This post introduces you to persuasive writing (πειστική γραφή) in Greek. This
is relevant to the speech and essay text types, but more generally, also for
your speaking and oral work.
Structure
This video introduces you to how
to plan an execute a piece of writing for VCE Greek. At around the 5 minute
mark, an example speech structure is presented. I highly recommend watching it,
along with this video.
The ideas are the same as persuasive writing in English. You need an
introduction (πρόλογος) that clearly signposts your arguments (επιχειρήματα).
Then, the body paragraphs (παράγραφοι) introduce and defend each argument.
Finally there should be a conclusion (επίλογος) that contains no new arguments,
but summarises what has been said.
Connecting words
As you know, having a set of connecting words that we can use in writing essays
can make writing and expressing ideas easier and more effective.
Here
are a set of such words in Greek, please try and incorporate some of these into
your writing. These are the kind of words you could put on some flash cards and
test every now and again to make sure you have them in your back pocket to use
in your writing and speaking. I’ve translated some of the more common ones for
you below. (Note: The colours don’t have any meaning, they’re just meant to
help you distinguish the different kinds of connecting words.)
| Word |
Purpose |
Meaning |
| επίσης |
connection |
too, in addition |
| επιπλέον |
connection |
additionally, moreover |
| ακόμη |
connection |
still |
| επιπροσθέτως |
connection |
additionally |
| παράλληλα |
connection |
in parallel, at the same time |
| συμπληρωματικά |
connection |
in addition |
| στη συνέχεια |
connection |
following on |
| εκτός (όμως) από |
connection |
except for |
| αλλά, όμως, μα |
opposition |
but, however |
| παρ’ όλ’ αυτά |
opposition |
despite these things, nevertheless |
| παρόλo που |
opposition |
although |
| αντιθέτως |
opposition |
instead, on the contrary |
| ωστόσο, μολαταύτα |
opposition |
however |
| ενώ |
opposition |
while |
| από την άλλη πλευρά |
opposition |
on the other side |
| αφ’ ενός, αφ’ ετέρου |
comparison |
one the one hand, on the other |
| επομένως, άρα |
conclusion |
therefore |
| συνεπώς, κατά συνέπεια |
conclusion |
consequently |
| αναλόγως |
conclusion |
accordingly |
| λοιπόν |
conclusion, connection |
so |
| αυτό σημαίνει πως |
conclusion |
this means that |
| έτσι |
result |
thus, in this way |
| έτσι ώστε |
result |
so that |
| τελικά, εν τέλει |
result |
finally, in the end |
| αναμφίβολα |
certainty |
without doubt |
| αναμφισβήτητα |
certainty |
undeniably |
| οπωσδήποτε, βεβαίως |
certainty |
definitely |
| προφανώς |
certainty, indication |
obviously, apparently |
| επειδή, αφού λοιπόν |
reason |
since |
| αυτός είναι ο λόγος που |
reason |
this is the reason that |
| σαφώς |
indication |
clearly |
| χαρακτηριστικά |
indication |
characteristically |
| παρενθετικά |
explanation |
parenthetically |
| με άλλα λόγια |
explanation |
in other words |
| όπως αναφέρθηκε |
reference |
as was mentioned |
| το γεγονός ότι |
reference |
the fact that |
| στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση |
reference |
in this case |
There are also a number of μετοχές (gerundives, i.e. -ing forms) that can be
used to connect sentences nicely:
| Gerundive |
Meaning |
| διερευνώντας |
exploring |
| συσχετίζοντας |
correlating |
| κατανοώντας, γνωρίζοντας |
understanding, knowing |
| αναλογιζόμενοι |
considering |
| στοχεύοντας |
aiming |
| αντιπαραβάλλοντας |
comparing |
| εστιάζοντας |
focusing |
There are many more words in document I’ve linked above, please look them up.