paragraphs and you plan the structure of your paragraphs (or at least, you should!).
However, simply planning out your structure is not enough. You need to make an effort to show the structure to the reader. We do this through signposting.
Imagine that you need to write a short essay or an article comparing large and small companies. The first paragraph might look like this:
Have you ever wondered whether it is best to work at a small or large company? This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of both in order to help you make that decision.
Here are excerpts from the following paragraphs:
The benefits of working in a large company are … For example … On the other hand, large companies can be … An example is … A small company is good for … For instance … However, many small companies … A good example is … In conclusion …
Can you see how the signposting phrases make the structure clear to the reader? We can already see that the article will be easy to understand, no matter what the points are.
In the modern world, a large number of people skim and scan articles to get information quickly. The use of signposting makes it especially easy to do this.
Hence, if you use signposting, the speed readers of the world will thank you for it!
Signposting can help you with presentations
Remember how I said that a presentation is similar to an essay?
Look again at the signposting phrases that I suggested for an essay:
These same signposting phrases can be used in a presentation, too!
But let’s look at the introduction to a presentation. This is the part of a presentation where you lay out the structure of what is to come . Again, signposting phrases can help you do this.
Take a look at this introduction to a presentation on mental health issues at the workplace:
Have you ever felt stressed, neglected, alone or overwhelmed at the workplace? For some of us, these negative emotions can develop into serious mental health issues. As a workplace psychologist, I see this every day.
In my talk today, I’m going to discuss five different mental health issues. After that, I will walk you through ways to deal with each one. I will end my talk with a Q&A session where I’ll be glad to field any questions you may have.
After this simple introduction, the audience knows exactly what to expect. They will hear about five issues, followed by five solutions. They also know to expect a Q&A session. They’re now ready to begin the talk.
Signposting can help you in day-to-day communication
Casual, day-to-day conversation is not structured, like an essay or a presentation. Nevertheless, simple signposting at the sentence level can help us in daily communication.
Paula: Do you think this hat looks nice on me? Pablo: I don’t want to sound rude, but it looks quite silly.
Can you see what Pablo is doing here? He is afraid that he might upset Paula, so he leads in with a signposting phrase. This alerts Paula that he is going to say something sensitive and he wants her not to be upset. It also softens the harsh comment; we generally soften comments by saying them indirectly.
Here is a second example:
Pierre: There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. Pietro: Oh no! Am I in trouble? Pierre: Not exactly, but I have been receiving complaints from your coworkers…
Notice how Pierre doesn’t mention complaints at the beginning of the conversation. Instead, he uses the signposting phrase in bold.This phrase indicates that the topic of discussion will be serious, and that is why Pietro wonders if he is in trouble.
Pierre uses this technique to set the tone and expectations for the conversation.
Note how the two examples shown here are quite subtle . Understanding subtle and indirect meanings is an advanced language skill. This means that it is something you should look out for as you move up from intermediate to advanced level English.
My advice is to listen out for more examples of this kind of signposting, and write them down in your notebook when you hear them. Your ultimate goal is to use them yourself.
Signposting can help you with the IELTS test
The concept of signposting is used throughout IELTS exams .
IELTS listening passages are carefully scripted to include signposts to help you. In IELTS reading, the signposting phrases help give context when you need to guess the meaning of a word or phrase.
You will also be expected to use signposting language when you write and speak, and the examiner will look for examples. If you use signposting language correctly, you will score marks for ‘coherence and cohesion’ (the logical flow and connection of your writing/speaking).
In the writing section of the IELTS, coherence and cohesion provide 25% of the total marks.
If you are able to use signposting phrases, but do not always use them correctly, that indicates a band 6 score. At band 7, signposting phrases are used correctly and appropriately. At band 8+, use of signposting approaches the skill level of a native speaker.
Some examples of signposting
Here is a list of example signposting language to get you started. Remember, there are many more than we can list here.
Introducing a topic
The topic of today’s talk is…
Today, I would like to discuss…
What I wish to talk about today is…
Developing a point
Additionally…
Furthermore…
Contrasting…
Nevertheless…
Even though…
Emphasising a point
The important thing is…
It is important to note that…
The vital thing to understand about this is…
To summarise what we have discussed…
In conclusion, what I would like to say is…
Embrace signposting as a major feature of English
Perhaps you had never heard of signposting before reading this article.
If so, then I hope this article has opened the door to a major feature of the English language. The more you know about signposting, the more you will see and hear it everywhere.
You might also like
🌍 announcing…translations in 12 languages.
10 Activities to Improve Your English Vocabulary [Self-Study Guide #6]
Synonym Practice | How Smart English Learners Improve Their Vocabulary
Have a language expert improve your writing
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
Knowledge Base
How to conclude an essay | Interactive example
How to Conclude an Essay | Interactive Example
Published on January 24, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.
The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay . A strong conclusion aims to:
Tie together the essay’s main points
Show why your argument matters
Leave the reader with a strong impression
Your conclusion should give a sense of closure and completion to your argument, but also show what new questions or possibilities it has opened up.
This conclusion is taken from our annotated essay example , which discusses the history of the Braille system. Hover over each part to see why it’s effective.
Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.
Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text
Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes
Table of contents
Step 1: return to your thesis, step 2: review your main points, step 3: show why it matters, what shouldn’t go in the conclusion, more examples of essay conclusions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing an essay conclusion.
To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument.
Don’t just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction.
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
Next, remind the reader of the main points that you used to support your argument.
Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or repeating each point in order; try to bring your points together in a way that makes the connections between them clear. The conclusion is your final chance to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add up to a coherent whole.
To wrap up your conclusion, zoom out to a broader view of the topic and consider the implications of your argument. For example:
Does it contribute a new understanding of your topic?
Does it raise new questions for future study?
Does it lead to practical suggestions or predictions?
Can it be applied to different contexts?
Can it be connected to a broader debate or theme?
Whatever your essay is about, the conclusion should aim to emphasize the significance of your argument, whether that’s within your academic subject or in the wider world.
Try to end with a strong, decisive sentence, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of interest in your topic.
The easiest way to improve your conclusion is to eliminate these common mistakes.
Don’t include new evidence
Any evidence or analysis that is essential to supporting your thesis statement should appear in the main body of the essay.
The conclusion might include minor pieces of new information—for example, a sentence or two discussing broader implications, or a quotation that nicely summarizes your central point. But it shouldn’t introduce any major new sources or ideas that need further explanation to understand.
Don’t use “concluding phrases”
Avoid using obvious stock phrases to tell the reader what you’re doing:
“In conclusion…”
“To sum up…”
These phrases aren’t forbidden, but they can make your writing sound weak. By returning to your main argument, it will quickly become clear that you are concluding the essay—you shouldn’t have to spell it out.
Don’t undermine your argument
Avoid using apologetic phrases that sound uncertain or confused:
“This is just one approach among many.”
“There are good arguments on both sides of this issue.”
“There is no clear answer to this problem.”
Even if your essay has explored different points of view, your own position should be clear. There may be many possible approaches to the topic, but you want to leave the reader convinced that yours is the best one!
Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services
Discover proofreading & editing
Argumentative
Literary analysis
This conclusion is taken from an argumentative essay about the internet’s impact on education. It acknowledges the opposing arguments while taking a clear, decisive position.
The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.
This conclusion is taken from a short expository essay that explains the invention of the printing press and its effects on European society. It focuses on giving a clear, concise overview of what was covered in the essay.
The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.
This conclusion is taken from a literary analysis essay about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein . It summarizes what the essay’s analysis achieved and emphasizes its originality.
By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.
If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
Ad hominem fallacy
Post hoc fallacy
Appeal to authority fallacy
False cause fallacy
Sunk cost fallacy
College essays
Choosing Essay Topic
Write a College Essay
Write a Diversity Essay
College Essay Format & Structure
Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay
(AI) Tools
Grammar Checker
Paraphrasing Tool
Text Summarizer
AI Detector
Plagiarism Checker
Citation Generator
Your essay’s conclusion should contain:
A rephrased version of your overall thesis
A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
An indication of why your argument matters
The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.
For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:
Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)
Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.
The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. (2023, July 23). How to Conclude an Essay | Interactive Example. Scribbr. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/conclusion/
Is this article helpful?
Shona McCombes
Other students also liked, how to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, example of a great essay | explanations, tips & tricks, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".
I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”
Advertisement
Supported by
Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms
Dr. Vivek Murthy said he would urge Congress to require a warning that social media use can harm teenagers’ mental health.
Share full article
By Ellen Barry and Cecilia Kang
The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, announced on Monday that he would push for a warning label on social media platforms advising parents that using the platforms might damage adolescents’ mental health.
Warning labels — like those that appear on tobacco and alcohol products — are one of the most powerful tools available to the nation’s top health official, but Dr. Murthy cannot unilaterally require them; the action requires approval by Congress.
The proposal builds on several years of escalating warnings from the surgeon general. In a May 2023 advisory, he recommended that parents immediately set limits on phone use, and urged Congress to swiftly develop health and safety standards for technology platforms.
He also called on tech companies to make changes: to share internal data on the health impact of their products; to allow independent safety audits; and restrict features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which he says “prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use.”
In an interview, Dr. Murthy said he had been deeply frustrated by the platforms’ reluctance to do so.
“I don’t think we can solely rely on the hope that the platforms can fix this problem on their own,” he said. “They’ve had 20 years.”
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
How To Use Signposting Words: Easy Vocab and Examples for Excellent
How To Use Signposting Words: Easy Vocab and Examples for Excellent
Using Signposting to Create Flow in Essays
How To Use Signposting Words: Easy Vocab and Examples for Excellent
Signposting when writing Essays
How To Use Signposting Words: Easy Vocab and Examples for Excellent
VIDEO
Less writing and more hands-on work? Sign me up! #essaywriting #studentlife #shorts #eduadvisor
Incredible Pizza Party
Sign Language Tumblr Post 😌
post essay writing lead lines
10 lines essay on Post Office/Essay on post office/post office essay/Essay On World Post Day l
How to Identify a Scholarly Source
COMMENTS
Topic Sentences and Signposting
Topic sentences and signposts make an essay's claims clear to a reader. Good essays contain both. Topic sentences reveal the main point of a paragraph. They show the relationship of each paragraph to the essay's thesis, telegraph the point of a paragraph, and tell your reader what to expect in the paragraph that follows.
Better Essay Signposting
You can signposting using single words, short phrases, long phrases, or whole sentences. Examples of each are provided below: single words: however, furthermore, initially. short phrases: in contrast, in conclusion, an additional point is. sentence: Having discussed the reliability of the research, this report will next address its validity.
Effective Signposting
"This essay examines biblical symbolism in Moby-Dick. . . " This signpost states the focus of the essay. "After a review of recent scholarship on biblical symbolism, I consider how Melville relates funerary symbolism to both death and rebirth . . . " This signpost clarifies how the author's focus is distinguished from previous ...
Signposting
Andy Gillet, Angela Hammond and Mary Martala, Successful Academic Writing. Signposting words and phrases are essential elements of academic writing - they make your writing flow. By making explicit how points are connected to each other you make it easier for your reader to follow your arguments. The reader is, after all, your marker and you ...
Signposting in an Essay: What it is and a list of Phrases to use
Like the introduction, the conclusion of an essay also plays a critical role - a signpost in your conclusion to bring some element of closure and close the loop for your readers. To signpost well, look for the verbs you used in the introduction and use the same verbs in their past tense. For example, "this essay has discussed and concluded."
Signposting
Academic Skills Kit. Writing. Academic Writing. Signposting. Signposting language can help you guide the reader through your writing and make sure the order is clear and flows well. These are small words or phrases that help the reader follow your argument, understand the relationship between your ideas and anticipate what's going to come next.
The three kinds of signposting in academic writing (and when to use
Signposting is your not-so-secret weapon for doing this. I like to think of signposting as being of three different 'flavours'. There's overview signposting, summary signposting, and navigation signposting. Overview signpostingis the kind that you use in the introduction to your dissertation and also in the introduction of each of your ...
The Writing Center
Return to all guides. "Signposts" are short phrases that writers use to highlight the connections between ideas and sentences. Functions of Signposting Language. 1) They highlight a point. "The fish-tetrapod transition has been called the greatest step in vertebrate history (Long and Gordon, 2004) and even one of the most significant ...
Signposting in essays: A short guide
Using signposts precisely. It can make your work seem sloppy if you use signposting words in the wrong contexts. Avoid the temptation to dot signposting words throughout your text at random. Think carefully about the link between two paragraphs or phrases, and choose a word that effectively conveys that link. For example, 'however' should ...
Signpost to guide your readers
There are four different types of signposts: major signposts like "In this section, I provide an overview of …". transition sentences and sub-headings to signify the overall structure of your writing. l inking words such as "because", "therefore" and "however" will help the coherence of your writing. reminders to keep your ...
Signposts can also be used to signal transition in your writing. These signposts are words or phrases that express a connection between two ideas and make the transition from one point to the next in sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your writing and help your reader understand the logic of how your ideas fit together and the direction of your discussion.
When should you signpost?
Quantify your aims or the content of your essay ('This essay will discuss three approaches to the issue of...') Signposting throughout an essay. Throughout an essay you will probably use two types of signposting: small and large scale. 1. Large Scale signposting tells the reader specifics about what is to come or what has gone before, for example:
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the
What is Signposting in an Essay (+ 43 Signposting Words)
Signposting the structure of your essay strengthens the presentation of your argument, especially when used in the introduction. Here are six tips to keep in mind when using signposting words, to help you write an essay that stands out. 1. Address the main topic early on. You have only eight seconds to capture the reader's attention.
How To Use Signposting Words: Easy Vocab and Examples for Excellent Essays
And once you've got your essay written and signposted, check out my guides for successful proofreading, and printing and binding, to make sure that you hand in a winning assignment! For more help becoming a phenomenal essay and exam-answers writer, I am currently accepting clients for 1:1 coaching - read more and get in touch here.
PDF t is often helpful to quantify what the essay will do. For example
It is often helpful to quantify what the essay will do. For example, . Then use connecting words like , , , through the essay in order to signpost the different points. You may also signpost how the essay will do these things. For example: a source or sources such as a literary
Signposting
Andy Gillet, Angela Hammond and Mary Martala, Successful Academic Writing. Signposting words and phrases are essential elements of academic writing - they make your writing flow. By making explicit how points are connected to each other you make it easier for your reader to follow your arguments. The reader is, after all, your marker and you ...
PDF Signpost words and phrases
Simply adding a few connecting words - known as "signposts" - make it much more readable: Incorporation offers several advantages to businesses and their owners. For one thing, ownership is easy to transfer. The business is able to maintain a continuous existence even when the original owners are no longer involved (Brown, 1999).
The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay
Come up with a thesis. Create an essay outline. Write the introduction. Write the main body, organized into paragraphs. Write the conclusion. Evaluate the overall organization. Revise the content of each paragraph. Proofread your essay or use a Grammar Checker for language errors. Use a plagiarism checker.
What Is Signposting in English and Why Does It Matter?
Both have an introduction. Both have a conclusion. Both have a certain number of main points. An essay is a structured way of writing. A presentation is a structured way of speaking. But when you read an essay, you know exactly where you are - you can look at the page and see if you are near the beginning of the essay or near the end.
How to Structure an Essay
The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
How to Write an Essay Introduction
Table of contents. Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay's structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
Opinion
What you need to know about writing an opinion article for The Washington Post, including the definition of an op-ed, tips for sharpening your argument and examples.
How to Conclude an Essay
Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.
Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms
In an essay published in The New York Times opinion section on Monday, Dr. Murthy pointed to research showing that teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media faced a significantly ...
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Topic sentences and signposts make an essay's claims clear to a reader. Good essays contain both. Topic sentences reveal the main point of a paragraph. They show the relationship of each paragraph to the essay's thesis, telegraph the point of a paragraph, and tell your reader what to expect in the paragraph that follows.
You can signposting using single words, short phrases, long phrases, or whole sentences. Examples of each are provided below: single words: however, furthermore, initially. short phrases: in contrast, in conclusion, an additional point is. sentence: Having discussed the reliability of the research, this report will next address its validity.
"This essay examines biblical symbolism in Moby-Dick. . . " This signpost states the focus of the essay. "After a review of recent scholarship on biblical symbolism, I consider how Melville relates funerary symbolism to both death and rebirth . . . " This signpost clarifies how the author's focus is distinguished from previous ...
Andy Gillet, Angela Hammond and Mary Martala, Successful Academic Writing. Signposting words and phrases are essential elements of academic writing - they make your writing flow. By making explicit how points are connected to each other you make it easier for your reader to follow your arguments. The reader is, after all, your marker and you ...
Like the introduction, the conclusion of an essay also plays a critical role - a signpost in your conclusion to bring some element of closure and close the loop for your readers. To signpost well, look for the verbs you used in the introduction and use the same verbs in their past tense. For example, "this essay has discussed and concluded."
Academic Skills Kit. Writing. Academic Writing. Signposting. Signposting language can help you guide the reader through your writing and make sure the order is clear and flows well. These are small words or phrases that help the reader follow your argument, understand the relationship between your ideas and anticipate what's going to come next.
Signposting is your not-so-secret weapon for doing this. I like to think of signposting as being of three different 'flavours'. There's overview signposting, summary signposting, and navigation signposting. Overview signpostingis the kind that you use in the introduction to your dissertation and also in the introduction of each of your ...
Return to all guides. "Signposts" are short phrases that writers use to highlight the connections between ideas and sentences. Functions of Signposting Language. 1) They highlight a point. "The fish-tetrapod transition has been called the greatest step in vertebrate history (Long and Gordon, 2004) and even one of the most significant ...
Using signposts precisely. It can make your work seem sloppy if you use signposting words in the wrong contexts. Avoid the temptation to dot signposting words throughout your text at random. Think carefully about the link between two paragraphs or phrases, and choose a word that effectively conveys that link. For example, 'however' should ...
There are four different types of signposts: major signposts like "In this section, I provide an overview of …". transition sentences and sub-headings to signify the overall structure of your writing. l inking words such as "because", "therefore" and "however" will help the coherence of your writing. reminders to keep your ...
Signposts can also be used to signal transition in your writing. These signposts are words or phrases that express a connection between two ideas and make the transition from one point to the next in sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your writing and help your reader understand the logic of how your ideas fit together and the direction of your discussion.
Quantify your aims or the content of your essay ('This essay will discuss three approaches to the issue of...') Signposting throughout an essay. Throughout an essay you will probably use two types of signposting: small and large scale. 1. Large Scale signposting tells the reader specifics about what is to come or what has gone before, for example:
When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the
Signposting the structure of your essay strengthens the presentation of your argument, especially when used in the introduction. Here are six tips to keep in mind when using signposting words, to help you write an essay that stands out. 1. Address the main topic early on. You have only eight seconds to capture the reader's attention.
And once you've got your essay written and signposted, check out my guides for successful proofreading, and printing and binding, to make sure that you hand in a winning assignment! For more help becoming a phenomenal essay and exam-answers writer, I am currently accepting clients for 1:1 coaching - read more and get in touch here.
It is often helpful to quantify what the essay will do. For example, . Then use connecting words like , , , through the essay in order to signpost the different points. You may also signpost how the essay will do these things. For example: a source or sources such as a literary
Andy Gillet, Angela Hammond and Mary Martala, Successful Academic Writing. Signposting words and phrases are essential elements of academic writing - they make your writing flow. By making explicit how points are connected to each other you make it easier for your reader to follow your arguments. The reader is, after all, your marker and you ...
Simply adding a few connecting words - known as "signposts" - make it much more readable: Incorporation offers several advantages to businesses and their owners. For one thing, ownership is easy to transfer. The business is able to maintain a continuous existence even when the original owners are no longer involved (Brown, 1999).
Come up with a thesis. Create an essay outline. Write the introduction. Write the main body, organized into paragraphs. Write the conclusion. Evaluate the overall organization. Revise the content of each paragraph. Proofread your essay or use a Grammar Checker for language errors. Use a plagiarism checker.
Both have an introduction. Both have a conclusion. Both have a certain number of main points. An essay is a structured way of writing. A presentation is a structured way of speaking. But when you read an essay, you know exactly where you are - you can look at the page and see if you are near the beginning of the essay or near the end.
The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
Table of contents. Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay's structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
What you need to know about writing an opinion article for The Washington Post, including the definition of an op-ed, tips for sharpening your argument and examples.
Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.
In an essay published in The New York Times opinion section on Monday, Dr. Murthy pointed to research showing that teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media faced a significantly ...