Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje -SENA

Centro de Electricidad y Automatizacin Industrial

CEAI

DEVELOPING READING SKILLS

LOGICAL CONNECTORS

Los conectores lgicos son elementos de enlace que sirven para

conexiones entre las frases. Observe las siguientes oraciones:

establecer

Jenny and Katherine were accepted because of their grades.

Yenny and Katherine were accepted in spite of their grades.
En la primera instancia, las estudiantes fueron aceptadas debido a sus notas; lo cual
sugiere que las mismas fueron buenas. En el segundo caso, el factor determinante para
haber sido aceptadas no parece haber sido sus calificaciones.
Los conectores lgicos entonces le dan un sentido especial a la relacin que se establece
entre las partes relacionadas. Segn la relacin que establezcan, los conectores lgicos
pueden expresar:
Contraste, ejemplificacin, consecuencia o resultado, similitud y secuencia.

CONTRASTE

ALTHOUGH
THOUGH
EVEN THOUGH
DESPITE
IN SPITE OF
YET
HOWEVER
NEVERTHELESS
UNLIKE
OTHERWISE
ON THE OTHER HAND
WHEREAS
WHILE
BUT
RATHER THAN
INSTEAD OF

AUNQUE
AUNQUE, AUN AS
A PESAR DE
SIN EMBARGO
NO OBSTANTE, EMPERO
A DIFERENCIA DE
DE OTRO MODO
POR OTRA PARTE
MIENTRAS QUE
AUNQUE, MIENTRAS QUE
PERO, SINO
EN VEZ DE, ANTES QUE
EN CAMBIO, EN LUGAR DE
EN VEZ DE

A Polish astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, proposed that the earth traveled around the
sun, rather than the sun around the earth.

In spite of all the experiments that have been done in the past 100 years to try to solve the
puzzle of bird migration, scientists have not yet come up with any explanation that is
entirely satisfactory.

In recent years, astronomers and geologists have shown that the story on the origin of the
world is very complicated. Yet every one agrees that the earth, the planets and the sun are
made up of matter.

Deuterium is a rare kind of hydrogen, similar to ordinary hydrogen, but with an atom twice
as heavy. It appears, though, only in small amounts, in ordinary water.

By the use of equations, scientists are able to think more clearly and express their thoughts
more concisely than they otherwise could.

Reptiles do not have moist, slippery skins as do many amphibians. Instead, they are
covered with dry scales or horny plates.

EJEMPLIFICACIN
e.g.

(EXEMPLI GRATIA)

FOR EXAMPLE
FOR INSTANCE
v.gr.
i.e.
SUCH AS

POR EJEMPLO
(VERBI GRATIA)
(ID EST)
TAL(ES) COMO

Most substances are made up of groups of atoms called molecules. For example, an
ordinary molecule of water has one atom of the element oxygen and two of hydrogen.

Some substances are made up of one element only, such as iron, sulfur, or carbon.

CONSECUENCIA O RESULTADO

HENCE
THEREFORE
THUS
SO
AS A RESULT
CONSEQUENTLY
AS
SINCE
FOR
BECAUSE
BECAUSE OF
DUE TO
FOR THIS REASON
ACCORDINGLY
THEN

DE AH (QUE)
POR ESTO, POR LO TANTO
AS, POR ESO
ENTONCES, LUEGO
COMO RESULTADO
EN CONSECUENCIA
YA QUE, DADO QUE
PORQUE, YA QUE, DADO QUE
PUES, POR, PORQUE
YA QUE, PORQUE
DEBIDO A
POR ESTA RAZN
POR CONSIGUIENTE
ENTONCES, POR ESTO/ ELLO

Many of the larger animals that live in the sea are small enough in their early stages to be
part of plankton. Then, they are carried far and wide in the sea by currents.

The larger turbines give more power for the same amount of fuel and take up less space.
Hence, they are often used in ships and power plants.

An eclipse occurs when one body comes between the sun and another body. Thus, the
shadow of the first falls on the second.

Since most rocks contain minerals, some knowledge of minerals is necessary to identify
rocks.

SIMILITUD / ADICIN
TOO
ALSO
SO
AS WELL
EITHER
NEITHER
IN ADDITION
BESIDES
MOREOVER
FURTHERMORE

TAMBIN

TAMPOCO

ADEMS (DE)

JUST AS

AL IGUAL QUE

LIKEWISE
IN THE SAME WAY

DEL MISMO MODO/ MANERA

SIMILARLY

DE MANERA SIMILAR

AS WELL AS
BOTH...AND
BOTH

AS COMO, TAMBIN
TANTO...COMO
AMBOS

Snakes are cold-blooded animals and lizards are, too.

Snakes are cold-blooded animals and so are lizards.

Jupiter does not seem to have an atmosphere that is favorable to life as we know it .Neither
does Saturn.

Jupiter does not seem to have an atmosphere that is favorable to life as we know it. Saturn
does not either.

Besides gathering and storing information, computers can also solve complicated problems
that would take a long time for men to do.

Both reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded animals.

Reptiles and amphibians are both cold-blooded animals.
In North Atlantic the water is rich in plankton, attracting herring and other plankton-eating
fishes, as well as smaller animals that feed on plankton.

Scientists have also found that it is not impossible to split the atom. Some very heavy atoms
explode now and then, throwing out not only electrons. Pierre and Marie Curie found
that the rare heavy metal radium acts in this way. Furthermore, it was found that these
explosions inside the atoms of radioactive elements give off tremendous energy, in
proportion to the size of the atom.

SECUENCIA
PREVIOUSLY
AT FIRST
AFTER THAT
AFTERWARDS
NEXT
SUBSEQUENTLY
AT THE SAME TIME
SIMULTANEOUSLY
IN THE MEAN TIME
DURING
WHILST
WHILE
LATER
THEN
FINALLY
EVENTUALLY
AFTER
BEFORE
AS
ONCE
AS SOON AS
AGAIN
WHEN

PREVIAMENTE, CON ANTERIORIDAD

AL PRINCIPIO, INICIALMENTE

DESPUS DE
POSTERIORMENTE
AL MISMO TIEMPO
SIMULTNEAMENTE
MIENTRAS TANTO
DURANTE
MIENTRAS (QUE)
MS TARDE, DESPUS
LUEGO, ENTONCES
FINALMENTE
POR LTIMO, CON EL TIEMPO
DESPUS DE
ANTES DE
A MEDIDA QUE
UNA VEZ (QUE)
TAN PRONTO COMO
DE NUEVO, OTRA VEZ
CUANDO

In Asia there are several snakes that can glide from tree to tree. These flying snakes have
oblongated ribs like those of the flying dragon. When their ribs are extended, their bodies
become flattened; at the same time they expell the air from their lungs so that their bodies
are almost as thin as a leaf when they take to the air. As soon as they land, they fold their
ribs back in place again , and they take in a new supply of air. Then they look like normal
round-bodied snakes once more.

As the temperature drops below 70 degrees, reptiles become less and less active.

Logical Connectors and Transition Words

Transition words are very important to lead the reader through your paper. They show
the logical connection between your ideas. Without them (or by using them
incorrectly), your writing will not be as clear or it might even be confusing. Used
properly and making sure to avoid their sharp edges, they can enhance your writing in
ways that (up until only a few years ago) science only dreamed of.
There are some common relationships expressed using logical connectors or transition
words. They are:
Addition: additionally, also, moreover, in addition, or, besides, likewise (and others)
I love to write research papers for school. Moreover, I really enjoy
receiving large amounts of homework from my instructors. Besides
working as the president of the National Rifle Association, Charlton
Heston loves to raise bunnies.
Contrast: but, however, in contrast, while, conversely, on the other hand (and
others)
While I do enjoy cooking as a hobby, I will not prepare all the food for
your wedding. I love my dog, but I hate when he eats the roll of toilet
paper.
Unexpected Result: nonetheless, nevertheless, despite, in spite of, regardless,
although, though (and others)
Although I promised to go to school today, I stayed home to watch
television. In spite of Jack going up the hill to fetch a pail of water, he
returned home with an empty bucket.
Cause and Effect: since, because, therefore, as a result, in order, then, thus, hence
(and others)
In order to make my writing very clear, I will learn how to use logical
connectors properly. Romeo told Juliet that her spaghetti sauce was
terrible. As a result, Romeo now cooks for himself.
Sequence: first, second, initially, previously, afterwards, eventually, to begin with
lastly, in conclusion, as was previously stated, overall (and others)
Previously people believed the earth was flat. Now we know it is
shaped like a giant pinball. Initially the people of Earth were alarmed by
the invaders from Mars. Later they learned Martians were merely looking
for inexpensive family get-aways.