Ally McBeal–style cadence + Cornell-note flashcards for Augustine passage — Age 13

Flashcards (Cornell style) that annotate cadence, mark concessive subordinators and causal/inferential connectors in different colors, and trace whether the conceded content becomes evidence (turn) or is dismissed (pivot). For a 13-year-old, using Augustine's opening to The City of God.

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Quick guide (one-sentence)

We mark concessive subordinators in orange and causal/inferential connectors in blue. We add simple Ally McBeal cadence marks (short pause [|], long pause [||], falling pitch ↘, rising pitch ↗) so you can read the sentence out loud and notice the rhythm. Then we check whether the conceded idea shows up again as evidence (a "turn") or disappears (a "pivot").

Cue / Question
Notes
What is a "concessive subordinator"?
A concessive subordinator is a word or phrase that introduces a clause which accepts or limits something that might be a problem or objection (examples: "although," "though," "even if," "so far as"). It often sounds like you are saying, "I admit this, but...". In the passage the phrase 'so far as the limits of this work allow me' works like a limiting concession — Augustine admits his own limits.
Summary: Concessive subordinators concede a point but lead into the main argument.
Cue / Question
Notes
What are causal / inferential connectors?
These connect reasons to conclusions (examples: "because," "as," "for," "in order that"). They show why something is being said or prove a point. In the passage, 'As I see...' and 'in order that' are causal/inferential: Augustine is saying why he will explain things and what his explanation will show.
Summary: Causal connectors point to reasons or evidence.
Cue / Question
Notes
How to read the sentence out loud (cadence)?
Annotated sentence (shortened for clarity):
As I see that I have still to discuss the fit destinies of the two cities, the earthly and the heavenly, [|] so far as the limits of this work allow me, [||] I must first explain... in order that it may be evident ↘

Cadence guide (Ally McBeal style):
  • Read phrase-by-phrase. Put a short pause [|] at commas and a longer pause [||] at stronger breaks.
  • Use falling pitch ↘ at the end of a main clause. Use a slight rise ↗ when you are adding a contrasting idea (like "not only... but also").
  • Example with micro-marks: "As I see that I have still to discuss..." [|] "so far as the limits... allow me" [||] "I must first explain" ↘
Summary: Mark pauses and pitch to hear the argument structure and emphasize connectors.
Cue / Question
Notes
Find the concession and write it out.
Concession (highlighted): 'so far as the limits of this work allow me'. What it does: Augustine admits that his explanation will be limited by this work's scope. That is a direct concession — he recognizes a constraint before moving on.
Summary: The concession is a framing move — it sets a limit but doesn't argue against the main point.
Cue / Question
Notes
What is a "turn" vs a "pivot" and which is this?
Definitions:
  • Turn: The speaker concedes something and then brings that concession back later as evidence or as the basis for a larger point.
  • Pivot: The speaker concedes or mentions something briefly, then moves on without using it as evidence — it's acknowledged and dropped.
Application to the passage: The concession (so far as the limits...) is a framing limit. Augustine does not return to that limit later in this paragraph as a piece of evidence. He immediately moves to explain reasons and to contrast philosophers' dreams with God's hope. So this is a pivot — the conceded limitation is acknowledged and then Augustine pivots to his main argumentative work.
Summary: Concession found → it disappears from later argument in this paragraph → pivot.
Cue / Question
Notes
Try it yourself
Cornell flashcard steps:
  1. Left (Cue): Write the connector or clause you find (example: "so far as the limits...").
  2. Right (Notes): Mark it orange if concessive, blue if causal/inferential, and write a short note: "type, function, and where it leads."
  3. Bottom (Summary): Decide: does this concession reappear as evidence later? If yes, label "turn"; if no, label "pivot."
Practice question: Mark these in the passage:
Full short excerpt with highlights:
As I see that I have still to discuss the fit destinies of the two cities, the earthly and the heavenly, [|] so far as the limits of this work allow me, [||] I must first explain... in order that it may be evident ↘
Summary: Use the left column for the question/connector, right column for the meaning and color mark, bottom for the turn/pivot decision.

If you want, I can make printable one-side flashcards (PNG) with these colored highlights and cadence marks, or make more practice excerpts from Augustine. Which would you like next?

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