G

Grammartier

Premium English Grammar

C1 — Advanced+50 XP available

Interactive Grammar: Discourse Management

Manage extended discourse with signposting, topic management, and coherent paragraph organisation.

Grammar Explanation · Authentic Examples · Practice Exercises

Lesson progressNot started
Duration
~36 min
Exercises
24
Level
Advanced

Overview

Manage extended discourse with signposting, topic management, and coherent paragraph organisation.

Signposting

  • OpeningI'd like to begin by / The purpose of this talk is
  • SequencingFirstly… Moving on… Turning to… Finally…
  • SummarisingTo summarise… In other words… To put it briefly…
  • ClosingIn conclusion… To conclude… I'd like to end by saying…

Topic Shift and Repair

  • Returning to: Turning back to my earlier point…
  • Digression: This is a slight tangent, but…
  • Self-repair: What I mean is… / To be more precise…
  • Checking: Are you following? / Does that make sense so far?

Written vs Spoken

  • Written: The following section examines… / As outlined above…
  • Spoken: Right, so… / Now, if we look at… / Bear with me…
  • Both: Not only… but also… / This brings me to…
  • Register matters: mix formal written signposts in academic work.

When to use

Academic presentations

Turning now to the second finding, the data reveals a significant pattern.

Business meetings

Let me return to the budget issue I raised earlier.

Academic essays

This section examines the implications of the data presented above.

Formal speeches

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the three core recommendations.

Discourse Management: Multiple Choice

Select the most appropriate discourse management phrase

Multiple Choice10 questions
1Opening a formal presentation: best choice:
2Signposting the next point in an academic essay:
3Returning to an earlier point after a digression:
4Summarising before concluding in an academic paper:
5Checking understanding in a formal spoken presentation:
6Introducing a qualification in an essay:
7Best discourse marker for topic shift in formal writing:
8Concluding a formal report:
9Self-repair in a formal presentation:
10Signalling a contrasting point in an essay:

Complete the Discourse Structure

Add the correct signposting or discourse management phrase

Fill in the Blanks8 questions
1(essay opening signal)this essay examines the social impact of digital media.
2(sequence marker 1st), the report will consider the economic implications.
3(move to next point)the implementation challenges, several key obstacles emerge.
4(summarise before conc), it is clear that three major factors influence the outcome.
5(conclude essay), this analysis has demonstrated the complexity of the issue.
6It should(note reservation), however, that the sample size is relatively small.
7(return to earlier pt)to the issue of methodology, which was outlined above,
8The following(written intro)section examines the theoretical framework in greater depth.

Upgrade to Formal Discourse Management

Replace the informal discourse marker with a formal equivalent

Transform6 questions

1OK so, I want to talk about three things today. → (formal opening)

2Anyway, the second point is about funding. → (formal transition)

3So basically, to wrap things up… → (formal close)

4But wait — I said the wrong thing. I mean the third group. → (formal self-repair)

5Oh yes — going back to what I said earlier about costs, → (formal return)

6Get it? Does everyone understand? → (formal check)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on sentence structure cover?

Manage extended discourse with signposting, topic management, and coherent paragraph organisation.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Advanced (C1) learners and forms part of the Sentence Structure section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying this grammar topic?

Start with the definition, then study the examples carefully to understand how the pattern works in context. Practise identifying the structure in authentic sentences before producing your own — this recognition-first approach builds a strong foundation for accurate, confident use.

Your Grammar Learning Path

Follow the CEFR progression for this topic cluster.

  1. C1
    Cleft Sentences
  2. C1
    Complex Sentence Patterns
  3. C1
    Discourse ManagementYou are here
  4. C1
    Ellipsis and Substitution
  5. C1
    Emphasis Structures
  6. C1
    Formal and Informal Register
  7. C1
    Hedging Language

Before You Start

Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first.

Continue Your Grammar Journey

Ready for the next step? These lessons build on what you've learned.

Related Concepts

Deepen your grammar knowledge with these related C1 topics.

Related Grammar Lessons