Transitional words and phrases Paragraph coherence

1. Transitional words and phrasesParagraph coherence 轉折語氣 段落一致性

2. Contents: • Transition signals • Paragraph coherence • Clarity • Compound Adjectives • Write as much as is appropriate

3. Transition signals

4. Transition signals are connecting words or phrases that act like bridges between parts of your writing. Transition signals act like signposts to indicate to the reader the order and flow of your writing and ideas. They strengthen the internal cohesion of your writing. Using transitions makes it easier for the reader to follow your ideas. They help carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one paragraph to another, or from one idea to another.

5. Three types of Transition signals - transition phrases - conjunctive adverbs 1. Sentence Connectors 2. Clause connectors 3. Others • coordinating conjunctions • subordinating conjunctions

6. 1. Sentence Connectors (transition phrases & conjunctive adverbs) Transition phrases: • Appear in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. • A coma is needed. Example: For example, the Baltic Sea (, for example) in Northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Rea Sea in the Middle East (, for example).

7. Examples: In warm climate zones, water evaporates rapidly; therefore,its net profit declined. Some English words do not have exact equivalents in other languages; for example, there is no German word for the adjective fair, as in fair play. Conjunction Adverbs: Often used with a semicolon and a comma to join two independent clauses.

8. 2. Clause Connectors Examples: In a matriarchy, the mother is the head of the family, andall of the children belong to her clan. In warm climate zones, water evaporates, sothe concentration of salt is greater. Coordinating conjunctions 對等連接: Used with a comma to join two independent clauses and to form a compound sentence.

9. Yet and But: Examples: Thomas Edison dropped out of school at age 12,yethe became a famous inventor. I want to study art,butmy parents want me to become an engineer. Yet and But an opposite idea is coming. Yet: preferred when the 2nd clause is an unexpected or surprising contrast to the 1st clause. But: preferred when the 2 clauses are direct oppositions. Yet is similar in meaning to “nevertheless”. But is similar to “however”.

10. Examples: Although the company’s sale increased last year, its net profit declined. The company’s net profit declined last year although its sales increased. Subordinating conjunctions 從屬連接 Used to introduce a dependent clause, which is joined to form a complex sentence. Position: use a comma if the DC comes before the IC; do not use a comma if the DC comes after the IC.

11. 3. Others Examples: An additional reason for the firm’s bankruptcy was the lack of competent management. Examples ofvocabulary differences between British and American English include petrol/gasoline, windscreen/windshield, and lorry/truck. Despite increased sales, the company’s profit declined last quarter. Indicating transition: additional (adj.); despite (prep.); examples (n.).

12. Common Transition Signals

18. Sample Text Sample text: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/trans1.html

19. Paragraph Coherence • Coherence: how sentences hold together. • A coherent paragraph does more than simply lay down the facts -- it organizes them, creating a logical argument that makes sense from idea to idea. • Coherent paragraphs have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

20. Four ways to achieve coherence: 1. Repeating key nouns/ key words 2. Using linking pronouns 3. Using transition signals 4. Applying logical order

21. weak Although related by topic (housing shortage), each sentence makes its own separate point with no link to the sentences before or after. The result is a group of related yet separate ideas instead of one coherent paragraph. improved Each separate fact now flows into the next, creating a coherent whole. Example • Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically impossible to allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs. A high rate of urban population growth has increased the country's needs for housing. A small group of city officials has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis. A solution to the housing-shortage problem is a vital policy issue here. The housing problem has grown in the last twenty years. • Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically impossible to allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs. In fact, the problem has grown in the last twenty years. Because a high rate of urban population growth has increased the country's needs for housing, a solution to the housing-shortage problem is a vital policy issue here. A small group of city officials has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis.

22. Why is this paragraph less coherent?

23. Repetition of key nouns (how many key nouns, pronouns are used?)

24. Use of consistent pronouns:Avoid change of person or change of number.(why is it inconsistent?)

25. Transition signalsWhich paragraph is easier to understand?

26. Clarity Make sure every pronoun has a clear antecedent.

27. Examples: Norden picked up the wrench, removed the nut, and handed it to Robert. Complaining angrily, John wrote it up and sent it to the newspaper. (what is it?) Norden picked up the wrench, removed the nut, and handed the tool to Robert. Angrily, John wrote up his complaint and sent it to the newspaper.

28. Avoid the use of the indefinite it and they. In the college handbook, it lists the holidays we get in the winter quarter. At DuPont, they provide very reasonable health insurance. The college handbooklists the holidays we get in the winter quarter. DuPont provides very reasonable health insurance.

29. Eliminate the vague it, they, is when, and is where. 1. In Oregon, they have passed a law which encourages the recycling of waste materials. 2. In the instruction manual, it explains how to operate an chewing machine. 3. Inflation is whenthe dollar is worth less than previously. 4. At the Farmers’ Auction Block is where they have many buyers of truck crops. Oregon has passed a law which … The instruction manual explains how to operate… Inflation occurs when the dollar is .... Many buyers of truck crops are at the Farmers’ Action Block.

30. practice 1. I went with Brad to Phil’s place because he wanted company. 2. Peter spoke to the assistant, and he was very rude. 3. The division manger always favored Sam. This angered the other employees. 4. John showed the news reporter how to take good pictures, and his pictures turned out beautifully. Because Brad wanted company, I went with him to Phil’s place. Peter spoke very rudely to the assistant. This action angered… the reporter’s pictures

31. Gail’s hiring of the waitress was a wise move on her part. Gail hired the waitress. This move was wise on her part. 5. Gail hired the waitress, which was a wise move on her part. 6. After the electrician installed new switches in the motors, some of them did not work. 7. Plant three-food azalea in front of the seven-food rhododendrons to make them stand out. 8. As the ferry boat approaches the tugboat, it blows a warning. some of the switches did not work. the rhododendrons (or the azaleas) stand out. The ferry boat blows a warning as it approaches the tugboat.

32. Compound Adjectives複合形容詞

33. A single adjective made up of two or more words is called a "compound adjective". • The words in a compound adjective are linked together by a hyphen (or hyphens) to show that they are part of the same adjective. • A compound adjective is a modifier of a noun. Compound adjectives do not always have hyphens.  • They are hyphenated to avoid confusion.

34. Types of hyphenated compound adjectives A、名詞為主的複合形容詞: 1. Adjective + Noun(including comparatives and superlatives) 2. Numeric+ Noun (Singular) 3. Noun + Noun (Adjectival phrases are often hyphenated to avoid confusion with nouns.) A red-light district.  A full-time employee.  A high-level requirement.  A large-scale development.  A shorter-term solution A seven-year itch.  A ten-storey building.  A five-minute walk A parent-teacher conference.  Some food-web dependencies.  A crude-oil processing.  An ice-cream shop

35. B、形容詞為主的複合形容詞: 1. Adjective + Adjective 2. Noun + Adjective A dark-green dress.  A bitter-sweet memory. A water-proof jacket.  A nation-wide campaign.  A duty-free shop.  A world-famous player.

36. C、分詞為主的複合形容詞: 主動語態 - 用現在分詞 被動語態 - 用過去分詞 1. Adjective+ Participle 2. Adverb + Participle 3. Noun + Participle 4. Numeric + Past Participle 5. Past Participle + Adverb 6. Past Participle + Preposition

37. An ugly-looking goose = A goose which looks ugly. A snow-covered mountain = A mountain which is covered with snow. An eye-catching girl = A girl who catches people’s eyes. 1. Adjective+ Participle (including comparatives and superlatives) 2. Adverb + Participle A never-ending story = A story which never ends. A well-paid salary.  A well-respected teacher

38. An adventure-packed quest = A quest which is packed with adventures. A home-made cookie.= The cookie was made at home. A heart-broken story. A fun-loving person. 3. Noun + Participle 4. Numeric + Past Participle 5. Past Participle + Adverb 6. Past Participle + Preposition A one-eyed bear.  A two-sided story A laid-off worker = A work who is laid off. A scaled-down operation. An agreed-upon solution.

39. We should not place a hyphen in a compound adjective if the adjectives are capitalized, such as when they are part of a title. • His book was entitled, "Gender Neutral Language in • English Usage," and it revolutionized the way people think • about sex roles. • However: His book on gender-neutral language • revolutionized the way people think about sex roles.

40. practice hand-made 1.This is a dress which was made by hand. This is a _________ dress. 2. It is a walk which takes just 7 minutes. It is just a ___________ walk. 3. I like the house which was painted brown. I like the ___________ house. 4. Can you see the star which is shining brightly? Can you see the _____________ star. 5. This is a cake which is made carefully. This is a ____________ cake. seven-minute brown-painted brightly-shining carefully-made

41. Too Many Passive Sentences Because passive sentence are usually longer and harder to read, using too many can make your writing slow and uninteresting. Active sentences, on the other hand, are generally clearer, more direct, and seem stronger. However, this does not mean you should stop using passive sentences. Use passive sentences only when you want to emphasize something important.

42. Suggestions about when to use passive sentences: 1.When the action is more important than the doer: The theater was opened last month. New students are invited to meet the dean in Room 126. 2. When the receiver of the action is more important than the doer: Everyone was given a key to the gym. The letters were faxed this morning.

43. 4. When you don’t know the doer, don’t care, or don’t want your reader to know: A mistake was made, and all the scholarship application files. This report was written at the last minute. 5. When you want to sound objective: The pigeons were observed over a period of three weeks. The subjects were divided into three groups. 3. When the result of the action is more important than the doer: Our advice was followed by our clients. The new computers were installed by the system staff.

44. Sentences that are too long or too short

45. My favorite place to visit is my grandparents’ house near the lake where we love to fish and swim, and we often take the boat out on the lake. (Breaking the sentence into two can make your writing clearer and more interesting.) My favorite place to visit is my grandparents’ house near the lake. We love to fish and swim there, and we often take the boat out on the lake. (I). Too many long sentences: The following sentence may be confusing to read because of its length:

46. I knew my friends would throw me a party. It was for my birthday. There was something in the air. I felt it for a whole week before that. I was nervous. I was also very excited. I got home that night. My friends didn’t disappoint me. I walked in my house. All my friends yelled, “surprise!” To improve the above paragraph, you should join some of the short sentences using connectors. (II). Sentences that are too short: Too many short sentences often makes the writing sound choppy:

47. A good style often involves the combination of both short and long sentences. Because it was my birthday, I knew my friends would through me a party. There was something in the air for a whole week before that. I was nervous but excited when I got home that night. I wasn’t disappointed. When I walked in my house, all my friends yelled, “Surprise!”

48. Write As Much As Is Appropriate “The professional writer writes in plastic; the amateur writer writes in concrete.” this means that the professional works his sentences over and over, knowing that the first version is seldom the best.

49. One of the most common errors is using unnecessary words. What is the obvious problem of the following sentence? “Many uneducated citizens who have never attended school continue to vote for better schools.”

50. Other examples Each and every employee will report in writing and complete and turn in form number 402 by August 31 not later. Each employee will complete and turn in form 402 by August 31. (10 words saved) The employers cooperated together and endorsed a confirmation of the important essentials of the concurring agreement. The employers cooperated and endorsed the essentials of the agreement.