English 1301/1302 ONL / Skrabanek


Transitions

You can add coherence and smooth movement to your ideas by effectively using transitions. A transition is a bridge that connects two paragraphs or related groups of ideas.

When used between groups of ideas, a transition is meant to show the relationships between the ideas. For example, a transition might show similarity, difference, emphasis, or result.

Transitions that show similarity include:
as, also, like, again, likewise, similarly, and, moreover, in the same way, in comparison

Transitions that show difference include:
but, however, although, in contrast, yet, though, on the other hand, on the contrary, whereas, conversely, unlike, rather

Transitions that show emphasis include:
in particular, thus, so that, therefore, most important of all, certainly, indeed, undoubtedly, of course, in fact, because, for example

Transitions that show result include:
so, as a result, consequently, thus, hence, since, because, for this reason, therefore, so that

Transitions that show a time relationship include:
not long after, at last, soon, presently, immediately, yesterday, whenever, as, since, meanwhile, finally, when



Transitions are also used as a bridge between paragraphs. This type of transition is usually the concluding sentence in a paragraph. This type of transition can take three forms. Two of the forms work acceptably, but one type should be avoided.

Imagine that you are building a bridge between two shores. One bridge reaches halfway from this shore; you can go out on it and come back, but you can't reach the other shore. This is one kind of transition. It summarizes the content of the paragraph; it looks back, but it does not look forward. This kind of transition is acceptable.

Imagine further, by some weird circumstance, that you have a bridge that reaches only halfway across the river, but it does reach the other side, yet it is connected to this shore. I said it was weird. This is another kind of transition. It does not summarize the content of the paragraph it is in; it looks only forward but not back. As a result, it is totally unconnected to the ideas in this paragraph, and it talks about ideas in the next paragraph. For that reason, it should be placed in the next paragraph. This kind of transition is not acceptable.

OK, so we're still working on the bridge. Now imagine that you have a bridge that reaches completely across the river and links the two shores. This is a third kind of transition. It summarizes the content in this paragraph, so it looks backward. It also gives a hint of what is to come in the next paragraph, so it looks forward, too. It fully bridges or connects the two paragraphs. This kind of transition is the best kind to use.

Here are some examples. Let's say you are writing an analytical paper and you are completing a paragraph about the expressive purpose. Your next paragraph is about the literary purpose. These examples would be the last sentence in your paragraph about the expressive purpose.

The first kind of transition that only looks back:
This expression of personal feelings and the use of first-person pronouns in the essay are clear indicators of the expressive purpose. (summative conclusion; acceptable transition)

The second kind of transition that only looks forward:
The author also makes use of the literary purpose. (unacceptable transition)

The third kind of transition that looks backward and forward:
This expression of personal feelings and the use of first-person pronouns in the essay are clear indicators of the expressive purpose, but the author also makes use of the literary purpose in his writing. (summative conclusion and teaser; best transition)




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English/Austin Community College
Last update: October 2012