Although as a Transitional Device
Alys Avalos-Rivera and Yelin Zhao
Based on the analysis of the uses of however in the previous section, we have learned that this transitional word is used to contrast features of one or two themes. In this section, we proceed to discuss another transitional device (i.e. although) that also serves the contrastive function. In fact, some students even view however and although as synonyms and think they can be used interchangeably. This false assumption leads to some inappropriate uses of these two transitional expressions in their writing. Task 1 intends to guide you to explore the differences between the uses of however and although.
Activity 1
In the following exercise you will find three passages that contain however and three passages that include although to present contrasts. Read the passages carefully and discuss the following questions with your peers:
1) As you did in Activity 2 in the however chapter, in each of the following passages, first circle the theme(s) and then underline the features that are set in contrast.
2) Within each passage, which sentence (Sentence [1] or [2]) introduces the contrast between features?
3) Where in the passage is the transitional word placed? Sentence [1] or [2]?
4) Using your responses, fill in the chart that appears below.
- [1] There is a general belief that compared to undergraduate students, graduate students are less likely to violate academic integrity since they are more mature and more educated. [2] Although the belief is prevalent, Brown (1995) reported that, in fact, graduate students are as likely to cheat as their undergraduate counterparts.
- [1] Badge and Scott (2009) pointed out that little research has been done to examine the impact of plagiarism detection tools on staff teaching practices. [2] Although a number of recent studies have considered educational use of Turnitin, they focused on individual programs or subject areas rather than institutions as a whole and the relationship with policy.
- [1] Activities which involved another party, such as copying and collaboration amongst students, created considerable diversity of opinion. [2] Although copying from other students was included in most definitions of plagiarism, for some participants from humanities and science, this was considered to be a different kind of cheating.
- [1]Plagiarism by students is an increasing issue at higher education institutions that require attention. [2] However, the development of academic misconduct policies has done little to reduce the incidence of plagiarism.
- [1] We intentionally offered students two articles in electronic form, available on the university Web site, and two printed in a journal, expecting that the electronic versions would be plagiarized more. [2] However, no differences in the plagiarism rate between the students who chose the electronic version of the source article or the paper version were actually found.
- [1] When electronic software tools f