Grammar – AS Level: Discourse Markers — WJEC A-Level French

Discourse markers (les marqueurs de discours) are words or phrases that structure spoken and written French, indicating relationships between ideas, such as addition, contrast, cause, and conclusion. Mastering them is essential for achieving coherence and fluency in AS Level French writing and speaking, directly impacting marks in the WJEC A-Level exam.

Discourse markers are essential tools in French that help organise ideas and guide the reader or listener through your argument. They include words like 'en effet' (indeed), 'cependant' (however), 'par conséquent' (consequently), and 'd'une part... d'autre part' (on the one hand... on the other hand). In AS Level French, using these markers correctly demonstrates a high level of linguistic competence and is rewarded in both written and spoken tasks.

The WJEC A-Level French specification expects students to use a range of discourse markers to achieve coherence and cohesion in essays, summaries, and oral presentations. Markers are particularly important in the discursive essay (Paper 2) and the individual research project (Paper 3). Without them, even accurate language can seem disjointed and lose marks for 'quality of language'.

Beyond the exam, mastering discourse markers is key to sounding natural and fluent in French. They are the glue that holds conversations and texts together, allowing you to express complex ideas with clarity. This topic builds on basic conjunctions and extends to more sophisticated connectors that are typical of formal French.

• →Addition: 'et', 'de plus', 'en outre', 'par ailleurs' (furthermore, moreover).
• →Contrast: 'mais', 'cependant', 'néanmoins', 'pourtant' (however, nevertheless).
• →Cause and effect: 'car', 'parce que', 'en effet', 'donc', 'par conséquent' (because, therefore).
• →Conclusion: 'en conclusion', 'pour conclure', 'finalement', 'ainsi' (in conclusion, thus).
• →Sequencing: 'd'abord', 'ensuite', 'puis', 'enfin' (first, then, finally).

• Award credit for accurate use of a range of discourse markers beyond basic connectors (e.g., 'en revanche', 'néanmoins') in writing tasks
• Look for correct punctuation and integration of discourse markers within sentences
• In speaking assessments, reward spontaneous and appropriate use of markers like 'alors', 'donc', 'par contre' to structure responses
• Penalise over-reliance on a limited set of markers, especially direct translations from English

• 💡In the AS speaking exam, use discourse markers to buy thinking time and organise your ideas clearly
• 💡For the writing paper, vary your connectors to demonstrate a higher level of grammatical range
• 💡Memorise a checklist of discourse markers categorised by function to quickly integrate them into your answers
• 💡Practise identifying the relationship between sentences in model texts to internalise which marker fits which context
• 💡Use at least 4-5 different discourse markers in your essay to show range. Avoid repeating the same ones.
• 💡Practice using markers in speaking tasks: record yourself and check if you naturally use connectors like 'cependant' or 'par conséquent'.
• 💡Learn markers in pairs or groups (e.g., 'd'une part... d'autre part') to structure arguments effectively.

• Overusing 'mais' instead of more nuanced alternatives like 'cependant' or 'pourtant'
• Direct translation from English, e.g., using 'par contre' incorrectly at the start of a sentence in formal writing
• Misplacing discourse markers within the sentence, leading to awkward syntax
• Confusing the register of markers (e.g., using informal 'du coup' in formal essays)
• Confusing 'en effet' with 'en fait': 'En effet' means 'indeed' (confirming a point), while 'en fait' means 'in fact' (introducing a correction or new information).
• Overusing 'donc' at the start of a sentence: In formal writing, 'donc' is often placed after a semicolon or within a sentence, not at the beginning.
• Thinking that discourse markers are optional: They are crucial for coherence; omitting them can make your writing seem like a list of unrelated ideas.

1. 1Week 1: Learn 10 key discourse markers by category (addition, contrast, cause, conclusion). Write example sentences for each.
2. 2Week 2: Practice rewriting paragraphs from textbooks or news articles, replacing basic connectors with more sophisticated markers.
3. 3Week 3: Do timed essay practice, focusing on using at least 5 different markers. Review with a teacher or peer.
4. 4Week 4: Record yourself speaking on a topic (e.g., environmental issues) and transcribe; identify where you can add markers for better flow.

• 📋Discursive essay (Paper 2): You must argue for or against a statement. Use markers to structure your points (e.g., 'd'une part... d'autre part').
• 📋Summary task (Paper 2): Condense a text using your own words; include markers to show relationships between ideas.
• 📋Oral presentation (Paper 3): Use markers to signpost your argument and make it easy for the examiner to follow.
• 📋Translation into French (Paper 1): Ensure you translate discourse markers accurately, not literally.