The first is that putting signposts in removes the possibility that a reviewer will use absence as a possible reason for requiring corrections. This is testimony to the fact that lack of signposting may not be something which knocks an article out of contention for publication. There are neverthless two reasons for putting in a signposting meta-commentary. I am sure that, like me, you will find many published articles that are short on signposting. It is usual for an article introduction to create the research space – locate the work – and then provide the map. While journal signposting is not quite as tedious as the continued statements and restatements of the argument that occur in formal debates, something of the same work is done at the beginning and ending of an article, and may also need to be done once or twice in the middle. This set of verbal signposts is intended to help listeners understand what is coming, why and how. And at the end of the debate the lead person will say. I will ‘ and they then restate what they will do. The third speaker will provide… “ The second speaker then begins their speech by saying ‘The first speaker argued that. I will begin by presenting evidence that… the second speaker will add to this by focusing on …. Writing signposts is analogous to what happens in formal debates when the opening speaker says something like: ‘Our team is going to argue that. When approaching the writing of an article/chapter it is helpful to think of there being two narratives that need to be constructed – the substantive argument of the article/chapter, and the meta-commentary about the way that the argument is to be presented. (It is important to note that not all cultural traditions of academic writing use signposts in this way and some may actually find it insulting to be told ahead of time what is to come!) ![]() Together with citations, signposts signal to the reader that what they are reading is not journalism, not fiction, but scholarly writing. ![]() The use of signposting is one of the rhetorical strategies that make the English tradition of academic argument recognisable from other kinds of writing. It is a particular kind of meta-narrative which allows the reader to understand the intentions of the writer, and to understand the way(s) in which the text will proceed. ![]() Signposting is the construction of a ‘road map’ to the contents and argument of an article, chapter or thesis. So what is signposting and why is it needed? Indeed, journal editors often list lack of signposting as a reason for requesting revisions. Many early journal writers are asked to put more signposting into their articles.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |