Signposting means using phrases and words to guide the reader through the content of your essay/dissertation.
There are two main types of signposting:
Major sign posting
: introductions, conclusions and outlining main arguments/
the direction of the argument in paragraphs/opening phrases.
This essay will [first] outline/examine/address/argue/demonstrate/focus on … and will
[then] ascertain/establish/clarify/show/judge/prove …
Next, it closely examines .in
relation to ... Finally, it focuses on ... and how this affects ...
To understand the role of …, this essay provides a discussion of …
This essay seeks to investigate/evaluate/illustrate/discuss the impact of ... in relation to ...
The aim of this study is to … / The purpose of this essay is to … /This essay argues that …
The major issue that needs to be addressed is … /The main questions addressed in this
paper are …
This essay critically examines …
This essay is organised in the following way: …
The essay is divided into…main parts: part one will … part two …
Linking word and short phrases:
connecting words help guide the reader
through the argument by linking ideas, sentences and paragraphs.
signposting writing/ linking word and short phrases :
To add more ideas: again, furthermore, in addition, moreover
To compare or contrast ideas: alternatively, contrastingly, conversely, whereas
To prove something: evidently, for this reason, because, inevitably
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 emphasise something: definitely, obviously, inevitably, undeniably
To give an example: for instance, in this case, in particular, notably
To show the order of things: previously, following this, initially, subsequently, finally