
At this stage of revision, you can eliminate any wordy or excessive signposts. For this reason, it’s a good idea to read the final draft of a piece of writing with an eye toward its transitions and signposts, to make sure that they support and clarify your argument. Summarize it briefly, but you don’t need to mention the earlier section.Įarly drafts of an essay are likely to include some extra signposting, because you may be developing and revising the essay’s structure as you write. ” If the point has been well made, your reader will remember it. “ As I argued in the previous section, the symbolism of the white whale. ” If you’ve signposted your essay’s structure at its beginning, you don’t have to give directions throughout. “ I will now turn to the pulpit of Father Mapple. Short phrases signposting Signposting can be achieved with short phrases such as in conclusion, in contrast, an additional point is, etc. ” Skip the wordy opening lead with “In this passage. Single words signposting You can use signpost during a speech with single words like initially, however, furthermore, etc. “ What I want to call attention to in this passage. “ It’s important to note that Melville’s treatment. Signposts can also be lengthier, but in general signposting is meant to be a. Signposting can be as simple as First, Next, Lastly or using numbers such as First, Second, Third, and Fourth. Here are some signposts that may do more harm than good: Signposts emphasize the physical movement through the speech content and let the audience know exactly where they are. Using signposts can improve your writing by giving it structure and direction, but excessive signposting creates unnecessary wordiness and can give the impression that you don’t trust the reader’s ability to follow your argument or that you’re grafting signposts on to compensate for a poorly articulated argument. Signposts that identify the sequence or direction of your argument can also be effective: for example, first, next, then, finally or first, second, third, and so on. However should be used to pivot to an opposing idea or to acknowledge another side of an argument, and consequently indicates that an idea is a result or consequence of a previously discussed idea or point. But make sure to use these words correctly. Single words and short phrases can be useful signposts, such as additionally, consequently, however, also, in contrast. ” This signpost clarifies the stakes of the author’s argument. “My purpose in focusing on Queequeg’s coffin. ” This signpost clarifies how the author’s focus is distinguished from previous scholarship. “After a review of recent scholarship on biblical symbolism, I consider how Melville relates funerary symbolism to both death and rebirth. ” This signpost states the focus of the essay. “This essay examines biblical symbolism in Moby-Dick. Here are some examples of helpful signposts: review in the conclusion need not be the only such signposts in your speech.

Signposting will flag the most important parts of an argument, signal transitions, and clarify the stakes of an argument. summary, the general purpose of your speech will be to inform, to persuade. Signposts are words or phrases that help articulate the structure of a piece of writing and ensure that readers don’t get lost.
