Transitions+in+Essays

 ** Transitions in Essays**

**Abstract:** This resource provides the introduction of transitions, the functions and importances of them, as well as specific transitional devices and transition strategies.

[[image:zm2_120.JPG width="28" height="27"]] **__Definition__**
 In both academic and professional wrting, **transitions** serve as the media to convey information clearly and concisely by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections in essays. The form of a transition can be a word, a phrase, a sentence or an entire paragraph which function as signs with particular meanings to reveal the logic and ideas of an essay.

__[[image:3.jpg width="26" height="26"]] Functions and Importances of Transitions__
Basically, transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together ideas into a logically coherent argument. A transition can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire paragraph. It functions in two ways: 1. The transition can either directly summarizes the content of a preceding sentence, paragraph, or section or implies such a summary in order to remind the reader of what has come before. 2. The transition helps the reader anticipate or comprehend the new information to present. Good transitions can connect paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Instead of treating paragraphs or sections of an essay as separate ideas, transitions can help readers understand how paragraphs or sections work together, reference one another, and build to a larger point. = = Since the clarity and effectiveness of transitions largely depend on the organization of an essay, it is important to evaluate a paper's organization before employing transitions.
 * __ [[image:3.jpg width="28" height="27"]]Before Employing Transitions __**

The types of transitions available should be used according to circumstances in the text. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**1.****Transitions between paragraphs** — ﻿ If you have done a good job of arranging paragraphs so that the content of one leads logically to the next, the transition will highlight a relationship that already exists by summarizing the previous paragraph and suggesting something of the content of the paragraph that follows. A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two (//however, for example, similarly//), a phrase, or a sentence. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">** 2. Transitions within paragraphs ** —As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or short phrases.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">**3. Transitions between sections**—Particularly in longer work, it may be necessary to include transitional paragraphs that summarize for the reader the information just covered and specify the relevance of this information to the discussion in the following section.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',helvetica,sans-serif;">**1. Definition of Transitional devices**
====** Transitional devices ** are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. They run the gamut from the most simple — the little conjunctions: //and, but, nor, for, yet, or,// (and sometimes) //so// — to more complex signals that ideas are somehow connected — the conjunctive adverbs and transitional expressions such as //however, moreover, nevertheless, on the other hand//. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',helvetica,sans-serif;">**2. Functions of Transitional Devices** ==== Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your paper. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas a paper develops. In addition, transitional devices link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas. ==== ==== There are several types of transitional devices, and each category leads readers to make certain connections or assumptions. Some lead readers forward and imply the building of an idea or thought, while others make readers compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts. ====

====** Note: ** Transitional words and phrases can creat powerful links between ideas in your paper. However, these words have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word or phrase, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and that it is the right match for the logic in your paper. ====
 * 3.** ** A List of Common Transitional Devices for Reference **
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">**To Add:**

=
<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, still, first (second, etc.) =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Compare:** =====

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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true, likewise =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Prove:** =====

=
<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Show Exception:** =====

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Show Time:** =====

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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Repeat:** =====

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted

 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Emphasize:** =====

=
<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Show Sequence:** =====

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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Give an Example:** =====

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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate =====
 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To Summarize or Conclude:** =====

=
<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently =====
 * =====**<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Demonstratives Acting as Transitions: **=====

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">this, these, that, those

 * =====<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Pronouns Serving as Links to Refer to A Specific Word or Phrase:** =====

The last sentence of some paragraphs in a critical essay or paper may act as a mini-conclusion to the paragraph. It may wrap up the thought, or tie the information presented to your thesis. It may also act as a bridge to your next paragraph. Consider this example, from a paper in which a writer compares Americans' reactions to traveling to other parts of the country: ==<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Many Westerners don't like rivers in the East. They are alarmed by the muddy water, the overhanging trees, and the snakes. __Some Easterners aren't too thrilled about Western rivers, either.__ ** == <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Western rivers can seem shallow, freezing cold, too exposed to the sun, rocky, and uninviting to someone used to the gentle and fertile rivers of the East. Instead of a gentle float in a canoe, a Western "river run" can be a terrifying experience for the novice Easterner. . . **


 * Note:** how the writer begins the transition at the end of the first paragraph and then continues the transition with a strong topic sentence in the next paragraph.

2) Make an allusion to the topic of the preceding paragraph.
You might refer to the main topic of your last paragraph. Read your topic sentence or gloss the paragraph to make sure you know its main thrust (see the Writer's Web handout on glossing). In the preceding example, how the second paragraph's topic sentence sets the reader up for the new topic (Western rivers) and also refers back to Eastern rivers. It is also possible to begin a transition in the second paragraph, like this:

== Many Westerners don't like rivers in the East. They are alarmed by the muddy water, the overhanging trees, and the snakes. __Westerners often won't stick their big toes in rivers that look like the James.__ ==

In this example, the final sentence of the first paragraph serves as that "mini-conclusion" discussed above.
 * Note ** : Whatever type of transition you use, you should clearly present the topic of the paragraph that follows.

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[] (transition strategies) [] ( introduction of transitions and transitional devices) [] （transition strategies) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">[] ( introduction of transitiona and transition strategies)

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