Common Ways to Express Your Thinking

Ways of
Expressing Your
Thinking
Explain/Describe

Sample Tasks:

Sample Words/Phrases to help in your Writing

Describe the
characteristics of
Explain the

is/are
has/had
can be described as
can be defined by

usually
often
contain
consist
demonstrate

tend to
exhibit
associated with
in relation to
parallel to

just like
are similar
because
have in common
compared to
In contrast
On the other hand
Differences
between
Although
As a result
Therefore
If.., then..
The cause was

just as
share common
attributes
by comparison

Compare

How are two

things Similar

like
are the same because
both
__er, ___est

Contrast

How are two

things Different

Identify Cause
and show Effects

Why did
What was the
Cause of

but
However
Unlike
yet
___er than
because
because of
so

What if your
opinion
Explain your
reasoning

I think/believe
One reason that
My/his/her opinion is
My/his/her idea is

In my opinion
point of view
believes that
My position is

Proposition

Support w/
Evidence

Justify your
opinion

According to
This is evidenced by
This is shown
states

.strongly
supports
.argues that
In fact,

Sequencing

Show the steps in

which something
occurred
What are the
events that led to
Expressing key
details and main
ideas

First, second, third

Next, later, then
Before, after

While, now, finally

Earlier
For the past
In the end

The Author tells/says

The story/book says
Important because

In sum,
In summary,
In the end,
explains

To add information
in a paragraph

In addition
Also

Further
Furthermore

Summarizing

Adding
Information

Whereas
As opposed to
A distinction
between
Consequently
Thus
Due to
This led to
Contributed to
From the
perspective of
The reasoning
behind
makes the
argument that
For example,

Prior to
Previously
Since
Eventually
subsequently
Illustrates
Mentions
Concludes
Explores
Focuses on
Moreover
Another