A penanda wacana tells the reader how two ideas relate. Choose it by the relation, such as addition, contrast or result, not by habit.
This lesson is part of the essay development set. It works on paragraphs you have built with isi, huraian, contoh and kesan.
Which penanda wacana show which relation?
Group them by what they do.
| Relation | Examples |
|---|---|
| Add a point | selain itu, di samping itu, tambahan pula |
| Contrast | namun demikian, walau bagaimanapun, sebaliknya |
| Result | oleh itu, akibatnya, dengan demikian |
| Example | sebagai contoh, misalnya, contohnya |
| Sequence | pertama, kedua, akhir sekali |
| Sum up | sebagai penutup, secara keseluruhannya |
If a link says “contrast” but the next paragraph adds a similar point, the reader is misled.
Worked example
Here are two original paragraphs on the topic of keeping the river clean.
Penduduk perlu berhenti membuang sampah ke dalam sungai. Sampah plastik menyumbat aliran air dan mencemarkan sumber air minuman.
Namun demikian, tanggungjawab ini bukan milik penduduk sahaja. Pihak berkuasa tempatan juga perlu menyediakan tong sampah yang mencukupi di sepanjang tebing sungai.
“Namun demikian” marks a turn: the first paragraph puts the duty on residents, and the second shows it is shared. The contrast is real, so the link is the right one.
If the second paragraph had simply added another way residents can help, “Selain itu” would have been the correct link instead.
The mistake that misleads the reader
A common slip is the same link every time, or a link that shows the wrong relation. Compare two choices for the second paragraph above.
| Link used | Relation shown | Matches the content? |
|---|---|---|
| Namun demikian | Contrast | Yes, the duty is shared |
| Oleh itu | Result | No, the second paragraph is not a result of the first |
| Selain itu | Addition | Partly, it hides the turn |
Read the two paragraphs without the link. Ask what the relation is, and choose the link that says so.
Check yourself
Choose a penanda wacana for the start of the second paragraph and say why.
Paragraph 1: Pelajar yang bersenam secara tetap lebih cergas dan jarang sakit. Paragraph 2: ___, bersenam juga membantu pelajar mengurangkan tekanan sebelum peperiksaan.
Answer
Selain itu or Di samping itu. Paragraph 2 adds a second benefit of exercise, so the relation is addition.
Oleh itu would be wrong, because the lower stress is not a result of being cergas. Namun demikian would be wrong, because nothing in paragraph 2 contrasts with paragraph 1.
What to study next
Finish the essay with writing a conclusion that follows the argument. The links also depend on the form and audience, which is covered in choosing formal or informal register.
A teacher in online one-to-one SPM Bahasa Melayu tuition can read your karangan with you and test each link. The BM essay plan builder and the mistake log and paper-error review tool help you plan and track the links you overuse.