Signposting helps to guide the reader through the content of your paper. There are two main types of signposting:
Linking words and short phrases
Connecting words help guide the reader through the argument by linking ideas, sentences and paragraphs. Examples include:
- To add more ideas: again, furthermore, in addition, moreover
- To compare or contrast ideas: alternatively, contrastingly, conversely, whereas
- To show exceptions: however, nevertheless, yet, in spite of
- To repeat or refer back to something: as has been mentioned/noted…/As previously discussed
- To show that you will include something later: this will be discussed in detail later
- To give an example: for instance, in this case, in particular, notably
Major signposts
Major signposts help to guide the reader between different chapters, sections and sub sections, summing up what has already been said and setting the context for what is to follow.
Introductions
It is helpful to state what the assignment will do. For example:
- The aim of this study is to …
- This assignment argues that …
- This assignment critically examines …
- This assignment seeks to investigate/evaluate/illustrate/discuss the impact of … in relation to …
You may also signpost how the assignment will do these things. For example:
- This assignment will first outline/examine/address/argue/demonstrate/focus on … and will [then] ascertain/establish/clarify/show/… Next, it closely examines … in relation to … Finally, it focuses on … and how this affects …
- By describing/ reviewing/evaluating [a source or sources such as a literary text, current literature on your topic, data, etc.], this assignment will argue/attempt to demonstrate that …
It is also helpful to signpost how the assignment is organised. For example:
- This assignment is organised in the following way: …
- The assignment is divided into … main parts: part one will … part two …
Then use connecting words like: ‘firstly, secondly, thirdly/finally’, through the assignment in order to signpost the different points.
Main body
Introducing a new idea:
- One aspect which illustrates … can be identified as …
- The current debate about … identifies an interesting viewpoint on …
- First(ly), … / second(ly), … / finally, … The first/next/final section provides a general discussion of …
Linking or developing a new idea:
- Having established …, this assignment will now/next consider …
- Building on from the idea that …, this section illustrates that …
- To further understand the role of … this section explores the idea that …
- This idea/theory has been extended/developed by …
Introducing a contrasting view:
- In contrast to evidence which presents the view that… an alternative perspective illustrates that …
- However, not all research shows that… Some evidence agrees that …
- This conflicts/contrasts with/is contrary to the view held by …, who argues that …
Summing up a paragraph/section:
- The evidence highlights that …
- The strength of such an approach is that …
Conclusion
- In conclusion, … / To summarise, … / As has been shown …
- This assignment has shown that the main factors which impact upon … are …
- Several conclusions emerge from this analysis …
- The evidence presented has shown that …
- This assignment has focussed on three factors affecting …
- It has been established that …
Adapted from Queen’s University Belfast Learning Service