1. Fundamentals of writing
April 3, 2015

2. Paper 1
First draft: Friday April 10 (bring to class) Second Draft: Monday April 13 Final Draft: Thursday April 16 - Check website for information sheet.

3. Today
Improving coherence: Transition signals/connectors

4. Transitions and connectors
Used to indicate relationships between ideas.
Can be used within sentences
-Chocolate ice cream tastes good, however, vanilla ice cream tastes better.
Can be used between sentences
- One advantage of regular exercise is better health. On the other hand, it requires a lot of work and commitment.

5. Transitions and connectors
Indicate relationships between ideas.
Think of these as “road signs” for your readers.
Without road signs, finding your way can be difficult.

6. Transitions and connectors
Writing without transitions or connectors:
Paragraph or essay =

7. Transitions and connectors
With “signs”, things become much clearer:
Transitions and connectors

8. Transitions and connectors
There are clearly MANY of these words.
We will look at them over the course of this semester.

9. More Examples
Dogs are cute and popular pets. Cats are cute and popular pets. - How can we connect these two ideas? - Are they similar or different?  Dogs are cute and popular pets. Cats are, as well.  Dogs are cute and popular pets. Similarly, cats are adorable and popular.  Both dogs and cats are cute and popular pets.

10. More Examples
Cake is sweet and delicious. Spinach is salty and bland. - How can we connect these two ideas? - Are they similar or different?  Cake is sweet and delicious, but spinach is salty and bland.  Cake is sweet and delicious, whereas spinach is salty and bland.  Cake is sweet and delicious. In contrast spinach is salty and bland.

11. Transitions
Remember, transitions are like road signs. They help direct the reader, which makes your writing easier to read.

12. Transitions and connectors
Giving reasons with because, so, and therefore.
These words indicate cause or result.

13. because Indicates a cause or reason. e.g.,
Baskin Robbins is a popular ice cream shop because they have so many flavors.
Because snakes are so cute, many people have them as pets.
Notice if because starts the sentence, there is a comma between the dependent clause and the independent clause.

14. thus and therefore Indicate effect or result. e.g.,
Learning how to write is very fun, thus, all students take a writing class.
Learning how to write is very fun; therefore, all students take a writing class.

15. in addition and also Connect similar ideas. e.g.,
Vanilla ice cream tastes great. In addition, it is cheaper than other flavors.
In addition to being cheaper, vanilla ice cream tastes better than other flavors of ice cream.
Notice ‘in addition’ is always followed by a comma.

16. in addition and also Connect similar ideas. e.g.,
Large stores also offer better discounts than small shops.
Also, large stores offer better discounts than small shops.
Large stores can also offer better discounts than small shops.
Notice also is followed by a comma if it begins the sentence.

17. first of all and finally
Connect ideas when listing several points (“listing cues”). There are several reasons that chocolate ice cream is sold more than other flavors. First of all, people tend to think it has the best taste. Also, it is the most common flavor available. Finally, chocolate ice cream is cheaper to make than other kinds of ice cream.
Notice both of these start a sentence, and both are followed by a comma.

18. Coherence In writing, the sentences must “hold together”.
- This makes the writing easier to read and understand.
- Sentences should be in a logical order.
- Logical movement from one sentence to the other. Do not “jump” suddenly.
- Each sentence should smoothly flow into the next one.

19. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
There are three qualities that I need to see in a good friend. A good friend should not tell lies. I need to trust him so that I can talk to him. A good friend should be there when I need him. I should be able to find him near me when I am in a bad mood or when I have a problem. When necessary, he should criticize me so that I can change my undesirable behavior or see where I am wrong. These three qualities are the basic properties in a good friend.

20. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
There are three ideas here (but the writing is confusing).
A friend must:
1. not tell a lie.
2. be there on a bad day.
3. criticize when necessary.
The ideas are even supported.

21. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
There are three qualities that I need to see in a good friend. A good friend should not tell lies. I need to trust him so that I can talk to him. A good friend should be there when I need him. I should be able to find him near me when I am in a bad mood or when I have a problem. When necessary, he should criticize me so that I can change my undesirable behavior or see where I am wrong. These three qualities are the basic properties in a good friend.

22. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
There are three ideas here (but the writing is confusing).
A friend must:
1. not tell a lie.
2. be there on a bad day.
3. criticize when necessary.
WHAT’S MISSING??

23. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
What’s missing?
The paragraph “jumps” from idea to idea without any sort of connection.

24. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
There are three qualities that I need to see in a good friend. First, a good friend shouldn't tell lies. I need to trust him so that I can talk to him. Second, a good friend should be there when I needed him. I should be able to find him near me when I am in a bad mood or when I have a problem. Finally, when necessary, he should criticize me so that I can change my undesirable behavior or see where I am wrong. I think, these three qualities are the basic properties in a good friend.

25. Coherence – “moving smoothly”
There are three qualities that I need to see in a good friend. First, a good friend shouldn't tell lies. I need to trust him so that I can talk to him. Second, a good friend should be there when I needed him. I should be able to find him near me when I am in a bad mood or when I have a problem. Finally, when necessary, he should criticize me so that I can change my undesirable behavior or see where I am wrong. In summary, these three qualities are the basic properties in a good friend.

26. Transition signals Words such as: Phrases such as:
first, finally, however, additional, another, and, but, although, when.
Phrases such as:
in conclusion, on the other hand, as a result, because of, as a result, in addition.

27. Transition signals Traffic signs.
Tell your reader when you are giving a similar idea:
- (similarly… in addition… and…)

28. Transition signals Traffic signs.
Tell your reader when you are giving an opposite idea:
- (on the other hand… in contrast… but…)

29. Transition signals Traffic signs.
Tell your reader when you are giving an example:
- (for example… for instance…)

30. Transition signals Traffic signs.
Tell your reader when you are giving a result:
- (therefore… as a result…)

31. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

32. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

33. “For example” tells us that an example of the idea is coming.

34. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

35. “Two” tells us to look for two different reasons.

36. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

37. “First of all” tells us that this is the first reason.

38. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

39. “Second” and “furthermore” indicate additional ideas are coming.

40. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

41. “Therefore” and “consequently” indicate that the second statement is the result of the first statement. “

42. One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the salty seawater.

43. “On the other hand” tell us that an opposite idea is coming.

44. “For example” tells us that an example of the idea is coming.
“Two” tells us to look for two different reasons.
“First of all” tells us that this is the first reason.
“Second” and “furthermore” indicate additional ideas are coming.
“Therefore” and “consequently” indicate that the second statement is the result of the first statement.
“On the other hand” tell us that an opposite idea is coming.