Library Guides
Library Guides
Use only Academic Language. There should be:
Use Academic Writing Style. Your writing should be:
Edit your paragraph. Check the following:
As you read through your weekly readings and research for assignments... be on the look out for words, phrases and language that builds coherence and unity to the work.
Hedging expressions help you suggest that something might be so, without stating it is an absolute certainty - they give you a bit of wiggle room. Transition words tie your sentences together and show how they related to each other (also known as "glue" words).
Can you identify transition signals (glue words) and hedging expressions in the paragraph below?
Try to identify all of the transition words and hedging expressions, then click on "reveal the words" to see how many you found.
Topic: Alcohol does more damage than any other recreational drug.
Despite its legal availability, the detrimental effect that the culturally embedded consumption of alcohol has on Australian society and the national health system make it more dangerous than its illicit counterparts. Consequently, a culture of social binge-drinking has developed in Australia (often from the early teenage years) resulting in high levels of alcohol abuse and dependence. Moreover, these high levels of abuse and dependence create equally high levels of alcohol-related violence and domestic violence: things that tear the very fabric of society. Additionally, the injuries that occur as a result of alcohol- related violence, combined with the high level of drink-driving accidents resulting in injury and death, place an enormous strain on the national health system. Furthermore, young teenagers often need their stomachs pumped following over-consumption of alcohol, and the continued abuse of alcohol results in cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure: conditions that place further strain on the health system. Unlike illicit drugs, whose availability is often limited (and whose consumption is covert), alcohol is widely and available and consumed, and therefore, abused. However, it can be argued that the danger lies not in alcohol itself, but in the culture that has grown up around it.
"Despite" is an academic word used to introduce contrasting or opposite ideas. Other works used to introduce opposite ideas include although, in spite of, alternatively, on the other hand...
"Consequently" is an academic word used to introduce a result or implication.
"Moreover" is an academic word used to introduce an additional idea or piece of evidence to support the thesis statement.
"Additionally" is used to introduce more evidence to support the thesis
The word "furthermore" is an another example of an academic word to introduce an additional idea.
The word "however" is a more formal academic word equivalent to ‘but’. It allows the writer to communicate additional complexities around the topic
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