SKILLS FOR LEARNING
SKILLS FOR LEARNING Connectives join sentences and often open paragraphs. Use a wide range of them to make what you write flow. Adding
Emphasising
also and as well as in addition (to) moreover too
above all especially indeed in particular notably obviously primarily significantly
Referring back or forward
Sequencing in time: at the same time
as follows in this way such as the following the foregoing the latter
all the while and concurrently in the meantime meanwhile simultaneously
below like this the above the former
Sequencing in time: before
Sequencing in time: following on
at first before by (then) hitherto in the beginning in the first instance to begin with until (then) up to that time
firstly secondly thirdly next after that by and by later eventually in conclusion in due course in the end subsequently thereafter to conclude at length as a consequence
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SKILLS FOR LEARNING Contrastive
Contradictive
alternatively despite however in contrast in spite of instead of looking at it another way nevertheless notwithstanding on the other hand unlike whereas
a counter argument against that but conversely in opposition instead on the other hand
Causal
Illustrating
as a result of which because consequently hence in view of which so thanks to therefore thus which causes which implies which makes
as revealed by for example for instance in the case of such as this communicates this conveys this creates this demonstrates this evokes this excites this exemplifies this means this mirrors this portrays this projects this suggests this translates as
Comparative as with equally in parallel with in the same way like likewise similarly
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SKILLS FOR LEARNING INGREDIENTS FOR THE KINDS OF WRITING YOU DO Kind of Writing
Writing to argue
Writing to persuade
Purpose
to convince the reader to accept one point of view rather than another
to convince the reader that your point of view is right even if it’s not logical
Writing to explain
to make the reader clear about how or why something is the way it is
Writing to inform
to share knowledge in a way that’s interesting and useful
Writing to instruct
to tell someone how to do or make something
The Main Ingredients Intro (grabs attention), point 1 and counter-argument, point 2 and counterargument etc., conclusion Sequencing connectives Causal connectives Persuasive examples, rhetorical questions, anecdotes and personal stories, emotive words Intro that states position, point 1 + evidence and persuasion, point 2 + evidence and persuasion etc, attentiongrabbing conclusion Sequencing and causal connectives persuasive techniques: triplets, rhetorical questions, direct address, common address, emotive language, exaggeration Introduction, points in sequence, conclusion that sums up Sequencing connectives, often in order of time Causal connectives Bullet points, possibly Examples Introduction, points linked by, conclusion that sums up Uses factual detail But adds personal examples and anecdotes Aim (or clear title: ‘How to…’), materials in the order you will use them, method Headings, subheadings, diagrams etc to help understanding bullet points or points numbered in sequence sentences are often commands sequencing connectives
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SKILLS FOR LEARNING Kind of Writing
Purpose
The Main Ingredients
Writing to describe
to create a vivid picture in the mind of the reader
Writing to recount
to retell an event or a series of events
Writing to narrate
to tell a story
Report writing
to organise information clearly
Writing to discuss
to talk about the different sides to a question
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Paragraphs linked in sequence of time, or topic. Imagery, such as metaphors, similes, personification Organisational techniques: ‘zooming in’ like a camera, the five senses, time passing, Effective adjectives and adverbs Well-chosen and unusual verbs background information, events in chronological order, precise details of time and place, conclusion reflects on what was learned Sequencing connectives Descriptive techniques for detail: zooming in, five senses etc Set the scene, introduce characters, a series of events, tension, climax, resolution sequencing connectives well-chosen verbs effective adjectives and adverbs often uses reported or indirect speech usually in the past tense opening statement, facts grouped into topic areas, rounding off statement headings, subheadings, diagrams, illustrations comparative and contrastive connectives technical words to be precise Intro (grabs attention), point 1 and counter-argument, point 2 and counter-argument etc, conclusion that decides for one point of view Compares a number of points of view Sequencing connectives Comparative, contradictive and contrastive connectives
SKILLS FOR LEARNING Sentence starters for longer essays As you move up through the school, you will often have to write at greater length. The sentence starters below will be very useful for this. Writing in lists First (ly)... second (ly)... third (ly)... another... yet another... in addition... finally... to begin with... in the second place... moreover... additionally... also... next... then... and to conclude... lastly... finally…
Introducing quotations As x points out…according to x…to quote from x…x states/suggests that…x tells/shows us that…in an article entitled ‘name of text’, x makes the point that…referring to y, x argues that…as x stated/wrote/argued/discussed/ expressed the concern in [Name of Text], x primarily suggests…whilst acknowledging…x makes the significant claim that…writing in [Year, Text], X argued that…
Developing a point Moreover... furthermore... again... further... what is more... in addition ... besides... above all... as well (as)... either... neither…nor... not only…but also…... similarly... correspondingly... in the same way... indeed... in fact... really... in reality, it is found that... as for... as to... with respect to... regarding
Introducing examples or illustrations That is to say... in other words... for example... for instance... namely... an example of this is... and... as follows... as in the following examples... such as... including...especially... particularly... in particular... notably... chiefly... mainly...an example which demonstrates this is... and so this shows... this illustration is precisely relevant because…the analogy being drawn here is…
Commenting on quotations From this we can see that… however, Y suggests… yet this does not go far enough, as…this seems untenable because… one problem with this view as it is stated is…this theory best fits the known facts, since…
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SKILLS FOR LEARNING Showing the results of something or summarising Therefore... accordingly... as a result…so, (then) it can be seen that…the result is... the consequence is…resulting from this... consequently, now…we can see, then, that... it is evident that…because of this... thus... hence... for this reason... owing to x... this suggests that... it follows that...in other words... otherwise... in that case... that implies…to conclude... to sum up... to summarise... in summary... a concise restatement of the view is…
Developing an argument or adding to a point Moreover... furthermore... again, ... further... what is more... in addition ... besides... above all... as well (as)... either... neither…nor... not only…but also…... similarly... correspondingly... in the same way... indeed... in fact... really... in reality, it is found that... as for... as to... with respect to... regarding…
Exploring an alternative or rephrasing an idea In other words... rather... or, better... in that case... to put it (more) simply... in view of this…with this in mind... to look at this another way…however, one could also say…an alternative view is…stated essentially…the basic facts of the matter are…the core idea is that…the key component is…
Introducing an alternative viewpoint By contrast... another way of viewing this is... alternatively... again... rather... one alternative is... another possibility is... on the one hand…on the other hand... conversely... in comparison... on the contrary... in fact... though... although…seen from another perspective…
Returning to emphasise your earlier viewpoint However... nonetheless... in the final analysis... despite x... notwithstanding x... in spite of x... while x may be true, nonetheless/nevertheless... although... though... after all... at the same time... on the other hand... all the same... even if x is true... although x may have a good point…for all of these reasons…
Summing up or concluding Therefore... so, my conclusion is... in short... in conclusion... to conclude... in all... on the whole... to summarise... to sum up briefly... in brief... altogether... overall... thus... thus we can see that…the most compelling argument, however, is that… 6
SKILLS FOR LEARNING Commonly Misspelled Words accessory noun accommodate verb accommodation noun address noun and verb aggression noun alcohol noun allege verb amend verb apologize or apologise verb apparent adjective argument noun average noun and verb beautiful adjective belief noun burglar noun business noun cemetery noun (plural cemeteries) changeable adjective committee noun consensus noun controversy noun (plural controversies) deceive verb deceit noun definite adjective definitely adverb desperate adjective disappoint verb eighth adjective embarrass verb extraordinary adjective extreme adjective and noun. fascinate verb fluorescent adjective friend noun fulfil verb fulfilment noun gauge noun and verb grateful adjective guarantee noun and verb harass verb hypocrisy noun hypocrite noun hypocritical adjective humorous adjective immediate adjective immediately adverb independent adjective and noun independence noun instalment noun itinerary noun (plural itineraries) liaise verb liaison noun 7
SKILLS FOR LEARNING Commonly Misspelled Words (continued) licence noun lot pronoun and noun maintenance noun manoeuvre noun and verb manoeuvrable adjective millennium noun millennial adjective miniature noun and adjective minuscule adjective mischievous adjective misspell verb naive adjective naivety noun necessary adjective necessarily adverb negligible adjective negligibly niece noun occasion noun and verb occur verb occurrence noun omission noun omissible adjective original adjective and noun outrageous adjective parliament noun perceive verb possess verb possessor noun potato noun practice noun presence noun present adjective privilege noun and verb questionnaire noun really adverb receive verb recommend verb remember verb restaurant noun restaurateur noun rhythm noun secretary noun (plural secretaries) seize verb separate verb and adjective separation noun similar adjective skilful adjective success noun successor noun sufficient adjective suppress verb surprise verb and noun
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SKILLS FOR LEARNING Commonly Misspelled Words (continued) threshold noun tomato noun (plural tomatoes) tomorrow adverb and noun truly adverb twelfth number unfortunately adverb until preposition and conjunction vegetarian noun and adjective vehicle noun vicious adjective weird adjective wilful adjective withhold verb (withholds, withholding, withheld) Commonly confused spellings – Homophones – Many of these words sound the same but are spelt differently. Learn each pair by looking each word up in your dictionary. a lot of advise / advice affect / effect allowed / aloud bought / brought braking / braking choose / chose clothe / cloth coarse / course conscious / conscience its / it’s our / are practise / practice quiet / quite sites / sights source / sauce thank You their / There / They’re threw / through to / too / two who’s / whose your / you’re
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SKILLS FOR LEARNING Personal Spelling Log Use these pages to record spellings that your teachers have given you to learn. Remember: LOOK, COVER, SAY, WRITE, CHECK – FIVE TIMES! Word
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Done