Metadiscourse

How it is used

Includes navigation, stance and reader engagement.

Example sentences

1. The phrase as we shall see adds metadiscourse rather than new evidence.

   The phrase guides readers toward a later discussion.

2. Our analysis of metadiscourse compared how authors invited readers to consider alternatives.

   Reader engagement is part of how arguments are presented.

Common collocations

• analyze metadiscourse
• metadiscourse markers

Related terms

• signpostingWords and phrases that tell readers or listeners how a text or talk is organized and where the argument is going next.
• stanceA writer's position or attitude toward a topic or claim, shown through word choice, use of evidence and how strongly ideas are expressed.

More terms: Thesis and Article Structure

• abstract
• thesis
• dissertation
• paper
• conclusion
• discussion
• draft
• limitation
• proofread
• IMRaD
• introduction
• methods section