Writing Transitions

In writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely.In writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely. Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers.Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers.

Transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument.Transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument. Since your transitions will depend greatly on how well you have organized your paper, you should make sure your paper is organized before you work on transitions.Since your transitions will depend greatly on how well you have organized your paper, you should make sure your paper is organized before you work on transitions. In the margins of your draft, summarize in a word or short phrase what each paragraph is about or how it fits into your whole piece. This exercise will help you to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.In the margins of your draft, summarize in a word or short phrase what each paragraph is about or how it fits into your whole piece. This exercise will help you to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.

Good transitions can connect paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole.Good transitions can connect paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Instead of treating paragraphs as separate ideas, transitions can help readers understand how paragraphs work together, reference one another, and build to a larger point.Instead of treating paragraphs as separate ideas, transitions can help readers understand how paragraphs work together, reference one another, and build to a larger point.

The key to producing good transitions is highlighting connections between corresponding paragraphs.The key to producing good transitions is highlighting connections between corresponding paragraphs. By referencing in one paragraph the relevant material from previous ones, writers can develop important points for their readers.By referencing in one paragraph the relevant material from previous ones, writers can develop important points for their readers.

It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off (instances where this is especially challenging may suggest that the paragraphs don’t belong together.)It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off (instances where this is especially challenging may suggest that the paragraphs don’t belong together.) Picking up key phrases from the previous paragraph and highlighting them in the next can create an obvious progression for readers.

Many times, it only takes a few words to draw these connections.Many times, it only takes a few words to draw these connections. Instead of writing transitions that could connect any paragraph to any other paragraph, write a transition that could only connect one specific paragraph to another specific paragraph.Instead of writing transitions that could connect any paragraph to any other paragraph, write a transition that could only connect one specific paragraph to another specific paragraph.

Example: Overall, American Eagle has received increased sales in every store, leading to a significant rise in profits.Example: Overall, American Eagle has received increased sales in every store, leading to a significant rise in profits. Another important thing to note is that the corporation had expanded its international influence. Overall, American Eagle has logged increased sales in every store, leading to a significant rise in profits. Revision: Overall, American Eagle has logged increased sales in every store, leading to a significant rise in profits. These impressive profits are largely due to the corporation's expanded international influence.

Example: Fearing for the loss of Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck, effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War.Example: Fearing for the loss of Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck, effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War. But then something else significant happened. The Swedish intervention began. Revision: Fearing for the loss of more Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck, effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War.Revision: Fearing for the loss of more Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck, effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War. Shortly after Danish forces withdrew, the Swedish intervention began.

Example: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.Example: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list. There are other things to note about Tan as well. Amy Tan also participates in the satirical garage band the Rock Bottom Remainders with Stephen King and Dave Barry. Revision: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.Revision: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list. Though her fiction is well known, her work with the band the Rock Bottom Remainders receives far less publicity.

LOGICAL RELATIONSHIPTRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION Similarityalso, in the same way, just as... so too, likewise, similarly Exception/Contrastbut, however, in spite of, on the one hand... on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet Sequence/Orderfirst, second, third,... next, then, finally Timeafter, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then Examplefor example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate Emphasiseven, indeed, in fact, of course, truly Place/Positionabove, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there Cause and Effectaccordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus Additional Support or Evidenceadditionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then Conclusion/Summaryfinally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, in summary LOGICAL RELATIONSHIPTRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION Similarityalso, in the same way, just as... so too, likewise, similarly Exception/Contrastbut, however, in spite of, on the one hand... on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet Sequence/Orderfirst, second, third,... next, then, finally Timeafter, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then Examplefor example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate Emphasiseven, indeed, in fact, of course, truly Place/Positionabove, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there Cause and Effectaccordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus Additional Support or Evidenceadditionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then Conclusion/Summaryfinally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, in summary LOGICAL RELATIONSHIPTRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION Similarityalso, in the same way, just as... so too, likewise, similarly Exception/Contrastbut, however, in spite of, on the one hand... on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet Sequence/Orderfirst, second, third,... next, then, finally Timeafter, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then Examplefor example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate Emphasiseven, indeed, in fact, of course, truly Place/Positionabove, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there Cause and Effectaccordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus Additional Support or Evidence additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then Conclusion/Summaryfinally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, in summary