STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CLUB #06: SECRETS OF BETTER ACADEMIC WRITING: How To Start A Sentence with Contrast Transitions

Introduction

A sentence can be started by a number of ways.  A good writer or speaker uses correct and appropriate sentence openers in order to deliver the message to the reader or listener effectively and professionally.

The following is one of the ways you can start a sentence as you write or speak:

CONTRAST

You can start a sentence by using contrast concessions:

These are:

In contrast, ……..

However, ………...

Nevertheless, ………..

On the other hand, …………

In spite of + Noun Phrase

Despite + Noun Phrase

EXAMPLES:

In contrast: It is used to show or introduce an opposition or differences in some views.

It rained the whole day. In contrast, we played football.

We were tired of the long journey. In contrast, we still did our homework.

They quarrelled often. In contrast, they still cooked together.

However: This is a contrastive sentence starter or connector which means 'despite anything' or 'to the contrary'. It usually precedes a concession, that is, it comes before the concession - the sentence admitting the reality of the situation before the sentence suggesting otherwise.

It was raining. However, we played football.

We had no time. However, we had a lot of works to do.

We were given Physics assignment. However we were doing Chemistry assignment!

               

Nevertheless: This is a contrastive sentence starter or connector which means 'despite anything' or 'to the contrary'. It usually precedes a concession, that is, it comes before the concession - the sentence admitting the reality of the situation before the sentence suggesting otherwise.

It was raining. Nevertheless, we played football.

We had no time. Nevertheless, we had a lot of works to do.

We were given Physics assignment. Nevertheless we were doing Chemistry assignment!

On the other hand: It is a contrastive sentence starter or connector which means 'from another point of view'.

It was raining. On the other hand, we played football.

We had no time. On the other hand, we had a lot of works to do.

We were given Physics assignment. On the other hand, we were doing Chemistry assignment!

In spite of + Noun Phrase: This is a sentence starter or connector that shows disregard or disagreement with the stated situation.

In spite of the rain, we played football.

We did our homework in spite of being tired of the journey.

In spite of the quarrel, Anna and Ashura cooked together.

Despite + Noun Phrase: This is a sentence starter or connector that shows disregard or disagreement with the stated situation.

Despite the rain, we played football.

We did our homework despite being tired of the journey.

Despite the quarrel, Anna and Ashura cooked together.

For More Practices Use Out-Come Oriented Teaching Resources

Why we should use the following resources? It's because they are found in our students' life and when they are used, they produce tremendous learning outcomes to them. These resources are:

Texts

Radio broadcasts

TV broadcasts

Audio or visual music

Audio or visual speeches

Audio or visual movies

By using one, or some of the above teaching resources, give the students the following tasks:

Task 1: Listening

Play an audio and let students identify what they have learnt.

Task 2: Speaking

Put students in pairs and guide them to practice orally what they have learnt. Make sure you give them clear instructions before they take over.

Task 3: Reading

Give students the text to read and ask them to identify sentences with the sentence patterns learnt.

Task 4: Writing

Give students writing task. Give them clear instructions on what to write about while making sure they write properly what you have taught them.

Note: To understand well if the selected materials contains the required information and target skills and whether they relevant culturally and contextually, the has to go throygh the materials by checking them. For example, if it is a part of the speech, the teacher has to listen to it until he/she is satisfied that the content is relevant and appropriate to the students.

Conclusion

Coordinators are necessary in connecting the ideas, statements, and actions of the same status, that is, the sentences in which the parts involved have equal regards. Thus, in the matters of such quality, students have to understand how to express themselves.

In order to help students become masters of these Secrets of Better Academic Writing, they should be more engaged by giving them more speaking and writing tasks or activities in which they will use these addition transitions to construct various sentences, paragraphs, and the whole composition.

Also check out how to study and teach:

Form I English Language Topics, at Form I Syllabus Topics

Form II English Language Topics, at Form II SyllabusTopics

Form III English Language Topics, at Form III SyllabusTopics

Form IV English Language Topics, at Form IV SyllabusTopics  

For more on Literature Topics, check out Literature in English Blog

For how to be professional keeper of your Diary in both Kiswahili and English, check out ShajaraYangu Blog.

For Form IV NECTA Examination Sections, check out ElaboratedCSEE NECTA Examination Sections