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ELA 5: Signal Words 36 Views
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Description:
Are you picking up on the signals we're sending you? Bummer. Guess we aren't psychic after all. We'll just have to use words instead. Speaking of which, today's video is on signal words.
Transcript
- 00:04
[Dino and Coop singing]
- 00:12
If you head outside for a brisk, invigorating walk, you'll probably spot signs all over [Girl walking over a bridge]
- 00:17
the place: stop signs… [Lots of signs appear]
- 00:19
…crosswalk signs…
- 00:21
…even garage sale signs, which are great if you're in the market for a bunch of plastic
Full Transcript
- 00:25
cups that melted in a dishwasher! [Woman holding a melted cup]
- 00:27
And while you may not run into any garage sale signs while you're reading, you do run [Garage sale sign hits a man in the head]
- 00:32
into all sorts of other signs! [Signs hitting people while they are reading]
- 00:34
To be clear, we're not talking about literal street signs, but rather signal words, aka,
- 00:38
words that are used to signal the reader an idea or conclusion the writer wants to [Coop pointing at a blackboard]
- 00:43
convey.
- 00:44
When people are writing, they usually have all sorts of ideas that they want to communicate [Hitchcock holding a big pencil]
- 00:48
to the reader.
- 00:49
Some of these ideas are similar…
- 00:50
…but others are very different.
- 00:53
And since the writer can't just put these ideas into little piles and label one "Similar"
- 00:57
and one "Different," signal words help them to make these similarities or differences [Stephen King with a boxes of similar and different ideas]
- 01:01
clear.
- 01:02
There are two main categories of signal words: those used to compare similar ideas, and those [Dino pointing at a blackboard]
- 01:06
used to contrast different ideas.
- 01:09
To compare, we use words like "both," "also," "alike," and "such as"…
- 01:13
…while to contrast, we use words like "however," "less than," "although," "but," and "different." [Boards showing the words]
- 01:19
Let's look at an example, so that we can see these signal words in action. [Man jumps in the air and kicks 'signal words' away]
- 01:22
Say we're writing about how to keep our teeth healthy…
- 01:25
…a very important subject, unless you happen to be really into dentures. [Man with teeth missing and green breath]
- 01:29
If we have two ideas about things that are good for dental health, we might link them [Fake teeth with ideas]
- 01:33
to a signal word for comparison.
- 01:35
As in: "You should brush your teeth two or three times a day.
- 01:38
Also, be sure to floss once a day."
- 01:41
That "Also" makes it clear to the reader that these two ideas are on the same page. [Man brushing his teeth and flossing]
- 01:44
However, if we want to change gears, and talk about something that's bad for your teeth, [Woman wearing a witch costume eating sweets]
- 01:49
it'd be good to throw in a signal word for contrast.
- 01:52
Something like: "However, you should avoid eating too many sugary foods, since that can
- 01:56
lead to tooth decay."
- 01:59
That "However" let's us know that this idea is different from what came before…
- 02:02
…so hopefully the reader won't proudly show up to their next dentist appointment with [Man at the dentist
- 02:06
their mouth full of with cake. [Dentist pulls a cupcake out the man's mouth]
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