Rule reminder
Academic Italian essays follow a structured argumentation pattern: thesis → development (with evidence, examples, contrasts) → conclusion. Connectives must be chosen not only for their logical function but also for their register (formal, elevated) and their role in signalling to the reader which phase of the argument they are in.
SAGGIO: 'La ricerca ha confermato l'ipotesi iniziale. ___, essa ha anche evidenziato aspetti non previsti che aprono nuove direzioni di indagine.'