Do You Use Sign Posts When You Speak?

[lmoore]

When you're giving a list of reasons for something, or you're explaining a process, you want to use signposts. These are those transition words and phrases that help your listener understand your topic. For example, try, "First of all," or "finally" to introduce or conclude your topic. You can also use something like, "Now, I'd like to talk about," or "on the other hand" for changing subjects and indicating contrast to your previous subject, respectively. Find a list of sign post phrases and how to use them here (Tip: They're essential in essays, too.): http://owll.massey.ac.nz/pdf/studyup-e ... ndout.pdf