Audience Concerns: Transitions

Transitions are words or phrases that cue the reader of a movement from one idea to the
next. They occur within a paragraph and between them. Since ideas should be written as
 if they flow together in some kind of sensible manner, a transition act as a bridge between
the writer's thoughts. If a writer does not use transitions, her writing will often feel jerky or
unorganized. Many times the reader will have to pause and try to figure how one idea relates
 to another. This is a problem, as anytime the "flow" of the text is interrupted there is a danger
 that the reader will be lost completely.

The most common types of transitional expressions which signal relationships between ideas:

bullet Addition: also, in addition, moreover, and besides, furthermore, equally important, then finally,
bullet Example: for example, for instance, thus, as an illustration, namely, specifically
bullet Contrast: but, however, on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely, in contrast, still , at the same time
bullet Comparison: similarly, likewise, in the same way
bullet Concession: of course, to be sure, certainly, granted
bullet Result: therefore, thus, as a result, so, accordingly
bullet Summary: hence, in short, in brief, in summary, in conclusion, finally,
bullet Time sequence: first, second, third, next, finally, afterwards, before, soon, later, meanwhile, subsequently, immediately, eventually, currently
bullet Place: in the front, next to, in back of, in the background, adjacent, nearby, in the distance, near, before

Other types of transition devices are

bullet Pronouns: use pronouns to clearly refer to nouns:

Mary was such a kidder. She always liked to bring jokes to class.

  • bullet

    Use of parallel structures and phrases that repeat:

    Often times he was late to class. Often times he over slept.
    bullet

    Repetition of a few key words. Use synonyms throughout or key words:

    Transitions are the mortar of essays. This cement allows a solid binding of ideas, which glues one idea to another.

  • The best way to use transitions between paragraphs is to change the form of a word
    of the last sentence of a paragraph, and use it as one of the first words in the next paragraph. Watch how I use this device here.

    Using this type of bridge will help in organizing your essays, as readers will not be aware
     that a forced transition has been implemented; they will just think that the ideas have "flowed" together in a rather seamless manner.


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    Last revised: November 19, 2009 by Jan Strever -- jstrever@scc.spokane.edu
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