1. The document provides definitions and guidelines for effectively explaining things, including being clear, using reasons and details, foreshadowing the explanation, and using logical connectors to link ideas. 2. It emphasizes giving details, using nouns rather than pronouns, and descriptive verbs to provide clarity. Explanations should also include reasons to help the listener understand why something occurred. 3. Logical connectors are transition words that help signal relationships between ideas and improve coherence.

1. American Culture and Pragmatics
Spring 2012
Ms. Candice Quiñones

2. Overview

 Definitions
 How to Explain
 Finding the Right Level
 Ten Ways to Explain Things More Effectively

3. Definition
ex·plain

 verb (used with object)
1. to make plain or clear; render understandable or
intelligible: to explain an obscure point.
2. to make known in detail: to explain how to do
something.
3. to assign a meaning to; interpret: How can you
explain such a silly remark?
4. to make clear the cause or reason of; account for: I
cannot explain his strange behavior.
 verb (used without object)
5. to give an explanation.
Source: Dictionary.com

4. Definition
ex·pla·na·tion

 noun
1. the act or process of explaining.
2. something that explains; a statement made to clarify
something and make it understandable; exposition:
a) an explanation of a poem.
3. a meaning or interpretation:
a) to find an explanation for a mystery.
4. a mutual declaration of the meaning of words spoken,
actions, motives, etc., with a view to adjusting a
misunderstanding or reconciling differences:
a) After a long and emotional explanation they were friends
again. Source: Dictionary.com

5. How To Explain

 When we explain, our goal is to make things clear.
 In order to do this, we need several “tools” in our
verbal “toolbox”.
 Clarity
 Details
 Reasons
 Honesty
 Foreshadowing
 Logical connectors
 Finding the right level

6. Clarity

 Being clear about what you are talking about.
 Give details: where, when, who, what, when, and
how.
 Instead of saying:
It is there.
-say-
The book is on the desk.
(what) (where)

7. Clarity

 Avoid pronouns and use nouns instead.
 Answer the question “who?” or “what?”
 A noun is a name for a person, place, thing or
idea.
 Ex. University, Grape Street, girlfriend, compassion,
etc.
 A pronoun is a word used to substitute for a
noun.
 Ex. He, she,Source: Dr. Deborah Mowshowitz,
it, they, we, me, him, her, us, them,
Department of Biological Sciences,
etc. Columbia University

8. Clarity

 Use active, descriptive verbs instead of passive,
boring ones.
 Answer the question “how?”
 Note: “be” is a passive verb
 Instead of saying:
We went there.
-say-
My family and I drove to the Lehigh Valley Mall.

9. Clarity

 So remember, to be clear:
 Give details
 Use nouns, not pronouns
 Use descriptive verbs

10. Reasons

 When you explain, it is important to give the reasons
behind your thoughts or actions.
 Answer the question “why?”
 Instead of saying:
I’m leaving.
-say-
I’m leaving now so I can catch my bus on time.

11. Reasons

When giving reasons it is important to be honest.
 If you don’t know how to explain something, it is okay
to say “I don’t know.”
 It is usually better to be honest about your reasons
for something than to lie.
 If you lie, the reasons you invent may not make sense.
 If you lie, you may forget the reasons you gave and
the person will find out later (and may be hurt or
angry).

12. Foreshadowing

Before you attempt to explain anything, say, in advance:
 (a) what you are about to explain
 Listeners feel much more comfortable when they know
what is coming and approximately how you are going
to get there.
 (b) why you are bothering to explain it.
 Listeners will be much more willing to concentrate on
details if they know why they matter.
Source: Dr. Deborah Mowshowitz,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Columbia University

13. Foreshadowing

 Example
 First you say “Let me explain how to get to Brooklyn
– it will take 3 trains.”
 Then explain: Why do we want to go to Brooklyn in
the first place? Why go now?
 Then you go into the details of which you take first,
where you transfer, etc.
Source: Dr. Deborah Mowshowitz

14. Logical Connectors

 Logical connectors are used to signal the relationship
between what you are about to say and what you
have already said.
 They are also known as transition words.

15. Logical Connectors
 Function: Show
Function: To Add Similarity
 again  moreover
 to  as well as
 and  together with
 also  of course
 then  likewise
 equally  comparatively
 identically  correspondingly
 like  similarly
 as  furthermore
 too  additionally
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

16. Logical Connectors

Function: Contrast Function: Contradiction
 although this may be true  but whereas
 different from  (and) still despite
 of course ..., but  unlike conversely
 on the other hand  or otherwise
 (and) yet however
 at the same time
 while rather
 in spite of
 albeit nevertheless
 even so / though
 Besides regardless
 then again  although notwithstandin
 in reality  instead g
 after all
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

17. Logical Connectors

Function: Rephrasing Function: Support
 in other words  in fact
 to put it differently  in general
 for one thing  in particular
 as an illustration  for example
 in this case  for instance
 for this reason  to demonstrate
 to put it another way  to emphasize
 that is to say  to repeat
 to clarify
 with attention to
 to explain
 by all means
 such as
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

18. Logical Connectors
Function:

Function:
Cause/Condition Effect/Consequence
 in the event that  in view of  as a result
 granted (that)  if  under those circumstances
 as / so long as  …then  in that case
 on (the) condition  Unless  for this reason
(that)  for
 When
 with this intention  because the
 Whenever
 then
 in the hope that  Since
 consequently
 to the end that  While  therefore
 for fear that  Because  accordingly
 seeing / being that of
Source: http://www.smart-
 in view of  as
words.org/transition-words.html

19. Logical Connectors

Function: Time
 at the present time   hence
at this instant  further
 from time to time  since  during
 when  first, second
 sooner or later  once  in time
 at the same time  about  prior to
 up to the present  next  instantly
time  now  presently
 to begin with  immediately  Occasionally
 in due time  quickly  after
 finally  later
 until now  formerly  last
 as soon as  suddenly  until
 in the meantime  shortly  since
 in a moment  whenever  then
 in the first place  eventually  before
 meanwhile
 all of a sudden
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

20. Logical Connectors

Function:
Space/Location/Place
 in the middle  adjacent to  above  between
 to the left/right  opposite to  below  before
 in front of  here  down  alongside
 on this side  there  up  amid
 in the distance  next  under  among
 here and there  where  further  beneath
 in the  from  beyond  beside
foreground  over  nearby  behind
 in the  Near  wherever  across
background  around
 in the center of
Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

21. Logical Connectors:
Emphasis


 important to realize
notably  markedly
 including  especially  another key point
 like  specifically  first thing to remember
 to be  expressivel  must be remembered
sure y  point often overlooked
 namely  surprisingly  to point out
 chiefly  frequently  on the positive /
 truly  significantl negative side
 indeed y
 with this in mind
 certainly
 surely Source: http://www.smart-
words.org/transition-words.html

22. Finding the Right Level

 Not everyone you explain something to is going to
understand everything the first time.
 To help them understand:
 Try to think about it from their position or point of view.
 Try to find out where they got stuck.
 Explain in small “bites” (a little at a time).
 If someone asks you a question, don’t assume you
have to explain a lot of background material.
 Don’t assume too much; sometimes you will need to
provide background information.
Source:. Deborah Mowshowitz,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Columbia University

23. Ten Ways to Explain
Things More Effectively

1. Keep in mind other’s point of view
2. Listen and respond to questions
3. Avoid talking over people’s heads (find the right
level)
 Don’t use vocabulary that is too technical
4. Avoid talking down to people
 Don’t insult people by assuming they don’t know
things
5. Ask questions to determine people’s understanding
Source: Calvin Sun, CNET Networks
Inc.

24. Ten Ways to Explain
Things More Effectively

6. Focus on benefits, not features.
 Features are inherent properties of objects.
 Benefits are ways features help a person
7. Use analogies to make concepts clearer
 Analogy is explaining an unfamiliar concept using a
familiar one.
8. Compare new concepts to familiar ones.
9. Use the concepts of subsets and supersets.
 Ex. Brooklyn is a subset of NYC, because all of it is in
NYC.
10. Confirm that your explanation makes sense.
Source: Calvin Sun, CNET Networks,
Inc.

25. Time to Practice

 Please explain to me the relationship between
humans and their pets.
 Please explain to me what “the early bird gets the
worm” means.
 Please explain the difference between fear and
respect to me.
 Please explain the process of buying a plane ticket to
me.
 Please explain what each color on your flag
represents.
 Please explain the main idea of a book you are