Wayne Smith, Ph.D. Department of Management CSU Northridge Signposting: Drawing a Map of How a Reader Gets to your Conclusion Wayne Smith, Ph.D. Department of Management CSU Northridge

Overview of “Signposting” Thesis Statements What is your conclusion? Appears no later than the first or second paragraph Paragraphs Approximately 4 to 8 sentences or perhaps ½ of a printed page Too many short paragraphs?->superficial or fragmented analysis Too few long paragraphs?->entangled or diffused ideas Topic Sentence What is the purpose (main idea) of your paragraph? Appears no later than the first or second sentence in each paragraph Can the topic sentences be extracted to form an outline—i.e., an extended table of contents? Transitions What are the relationships between ideas? Guide the reader—deliberately and intuitively

Relationship Between Ideas Transitional Words and Phrases Transitions Relationship Between Ideas Transitional Words and Phrases Similarity between the preview point and the next one Similarly, Also, In addition, Further, Furthermore, Moreover Difference between the previous point and the next one However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Although, On the other hand Enumeration of points First, second, third, etc. Causal relationship Consequently, Therefore, Thus, Because Temporal relationship Subsequently, Previously, Later, In the meantime, Then, Recently

Sources Dernbach, J., et al. (2007), A Practical Guide to Legal Writing and Legal Method, 3rd ed., Autstin:Wolters Kluwer