- Internal Previews – A brief statement referring to a point you are going to make. It can forecast or foreshadow a main point in your speech. Examples:
- If we look ahead to
- Next we’ll examine
- Now we can focus our attention
- First we’ll look at
- Then we’ll examine
- Signposts: Alerts the audience that you are moving from one topic to the next. Examples:
- Stop and consider
- We can now address
- Next I’d like to explain
- Turning from/to
- Another
- This reminds me of
- I would like to emphasize
- Internal Summaries: An internal summary briefly covers information or alludes to information previously introduced. Examples:
- As I have said
- In short
- To summarize
- Sequence: Outlines a hierarchical order, such as “first, second, third, next, last, also, then”…
- Time: Focuses on the chronological aspect of the items, such as “before, earlier, immediately, shortly, simultaneously, as soon as, until”…
- Addition: An addition expands on a previous point, such as “furthermore, either, neither, besides, moreover, in fact, not only, but also”…
- Similarity: Draws a parallel. Examples:
- In the same way
- Equally
- Comparison: Draws a distinction between to ideas, concepts or examples. Examples:
- like
- in relation to
- bigger than
- smaller than
- the fastest
- likewise
- even more important
- Cause/Effect: Illustrates a relationship between two ideas, concepts, or examples. Examples:
- As a result
- Because
- Consequently
- As a result
- For this research
- Place: Refers to a location, such as “opposite to, to the left, above, below, beyond” …
- Clarification: Restates or further develops a point, such as “to clarify, in other words, that is to say”…
- Concession: Indicates knowledge of contrary information, such as “all the while, it is true that, while it may appear, I can see that”…
Adapted from http://www.saylor.org/books
Successful Business Communication 