Audience Concerns
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.
Here's a list of the most common types of transitional expressions which
signal relationships between ideas:
-
Addition: also, in addition, moreover, and
besides, furthermore, equally important, then finally,
| |
Example: for example, for instance, thus, as
an illustration, namely, specifically
Contrast: but, however, on the other hand,
nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely, in contrast, still , at the same time
Comparison: similarly, likewise, in the same
way
Concession: of course, to be sure, certainly,
granted
Result: therefore, thus, as a result, so,
accordingly
Summary: hence, in short, in brief, in
summary, in conclusion, finally,
Time sequence: first, second, third, next,
finally, afterwards, before, soon, later, meanwhile, subsequently, immediately,
eventually, currently
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
-
Pronouns: use pronouns to clearly refer to
nouns:
Mary was such a kidder. She always liked to bring jokes to class.
-
Use of parallel structures and phrases that repeat:
Often times he was late to class. Often times he over slept.
-
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.
| | | | | | | | | | |