Recognising+lecture+structure+2
Recognising lecture structure
VKT CHEN
Explicit signals of text structure are important in lecture comprehension.Listening for these signals can therefore help you understand the lecture.
Signals
The tables below show some of the most common signals used in lectures to indicate structure.Listen for them in your lectures.
1.Introducing
2.Giving background information
3.Defining
4.Enumerating/Listing
5.Giving examples
6.Showing importance/Emphasising
7.Clarifying/Explaining/Putting it in other words
8.Moving on/Changing direction
9.Giving further information
10.Giving contrasting information
11.Classifying
12.Digressing
13.Referring to visuals
14.Concluding
1.Introducing
At the beginning of a lecture,or a section of a lecture,the lecturer will give you some idea about the structure of the lecture.Listen for these signals as it will help you
Before the new information is given,the lecturer will often summarise what you are expected to know about the subject to be covered.This could refer back to a previous lecture or to some background reading you should have done.
As we know
As we have already seen
As we have all read
It's clear that
It goes without saying
We all understand
It is understood
You'll remember …
3.Defining
In a lecture,it is often necessary to define the terms that will be used.This is important
different subjects.
The lecturer will often be explicit about the order in which new points will be mentioned.To make the order clear we use various links and connectives.
Firstly
Secondly
Next
Then
Thirdly
Lastly
Finally
…
First of all
In the first place
For one thing
To begin with
In the second place
For another thing
The first
second next
last point I'd like to make is
5.Giving examples
In lectures,it is common to make generalisations.These generalisations are often supported with examples.These signals can help you to understand which generalisations the examples refer to.
This is shown
exemplified illustrated
by
…
For example,
For instance,
You only have to think of Remember,
A key experiment shows exemplifies illustrates
this.
…
This is shown by the following examples:
The following are examples of this:
The following is a case in point:
Let me give you a couple of examples:
…X is a case in point.
Take X for example for instance
…such as…
6.Showing importance/Emphasising
When you are taking notes,you cannot write down every word.You need to distinguish between important and less important information.The lecturer can use these signals to draw your attention to the important points.
I want to stress
I want to highlight
I'd like to emphasise
I'd like to put emphasis on
It's important to remember that
We should bear in mind that
Don't forget that
The crucial point is
The essential point is
The fundamental point is
…
Furthermore,
What's more,
This supports my argument that,
It follows,therefore,that
What(in effect)we are saying is
…
7.Clarifying/Explaining/Putting it in other words
The lecturer will try to explain the meaning of difficult concepts.To do this he or she may repeat the information using different words.It is important for you to recognise that this is the same information expressed differently and not new information.
In other words,
Or rather,
That is to say,
Basically
To put it another way,
If we put that another way,
By which I mean
Or you could say
The point I'm making is
That is to say,
That is,
Namely,
i.e.
That means
…
What I 'm suggesting
'm trying to say meant to say
should have said
is
Let me put it another way.
8.Moving on/Changing direction
The lecture will be organised around several different points.It is important to notice when the lecturer moves from one point to the next.Listen for these signals.
That's all I want to say about X.
OK
Now
All right
Having looked at.,I'd now like to consider
I'd like now to move on to
Turning now to
So let's turn to
Moving on now to
I now want to turn to
The next point is
Another interesting point is
The next aspect I'd like to consider is
I'd now like to turn to
Let's now look at
If we could now move on to
…
9.Giving further information
These signals show that the lecturer is proceeding in the same direction and giving more information.
Furthermore,
An additional point
Another point
A further point
A similar point
In addition
Moreover
Similarly
Apart from,
Not only.,but
We can add
I could add that
Further
As well as,
Besides
…
…also. too.
as well.
10.Giving contrasting information
These signals show that the lecturer is proceeding in a different direction and giving unexpected or contrasting information.It is important to listen to this.
Although
However
On the other hand
Whereas
Despite
Nevertheless
But
Alternatively
…
11.Classifying
When we classify,we arrange members of a group.The lecturer may use the following signals to show that a classification is being made.
There are
N types
kinds
classes
categories
sorts
varieties
of X
:Y and Z.
.These are Y and Z.
The are Y and Z.
X consists of
comprises
can be divided into
N
categories
classes
kinds
.These are Y and Z.
:Y and Z.
types varieties
Y and Z are classes
kinds
types
categories varieties
of X.
X may be classified according to
on the basis of depending on
…
12.Digressing
Sometimes the lecturer may leave the main subject of the lecture for a while and then come back to it.
Incidentally
By the way
While I remember
Before I forget
…
13.Referring to visuals
The following signals can be used to refer to a handout or an OHT or PowerPoint slide. On this graph,
Take a look at this.
Let's have a look at this.
I'd like you to look at this.
I'd like to draw your attention to
Here we can see
The….shows
The graph illustrates
The horizontal axis represents
The vertical axis represents
As you can see,
If you look closely,you'll see
…
14.Concluding
The lecture should end with a summary of the main points made.The following signals will help you to identify this.
So,
We've seen that
First we looked at.and we saw that
Then we considered.and I argued that
In short,
To sum up
In conclusion,I'd like to emphasise that
…
That completes my lecture.