1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

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