Category Function Example

Frame markers Signal or preview a discourse Now let’s turn

act or text phase (i.e., to…; before going
indicate topic shift, show into..; first, second;
sequence, mark main
transitions)

Code glosses Help in understanding a For instance, that

particular text element (i.e., is, such as, in
clarify, explain, rephrase, or other words;
exemplify propositional
meaning)

Logical Express relations between However, and,

connectives clauses/sentences therefore, but,
still;

Evidentials Refer to other information Because of

sources (i.e.., provide support increasing
for the speaker’s evidence; as it is
arguments) mentioned by
other scholars

Endophoric That refer to other parts of As I mentioned

markers the lecture before;
Throughout the
lecture;

Illocutionary Naming the act the speaker I ‘d like to

markers performs or announcing the discuss; I shall
speaker’s intentions highlight; I have
attempted to
compare;

Boosters Express communicative force There is no such

or the speaker’s certainty thing as… , of
course, plain and
 and commitment to the simply, for sure,
statement definitely,

Hedges Modify the speaker’s Perhaps, mostly,

commitment to the may, might, it
proposition appears that…, I
think…

Attitude Express speaker’s The more

markers stance/attitude towards the interesting part
propositional content is…, it is my
opinion that,
strangely
enough…

Relational Create relationship/rapport You may think

markers with the audience (i.e., that …, Can we
rhetorical questions, direct learn from….?
appeals to the audience, etc.) Don’t you
think …?

Person markers First person pronouns “I”

indicating the speaker’s
presence
Transitional Devices
Here is a list of some common transitional devices that can be used to cue readers in a

given way.

To Add:
and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too,

next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.)

To Compare:
whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by

comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but,

although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true

To Prove:
because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover,

besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is

To Show Exception:
yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while,

sometimes

To Show Time:
immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously,

formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then

To Repeat:
in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted

To Emphasize:
definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively,

naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically,

unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation

To Show Sequence:
first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth. next, then, following this, at this

time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently,

previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and

then, soon

To Give an Example:
 for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this

situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate

To Summarize or Conclude:
in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I

have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently

Addition
 furthermore

 moreover

 too

 also

 in the second place

 again

 in addition

 even more

 next

 further

 last, lastly

 finally

 besides

 and, or, nor

 first

 second, secondly, etc.

Time
 while

 immediately

 never

 after

 later, earlier

 always
 when

 soon

 whenever

 meanwhile

 sometimes

 in the meantime

 during

 afterwards

 now, until now

 next

 following

 once

 then

 at length

 simultaneously

 so far

 this time

 subsequently

Place
 here

 there

 nearby

 beyond

 wherever

 opposite to

 adjacent to

 neighboring on

 above, below

Exemplification or Illustration
 to illustrate

 to demonstrate
 specifically

 for instance

 as an illustration

 e.g., (for example)

 for example

Comparison
 in the same way

 by the same token

 similarly

 in like manner

 likewise

 in similar fashion

Contrast
 yet

 and yet

 nevertheless

 nonetheless

 after all

 but

 however

 though

 otherwise

 on the contrary

 in contrast

 notwithstanding

 on the other hand

 at the same time

Clarification
 that is to say

 in other words

 to explain
 i.e., (that is)

 to clarify

 to rephrase it

 to put it another way

Cause
 because

 since

 on account of

 for that reason

Effect
 therefore

 consequently

 accordingly

 thus

 hence

 as a result

Purpose
 in order that

 so that

 to that end, to this end

 for this purpose

Qualification
 almost

 nearly

 probably

 never

 always

 frequently

 perhaps

 maybe
 although

Intensification
 indeed

 to repeat

 by all means

 of course

 doubtedly

 certainly

 without doubt

 yes, no

 undoubtedly

 in fact

 surely

 in fact

Concession
 to be sure

 granted

 of course, it is true

Summary
 to summarize

 in sum

 in brief

 to sum up

 in short

 in summary

Conclusion
 in conclusion

 to conclude

 finally

Demonstratives acting as transitions

 this

 those

 these

 that

Pronouns serving as links to clearly refer to a specific

word or phrase
 his

 its

 theirs

 it

 their

 your

 her

 they

 our

There are some suggestions for how to think about what your paragraph is doing
(this list is not exhaustive!):
Stating: Making an assertion.
Restating: Putting into different words an assertion already made for purposes of
clarification and/or adjustment or emphasis.
Supporting: Providing evidence for an assertion.
Concurring: Agreeing with another author's assertion.
Qualifying: Restricting the meaning of an assertion already made.
Conceding: Acknowledging the presence of a fact or perspective that calls into
question that author's own assertions.
Negating: Offering reasoning or evidence to demonstrate the falsehoold of an
assertion.
Expanding: Stating at great length or more comprehensively an idea or assertion
already expressed.
Analyzing: Breaking an assertion down into its constituent parts in order to clarify
or evaluate it.
Defining: Stating the meaning of a word or words previously or subsequently used.
Describing: Naming one or more features of an object or concept, to help the
reader imagine it precisely or understand it fully.
Exemplifying: Giving an illustration of what is meant by a previous statement or
giving a concrete instance that will help make the point credible.
Comparing and constrasting: Examining objects alongside each other for the
purpose of clarifying their features, evaluating them or noting differences and
similarities.
Narrating: Telling a story describing an event or series of events
Evaluating: Making judgement about something discussed previously
Synthesizing: Combining elements of previous paragraphs into a coherent whole;
often this includes presenting a new perspective on the subject.
Summarizing: Restating the principal idea or the outline of an argument or point
already introduced.
Transitioning: Moving from one aspect of the argument to another by connecting
the points for the reader.