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Academic Writing Connectives and uses: Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that are used within sentences to join clauses or parts of a sentence together. Conjunctions

Word Functions Adding information

Words and

Example Sentences The writer has used techniques such as informal language and personal anecdotes in order to persuade the reader. The writing would be more suitable for this context if it used either an academic writing style or more technical examples. The writer used a formal academic style but also included personal anecdotes in order to persuade the reader. The writer used informal language yet a more formal style is required in this context.

or

Contrasting information

but

yet

although The writer included personal anecdotes although examples of a more technical nature would have been more appropriate. even though The writer uses an informal style even though this technique is unsuitable for the academic context.

while

The writer included personal anecdotes while examples of a more technical nature would have been more appropriate. The writer used informal language whereas more formal language is required in this context. The writer included personal anecdotes despite the traditional conventions of academic writing disallowing

whereas despite

Academic Writing Across the Curriculum

2 this technique. Comparing information and like as Sensory memory and working memory have a limit upon the duration they can maintain stimuli. Sensory memory, like working memory, has a limit upon the duration it can maintain stimuli. Sensory memory, as is the case with working memory, has a limit upon the duration it can maintain stimuli.

both...and Both sensory memory and working memory have a limit upon the duration they can maintain stimuli. Ordering information by time after before since Students were expected to hand in typed assignments after many computers became available on campus. Few students typed their assignments before computers became available on campus. The number of typed assignments has increased dramatically since many computers became available on campus. Students were expected to hand in typed assignments when many computers became available on campus. The conclusion is flawed because the survey failed to use a random sampling technique. The conclusion is flawed as the survey failed to use a random sampling technique. The conclusion is flawed since the survey failed to use a random sampling technique. The conclusion must be rejected now that it has been revealed random sampling was not followed. The conclusion must be rejected for it has been revealed that random sampling was not followed. The conclusion must be rejected if random sampling techniques were not used in the administration of the survey. The conclusion will be accepted unless the administration of the survey was flawed.

when Causation/ reasoning because as since now that for Conditional if

unless

Academic Writing Across the Curriculum

3 in case The team is ready to administer another survey in case the results of the first were flawed.

provided The conclusion will be accepted provided that the that administration of the survey was not flawed. Exemplifying such as information for example The writer has used techniques such as informal language and personal anecdotes in order to persuade the reader. The team can administer several surveys simultaneously; for example intelligence and aptitude tests are usually done together.

Academic Writing Across the Curriculum