Reading Strategies

Signal words are sometimes referred to as connectors. In your writing assignments they are referred to as transition words. They are used to link ideas and help the reader follow the flow of information.

Before you read a text, scan it to find signal words (before, after, during, next, during, finally, on top of, next
to, in addition) that indicate the text's structure, link ideas or transition between ideas. Determine the pattern of the text through the signal words. Do they create a sequential reading or are they used to compare and contrast ideas? What context do they provide (time, location, sequence, importance, summary, comparison, contrast)?

When you have finished reading, summarize the information using the signal words you found.