Conjunction and Discourse Markers You may have made use of my table of discourse markers at some stage In the

past. You will remember that Im keen that students should know about the oil of analytical writing, whether they are writing a literary essay or something argumentative for a language exam. Use of them means that a writer is very clear about how a piece of writing is moving forwards and that, of course, leads to higher marks. Explicit shaping of an argument is highly rewarded. Its worth pointing out that essays that are strong on time sequence tend to be rather limited because they are an extension of the eight year olds diary: Then I went to the shops. Then I went to the zoo. I went home. I had my dinner. More sophisticated writers may want to mix up their methods, even within the same piece. In formal terms conjunctions can be divided into four basic areas: Additive conjunctions and, or, moreover etc; Comparative conjunctions but, on the other hand, whereas etc; Temporal conjunctions (giving a sense of progress through an argument after, meanwhile, then etc; Consequentlal so, firstly, secondly etc.

So a table to help. Its not comprehensive , and you could usefully ask students to think of other words or expressions that will move things forwards. Relationship Addition

Adding on Alternating

Comparison

Similarity Comparison

Time sequence

Succession

Simultaneity Consequence and Result Causality Method Intention

Condition

In addition, and, besides, moreover, furthermore If not a, then b, alternatively, on the other hand, or Likewise, in the same way, as, as if, On the other hand, but, whereas Then, after that, subsequently, before, previously, after, firstly, secondly, thirdly, to sum up, in conclusion At the same time, while, meanwhile So, because, since, therefore By, thus, by this means, using this method So as, in order to, lest, for fear that, another aspect, moving on, If, provided that, unless