Transitional Words and Phrases
One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.
While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.
In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.
Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.
Categories of Transition Words and Phrases
Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example
Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession
Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary
Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships
Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).
accordingly as a result and so because
consequently for that reason hence on account of
since therefore thus
Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.
after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime
later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes
soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while
Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.
additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more
finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place
last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too
Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.
after all although and yet at the same time but
despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding
on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet
Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.
as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)
for example for instance specifically that is
to demonstrate to illustrate
Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.
chiefly critically
foundationally most importantly
of less importance primarily
Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.
above adjacent to below beyond
centrally here nearby neighboring on
opposite to peripherally there wherever
Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.
by the same token in like manner
in similar fashion here in the same way
likewise wherever
Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification
i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words
that is that is to say to clarify to explain
to put it another way to rephrase it
granted it is true
naturally of course
finally lastly
in conclusion in the end
to conclude
Intensification
in fact indeed no
of course surely to repeat
undoubtedly without doubt yes
for this purpose in order that
so that to that end
to this end
in brief in sum
in summary in short
to sum up to summarize
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Improving Your Writing Style
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Clear, Concise Sentences
Use the active voice
Put the action in the verb
Tidy up wordy phrases
Reduce wordy verbs
Reduce prepositional phrases
Reduce expletive constructions
Avoid using vague nouns
Avoid unneccessarily inflated words
Avoid noun strings
Connecting Ideas Through Transitions
Using Transitional Words and Phrases
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Transitions
What this handout is about.
In this crazy, mixed-up world of ours, transitions glue our ideas and our essays together. This handout will introduce you to some useful transitional expressions and help you employ them effectively.
The function and importance of transitions
In both academic writing and professional writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do with the information you present to them. Whether single words, quick phrases, or full sentences, they function as signs that tell readers how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have written.
Transitions signal relationships between ideas—relationships such as: “Another example coming up—stay alert!” or “Here’s an exception to my previous statement” or “Although this idea appears to be true, here’s the real story.” Basically, transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument. Transitions are not just verbal decorations that embellish your paper by making it sound or read better. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader to think and react in a particular way to your ideas. In providing the reader with these important cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your ideas fit together.
Signs that you might need to work on your transitions
How can you tell whether you need to work on your transitions? Here are some possible clues:
- Your instructor has written comments like “choppy,” “jumpy,” “abrupt,” “flow,” “need signposts,” or “how is this related?” on your papers.
- Your readers (instructors, friends, or classmates) tell you that they had trouble following your organization or train of thought.
- You tend to write the way you think—and your brain often jumps from one idea to another pretty quickly.
- You wrote your paper in several discrete “chunks” and then pasted them together.
- You are working on a group paper; the draft you are working on was created by pasting pieces of several people’s writing together.
Organization
Since the clarity and effectiveness of your transitions will depend greatly on how well you have organized your paper, you may want to evaluate your paper’s organization 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 analysis as a whole. This exercise should help you to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.
If after doing this exercise you find that you still have difficulty linking your ideas together in a coherent fashion, your problem may not be with transitions but with organization. For help in this area (and a more thorough explanation of the “reverse outlining” technique described in the previous paragraph), please see the Writing Center’s handout on organization .
How transitions work
The organization of your written work includes two elements: (1) the order in which you have chosen to present the different parts of your discussion or argument, and (2) the relationships you construct between these parts. Transitions cannot substitute for good organization, but they can make your organization clearer and easier to follow. Take a look at the following example:
El Pais , a Latin American country, has a new democratic government after having been a dictatorship for many years. Assume that you want to argue that El Pais is not as democratic as the conventional view would have us believe.
One way to effectively organize your argument would be to present the conventional view and then to provide the reader with your critical response to this view. So, in Paragraph A you would enumerate all the reasons that someone might consider El Pais highly democratic, while in Paragraph B you would refute these points. The transition that would establish the logical connection between these two key elements of your argument would indicate to the reader that the information in paragraph B contradicts the information in paragraph A. As a result, you might organize your argument, including the transition that links paragraph A with paragraph B, in the following manner:
Paragraph A: points that support the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.
Transition: Despite the previous arguments, there are many reasons to think that El Pais’s new government is not as democratic as typically believed.
Paragraph B: points that contradict the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.
In this case, the transition words “Despite the previous arguments,” suggest that the reader should not believe paragraph A and instead should consider the writer’s reasons for viewing El Pais’s democracy as suspect.
As the example suggests, transitions can help reinforce the underlying logic of your paper’s organization by providing the reader with essential information regarding the relationship between your ideas. In this way, transitions act as the glue that binds the components of your argument or discussion into a unified, coherent, and persuasive whole.
Types of transitions
Now that you have a general idea of how to go about developing effective transitions in your writing, let us briefly discuss the types of transitions your writing will use.
The types of transitions available to you are as diverse as the circumstances in which you need to use them. A transition can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire paragraph. In each case, it functions the same way: First, the transition either directly summarizes the content of a preceding sentence, paragraph, or section or implies such a summary (by reminding the reader of what has come before). Then, it helps the reader anticipate or comprehend the new information that you wish to present.
- Transitions between sections: Particularly in longer works, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Transitional expressions
Effectively constructing each transition often depends upon your ability to identify words or phrases that will indicate for the reader the kind of logical relationships you want to convey. The table below should make it easier for you to find these words or phrases. Whenever you have trouble finding a word, phrase, or sentence to serve as an effective transition, refer to the information in the table for assistance. Look in the left column of the table for the kind of logical relationship you are trying to express. Then look in the right column of the table for examples of words or phrases that express this logical relationship.
Keep in mind that each of these words or phrases may have a slightly different meaning. Consult a dictionary or writer’s handbook if you are unsure of the exact meaning of a word or phrase.
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Table of Contents
Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process.
- Paragraph Transitions
- © 2023 by Christine Photinos - National University, San Diego
Paragraph transitions refer to the stylistic techniques writers use to bridge the gaps between ideas, ensuring a seamless and logical progression from one point to the next. Effective paragraph transitions signal to readers how two consecutive paragraphs relate to each other. By employing methods ranging from signposting to deductive reasoning , and from causal order to metalanguage , writers can craft a well-organized text . For readers, these transitions act as guides, creating a sense of flow , and enhancing clarity .
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Related Concepts: Coherence – How to Achieve Coherence in Writing ; Logic; Organization ; Organizational Patterns ; Sentence Schemas ; Sentence Order within Paragraphs ; Topic Sentences & Paragraph Development ; Unity
Effective paragraph transitions signal to readers how two consecutive paragraphs relate to each other. The transition signals the relationship between the “new information” and the “old information.”
For example, the new paragraph might
- elaborate on the idea presented in the preceding paragraph
- introduce a related idea
- continue a chronological narrative
- describe a problem with the idea presented in the preceding paragraph
- describe an exception to the idea presented in the preceding paragraph
- describe a consequence or implication of the idea presented in the preceding paragraph
Let’s consider a few examples (drawn from published books and articles of paragraph transitions that work. The examples below reproduce paragraph endings and openings. Pay attention to how each paragraph opening signals to readers how the paragraph relates to the one they have just finished reading. Observe the loss in clarity when transitional signals are removed.
The transitional sentence signals that the new paragraph will seek to demonstrate that the phenomenon described in the preceding paragraph (Taylorism) is ongoing: it is “still” with us and “remains” the dominant workplace ethic.Compare this sentence with the one directly beneath it (“paragraph opening without transitional cues”). With this version, readers are left on their own to infer the connection.
The transitional sentence signals that the new paragraph will provide another example of the phenomenon (changed mental habits) described in the preceding paragraph. In this example, the word “also” serves an important function. Notice that without this transitional cue the relationship between the two paragraphs becomes less clear.
The transitional sentence signals that the new paragraph will challenge the assumption described in the preceding paragraph. The single transitional term “but” signals this relationship. Notice the drop-off in clarity when the transitional term is omitted.
The transitional sentence signals that the new paragraph will further explore the idea expressed in the preceding paragraph. The phrase “makes a similar point” signals this relationship. Without this transitional phrase, the connection between the two paragraphs can still be inferred, but it is now much less clear.
As the above examples illustrate, effective paragraph transitions signal relationships between paragraphs.
Below are some terms that are often helpful for signaling relationships among ideas.
* The examples of transitional sentences are from:
- Parker, Ian. “Absolute Powerpoint.” New Yorker. 28 May 2001: 76-87.
- Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Atlantic Monthly. Jul/Aug2008: 56-63.
- Harrington, John. The Rhetoric of Film. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973.
- Spurr, David. The Rhetoric of Empire. Durham, N. C.: Duke University Press, 1993.
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Module 3: Writing Essentials
Paragraphs and paragraph transitions, learning objective.
- Describe techniques for effective use of transitions in paragraphs
When to Paragraph
How do you know when “enough is enough” with a paragraph? How do you know when you have enough information in one paragraph and have to start a new one? And how much is too much? There is no simple answer. Paragraphing conventions differ depending on the task and the genre. For example, digital writing typically requires shorter paragraphs with multiple short paragraphs on the screen.
As you write, deal with your paragraph length as part of your revision process. Find places where the information shifts in focus, and put a paragraph break in those places. You can do your best to paragraph as you draft, but know that you’ll address paragraphing more during the revision process.
Overall Paragraph Structure of an Essay
Often, essays are constructed in a format that looks something like this outline shown below. Depending on the purpose of your writing assignment, this format may vary depending on the rhetorical style. You are probably familiar with this general format for the five-paragraph essay. You can build off of this basic structure to write essays that are not too rigid or overly structured even if people dismiss the five-paragraph essay. As you write longer essays in college and possibly for your job, five paragraphs may not be enough for all of your ideas, but this structure works for organizing your ideas. N otice the way that paragraphs separate each topic and provide supporting evidence to the topic sentence.
- Background information on topic
- Overall point of view of the topic (thesis)
- Overview of components to be discussed (structure)
- Topic sentence outlining first component
- Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence to support topic sentence
- Concluding sentence – link to next paragraph
- Topic sentence outlining second component
- Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence to back topic sentence
- Topic sentence outlining third component
- Summary of the main points of the body
- Restatement of the main point of view
- Justification/evaluation (if required by task)
Can you determine the best order for these paragraphs? What clues can you use to figure out the best arrangement? Pay close attention to the first sentences of each section.
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Figure 1 . Just as architects carefully construct buildings, a well-structured essay will help readers to clearly follow and understand your ideas.
Linking Paragraphs: Transitions
In writing traditional five-paragraph essays, you may have been taught very basic transition sentences: “My first point is,” “In conclusion,” etc.
In college, your professors will expect less formulaic writing. Strong transition words or phrases that indicate linkages in ideas are the key to taking your writing to the next level and moving from the formulaic to the organic.
When writing your argument, you need to lead your readers from one idea to the next, showing how those ideas are logically linked. Transition words and phrases help you keep your paragraphs and groups of paragraphs logically connected for a reader.
Below are some examples of transition words to help as you transition both within paragraphs and from one paragraph to the next.
Transition Words and Phrases
We divide these transition words and phrases into four categories. Click on the arrows below to learn more about additive, adversative, causal, and sequential transition.
Making Connections
In general, if you feel your readers may have a hard time making connections, providing transition words (e.g., “due to” or “on the other hand”) can help lead them. Transitions between paragraphs may appear at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places. If the transition introduces new ideas, it usually appears at the beginning of the second paragraph.
Below is a chart of transition words that are useful for linking ideas within a paragraph. Click on the arrows to read more about transitions that can help guide your reader.
Select the most appropriate transitions in the following passage:
Proofreading Your Writing
From sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, your ideas should flow into each other smoothly and without interruptions or delays. If someone tells you that your paper sounds choppy or jumps around, you probably have a problem with transitions. Compare these two sentences:
- Proofreading is an important step in the writing process. Read your paper. You can say it aloud to catch errors. Use spell check on your computer.
- Proofreading is an important step in the writing process. One technique is to read your paper aloud, which will help you catch errors you might overlook when reading silently. Another strategy is to use spell check on your computer.
Both sentences contain the same information. The second example, however, has better transitions between ideas. Transition words and phrases can make a huge difference in the readability of your writing. If you have to pick one aspect of your writing to focus on during the revision process, consider focusing on adding effective transitions to help your reader follow your thinking.
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- Paragraphing and Transitioning. Provided by : Excelsior College. Located at : http://owl.excelsior.edu/writing-process/paragraphing/paragraphing-and-transitioning/ . Project : Excelsior OWL. License : CC BY: Attribution
- TRANSITION WORDS. Authored by : Gregory M. Campbell. Located at : https://msu.edu/~jdowell/135/transw.html . License : CC BY: Attribution
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Transitions
Transitions between paragraphs.
While within-paragraph transitions serve the purpose of alerting readers of upcoming shifts in perspective or voice , between-paragraph transitions serve the unique purpose of alerting readers of upcoming shifts in argument or idea . Because one of the core rules of effective paragraph-writing is limiting each paragraph to only one controlling idea (see the Basic Paragraph Resource Center lesson), shifts in argument or idea only tend to happen between paragraphs within the academic essay.
There are literally dozens of transition words to choose from when shifting focus from one idea to another. There are transition words that show cause and effect, contrast, similarity, emphasis, and even sequence. To give you a general idea of the options available to you, below are examples of just a few of those categories and word combinations:
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay This is a table of Transition Words in English. Transition Words of Emphasis: undoubtedly, unquestionably, obviously, especially, clearly, importantly, absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, indeed, and it should be noted. Transition Words of Addition: along with, apart from this, moreover, furthermore, also, too, as well as that, besides, in addition. Transition Words of Contrast: unlike, nevertheless, on the other hand, nonetheless, contrary to, whereas, alternatively, conversely, even so, differing from. Transition Words of Order: following, at this time, previously, finally, subsequently, above all, before.](https://content.byui.edu/wimg-1-6-9-1.png)
With so many available options, you may be wondering how you will ever be able to figure out which word or set of words would work best where.
Guiding Questions
While there are many approaches you could take, let’s take a look at a few basic guiding questions you should be asking yourself as you look over your own essay and create your own between-paragraph transitions:
- What is the purpose of this paragraph? Is it to introduce, inform, persuade, address an opposing viewpoint, revisit or add emphasis to already discussed ideas?
- Does the idea I’m sharing in this paragraph relate to or support any other idea or argument shared within the essay up to this point?
- Does the idea I’m sharing in this paragraph present a different viewpoint or idea?
- Is the idea I’m sharing separate from or dependent upon other ideas being shared within the essay?
Your answer to these four basic questions should help you more easily identify which categories of transition words might work best at the beginning of each of your paragraphs.
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A Couple Tips to Get Started
Selecting proper transitions takes time and practice. To get you started on the right foot though, here are a couple tips to point you in the right direction:
- Your body paragraphs would likely benefit most from the Addition and Order transition word categories as they tend to string together related or culminating ideas or arguments
- Your concluding paragraph would likely benefit most from the Emphasis word category as one of its primary objectives is to revisit and re-emphasize major ideas presented in the essay
To see the power of an appropriately-used transition in action, let’s consider the following prompt question example. Imagine you were asked to write an essay based on the following prompt:
- Do you believe that people have a specific “calling” in life? Why or why not?
A possible thesis statement (or answer to that prompt question) might be::
- My spiritual study, secular study, and my own life experience has taught me that life callings tend to emerge not just once, but perhaps even multiple times, at crossway of spiritual gifts and need in the world.
Ponder and Record
- Based on the thesis statement above, how many body paragraphs do you think this essay will need to have?
- What controlling ideas (or arguments) might each body paragraph be engaging?
- Are these arguments in any way related to each other or building on each other?
- How might these body paragraphs benefit from transition words in the Addition or Order categories?
Body Paragraph Transitions
In answering the questions above, you likely realized that three body paragraphs will be required in this essay based on its current thesis statement. One body paragraph will focus on “spiritual” findings, another on “secular,” and then finally one supported by “personal experience.”
You also likely realized that the Addition transition word category cannot be applied to the first body paragraph as no arguments have been made yet that can be added to. This means that the first body paragraph would likely benefit most from a transition word selected from the Order category. An example of this in application might look like the following:
Body Paragraph #1 Topic Sentence
Above all, my spiritual study of the scriptures as well as the words of latter-day prophets have supported my belief that life callings emerge at the intersection of spiritual gifts and need in the world.
- What does the selection of the transitional phrase “above all” suggest about the controlling idea that will be discussed in this paragraph?
- What does it suggest about the ideas that will follow in subsequent paragraphs?
To see more “between-paragraph” transition words in action, let’s look at what the next body paragraph topic sentence might look like with the added benefit of transition words:
Body Paragraph #2 Topic Sentence
In addition to my spiritual study, my secular study of the “life calling” also supports this idea that life callings emerge again and again at the intersection of spiritual gifts and need in the world.
- What is the transitional phrase used in the topic sentence above?
- Which list is the transitional phrase “in addition” drawn from?
- What purpose does it serve in this paragraph? How does it add value?
To really emphasize the value-add of between-paragraph transitions, let’s look at one final body paragraph example:
Body Paragraph #3 Topic Sentence
Finally, my own life experience has taught me that the concept of the “life calling” truly does lie at the intersection of gifts and need in the world.
- Which list is the transitional phrase “finally” drawn from?
Concluding Paragraph
As mentioned above, the category of transition words that would most benefit your concluding paragraph is Emphasis . Since one of the main purposes of the concluding paragraph is to revisit ideas shared within the essay, transition words that express emphasis would be a natural fit and value-add. To see the power of this addition, feel free to examine the example below:
Concluding Paragraph Example
Without a doubt, I have come to realize over the years that a life calling is so much more than simply acting on a single moment in time— it is developing gifts and talents and constantly reassessing what value-add those gifts and talents can bring to the world at that particular moment.
- What transitional phrase is used in the above concluding paragraph topic sentence?
- How does the addition of “without a doubt” add emphasis to the conclusion? How does its addition help fulfill one of the concluding paragraph’s primary purposes?
Within-paragraph and between-paragraph transitions are truly the best ways to alert readers to upcoming changes in perspective and voice as well as argument or idea. As you write and then review your own writing, really try to consider which transition words would best help you create the most powerful and organized experience for your readers.
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How to Introduce New Topics and Transition Effectively in Essays
Last Updated: March 19, 2024 Fact Checked
New Paragraphs
New sections, expert q&a.
This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 88,251 times.
Most essays have multiple topics, and switching between them can get tricky. Without strong transitions and introductions to new points, your writing could seem choppy or unfocused. Luckily, making good topic introductions is easy! It just takes some planning, practice, and patience. Once you know the formula, you’ll be introducing new topics like a pro.
Effective Ways to Introduce New Essay Topics
- Introduce the topic with a transition word, like “Similarly” or “Likewise.”
- Use a contrasting transition word for clashing topics, like “However” or “Yet.”
- Give an overview of the topic you’re discussing after the introductory sentence.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 1 Organize a strong...](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b5/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-1.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-1.jpg)
- A strong outline includes your overall topic idea, planned thesis statement, essay structure, and the topics and themes you'll be covering in each section.
- Note on your outline when you're going to be introducing new topics. This helps you plan ahead and anticipate where you'll need transitions.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Jake Adams](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/ab/Jake_Adams.png/-crop-100-100-100px-Jake_Adams.png)
- If you've already started your paper, it never hurts to go back and write an outline anyway. This way, you can keep all your thoughts organized and give your essay more direction.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 2 Make a new paragraph for new topics within the same section.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1b/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-2.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-2.jpg)
- For example, you may be writing a large paper about the Civil War, and the current section is about arguments over slavery. You can have one part on Southern arguments defending slavery, then transition to Northern arguments against slavery, since both topics are in the same section.
- Usually for a shorter paper, up to about 5-7 pages, you won’t need individual section headings. It’s fine to just transition from paragraph to paragraph in these cases.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 3 Start a new section if you’re introducing a completely different topic.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1c/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-3.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-3.jpg)
- For example, if your paper is about the Civil War and you’re transitioning from arguments over slavery to the outbreak of the war, then it’s worthwhile to make a whole new section. These topics are related, but distinct and important enough to get their own sections.
- In another example, you might be writing a compare and contrast essay. It’s helpful to start a new section labeled “Differences” when you move from comparing to contrasting.
- Individual section headings are common in longer papers, around 15-20 pages or more. For long papers like this, it helps your reader stay focused.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 4 Pick complementary transition words for similar topics.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9f/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-4.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-4.jpg)
- Similarly, in the same way, likewise, also, as well, and so too.
- For example, start a paragraph about slavery and the Civil War with, “In the same way that northern abolitionists were singularly focused on eliminating slavery, the Republican Party was concerned with stopping it from spreading into America's territories.”
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 5 Use contrasting transition words for topics that clash.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5b/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-5.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-5.jpg)
- In contrast, however, nevertheless, yet, and still.
- For the Civil War example, arguments defending and criticizing slavery are completely different. To reflect that, you’d use a transition indicating disagreement. You could say “In sharp contrast to southern slave owners, northern abolitionists argued that enslaving a human being was evil in all circumstances.”
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 1 Place your transition...](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/99/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-6.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-6.jpg)
- If you’re showing contrast, you could say, “Yet King Arthur was destined to fail in his quest to find the Holy Grail.” This shows that the previous topic may have been about Arthur starting his quest, but now you’ll explain how he failed to accomplish it.
- You could also show similarity by saying “Similarly, Abraham Lincoln agreed that slavery was a moral evil.” This indicates that the new topic you’re introducing is related to and supports the previous one.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 2 Provide a brief overview of the topic you’re moving on to.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2d/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-7.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-7.jpg)
- You could also follow up on the King Arthur example with “In Arthurian stories, Arthur made numerous journeys to find the Grail, but never actually succeeded.” This tells the reader that the rest of the paragraph will include information on these failures.
- Using the Abraham Lincoln example, you could follow up your topic sentence with “Throughout his entire life, Lincoln saw the evils of slavery and spoke about stopping the practice.” This indicates that the paragraph will elaborate on this point and provide more details.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 3 Add necessary details about the topic in the middle of the paragraph.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b8/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-8.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-8.jpg)
- For the King Arthur example, you can spend 2-4 sentences explaining Arthur's unsuccessful quests for the Grail. This supports your transition statement saying that Arthur failed to find the Grail.
- Make sure the details you fill in line up with your topic sentence. If your topic sentence said that Abraham Lincoln was anti-slavery, it wouldn’t be consistent to introduce examples of him supporting or praising slavery.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 4 Wrap up the paragraph with a firm conclusion sentence.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/cf/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-9.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-9.jpg)
- A conclusion for your King Arthur paragraph could be “Hard as Arthur tried, he never found the Holy Grail.”
- Don’t introduce any new topics in the conclusion sentence. Save that for the topic sentence of the next paragraph if you want to add another topic.
- If you have a similar paragraph after this one, you can link them by giving a hint of where it's going. For example, you could conclude by saying "Abraham Lincoln's lifelong opposition to slavery naturally set him up for a career fighting the institution." Then make the next paragraph about Lincoln's political career. [12] X Research source
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 1 Place your transition phrase at the beginning of your topic sentence.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1a/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-10.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-10.jpg)
- You can use transitional language without a ton of detail. For example, “While Odysseus was glad to be home, there was trouble brewing in his kingdom.” This provides a strong transition, hints at the next topic, and gets the reader interested in continuing.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 2 Sum up the topic of the previous section.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/83/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-11.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-11.jpg)
- For the Odysseus example, your previous section may have been about the events of The Odyssey . You could sum up the previous topic by saying “He had spent 20 years away from home—10 fighting the Trojan War and 10 on his journey back to Ithaca—and conquered every challenge that came his way.”
- Don’t spend too much time on this summary. Wrap it up within 2 sentences at most.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 3 Provide a concise summary of the topic in this section.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/19/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-12.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-12.jpg)
- You could give a quick introduction of how the suitors in the Odyssey had moved in to Odysseus’ home and would attack him when he arrived. This sets up the challenge and tension for this new topic, and sets the theme for this section of your essay.
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Step 4 End the paragraph with a strong conclusion sentence.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ef/Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-13.jpg/v4-460px-Introduce-a-New-Topic-in-an-Essay-Step-13.jpg)
- For the Odysseus example, a strong conclusion would be “Perhaps this was to be Odysseus’ greatest challenge yet.”
- In a more research-based paper, you can be less literary. For example, “In the end, the Constitutional Convention was a success, but only after the Framers overcame numerous challenges in the process.”
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay Jake Adams](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/ab/Jake_Adams.png/-crop-200-200-200px-Jake_Adams.png)
- It’s easier to plan your transitions if you outline your essay first. This way, you’ll know where you need to introduce new topics. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- If your professor or teacher mentions that your writing seems choppy, then you probably need to work on introducing new topics a bit more smoothly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- If you still have trouble making strong transitions, take advantage of your school’s writing center if you have one. The tutors there can be a huge help. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
![how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay how to transition to a new paragraph in an essay](https://www.wikihow.com/images/9/99/News_v01_0420x0250.jpg)
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- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
- ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.strose.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Transition-Sentences-Handout-2012B.pdf
- ↑ https://monroecollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=589208&p=4072926
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/transitions_and_transitional_devices/index.html
- ↑ https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/study-skills/writing/academic-writing/paragraph-flow-connectivity
- ↑ https://www.delmar.edu/offices/swc/_resources/Composition/topic-sentence-transition-formula.pdf
- ↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
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Paragraph Transition: Definition and Examples
- An Introduction to Punctuation
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
A word, phrase, or sentence that marks a shift in thought from one paragraph to the next. A paragraph transition may appear at the end of the first paragraph or at the beginning of the second paragraph--or in both places.
Paragraph transitions contribute to a sense of coherence and cohesion in a text .
Examples and Observations
- "Readers know that when a new paragraph begins they should expect a somewhat new thought, but they also expect it to relate in some way to the thoughts just expressed. If there is no immediate connection, either create an entirely new section, not just a new paragraph, or write a transition sentence to begin the new paragraph. This transition sentence performs basically the same function as a comedian's transition, 'So speaking of kangaroos, I was talking to an Australian guy the other day. . . .' It allows the audience to follow a logical train and not lose sight of the path the performer is taking. You can still allow your reader to make some deductions , but don't force him to guess how things fit." (Marcia Lerner, Writing Smart , 2nd ed. Princeton Review, 2001)
- " Transitions from one paragraph to the next enhance the inner coherence of the paper and guide the reader when advancing through your arguments . Ideally, the end of a paragraph should connect with the next paragraph, and a transitional phrase at the beginning of a paragraph should somehow point back to the previous one. The easiest way to achieve this is to incorporate such a connector in the topic sentence at the beginning of each new paragraph. Thereby, the topic statement fulfills two functions: first, it points back to the previous paragraph or argument; second, it introduces the current paragraph together with its new idea or line of argumentation ." (Mario Klarer, An Introduction to Literary Studies , 2nd ed. Routledge, 2004)
- Repetition Transitions, Contrast Transitions, and Question & Answer Transitions "Marie Dacke of Lund University in Sweden and her colleagues put dung beetles inside a planetarium at Wits University in South Africa with a pile of dung, and with or without little caps over their eyes. The results of the beetles' peregrinations clearly showed that being able to see the stars keeps the beetles relatively straight, even if just the Milky Way is projected overhead without other stars. . . . " Far more spectacular than the short distance scrambles of dung beetles are the migrations of monarch butterflies, which home in on one small region of Mexico for the winter then return as far north as Canada in a flight of thousands of miles that takes more than one generation. Clearly the insects have an inherited "map" of where to go, but what compass do they use? " It seems they have at least two compasses. One is a "time-compensated sun compass," located in their antennae, which calculates bearings from the angle of the sun corrected for the time of day. Steven M. Reppert of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and colleagues found that removing one antenna does not disrupt navigation, but painting one black does, because it messes up the clock mechanism in the animal's brain. But butterflies can also use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate. . . ." (Matt Ridley, "Insects That Put Google Maps to Shame." The Wall Street Journal , February 2-3, 2013)
- Time and Order Transitions " . . . And then as the evening changed the hour, at house after house on the twilight streets, under the immense oaks and elms, on shady porches, people would begin to appear , like those figures who tell good or bad weather in rain-or-shine clocks. " Uncle Bert, perhaps Grandfather, then Father, and some of the cousins ; the men all coming out first into the syrupy evening, blowing smoke, leaving the women’s voices behind in the cooling-warm kitchen to set their universe aright. Then the first male voices under the porch brim, the feet up, the boys fringed on the worn steps or wooden rails where sometime during the evening something, a boy or a geranium pot, would fall off. " At last, like ghosts hovering momentarily behind the door screen, Grandma, Great-grandma, and Mother would appear , and the men would shift, move, and offer seats. The women carried varieties of fans with them, folded newspapers, bamboo whisks, or perfumed kerchiefs, to start the air moving about their faces as they talked. . . ." (Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine , 1957; rpt. by William Morrow, 1999)
- Pronoun and Qualification Transitions " . . . In the fanatical routines of boot camp, a man leaves behind his former identity and is reborn as a creature of the military--an automaton and also, ideally, a willing killer of other men. " This is not to suggest that killing is foreign to human nature or, more narrowly, to the male personality. . . ." (Barbara Ehrenreich, Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War. Henry Holt and Company, 1997)
- Using Logical Connectives "Paragraphs can also be linked by words showing logical relationship: therefore, however, but, consequently, thus, even so, conversely, nevertheless, moreover, in addition, and many more. Usually, though, logical connectives are used to move from one sentence to the next within paragraphs, that is, as internal paragraph transitions. "To illustrate, say a writer has just completed a paragraph summarizing an author's analysis of a documented riot and now wants to move the discussion along. Here are three different logical connectives: Last sentence of a paragraph: Brown's analysis provides useful insights into the existing power relations between the army and the government at that time. Possible first sentences of the next paragraph: (a) However, the power relations embedded in the social structure may be more important in explaining the causes of the riot. (b) Even so, there is no real attempt to grapple with the issue of the government's role in the army's attack on unarmed men, women and children (c) Consequently, Smith's much quoted analysis of this same event needs to be reconsidered in view of Brown's findings. "Whatever its form, an inter-paragraph transition should be unobtrusive, shifting readers easily from one topic to the next." (Gail Craswell and Megan Poore, Writing for Academic Success , 2nd ed. Sage, 2005)
- The Lighter Side of Paragraph Transitions " Beep! Beep! Beep! "That's the sound of what we writing professionals call the Segue Warning Horn, telling our readers to hold on tight as we make a sharp turn and attempt to get back to our original topic . . . ." (Dave Barry, I'll Mature When I'm Dead . Berkley, 2010)
Also Known As: paragraph-to-paragraph transition, inter-paragraph transition
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On Paragraphs
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What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an organized fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing).
The Basic Rule: Keep one idea to one paragraph
The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one paragraph. If you begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new paragraph. There are some simple ways to tell if you are on the same topic or a new one. You can have one idea and several bits of supporting evidence within a single paragraph. You can also have several points in a single paragraph as long as they relate to the overall topic of the paragraph. If the single points start to get long, then perhaps elaborating on each of them and placing them in their own paragraphs is the route to go.
Elements of a paragraph
To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: Unity, Coherence, A Topic Sentence, and Adequate Development. As you will see, all of these traits overlap. Using and adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct effective paragraphs.
The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with one focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within different ideas.
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal bridges.
Logical bridges
- The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence
- Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form
Verbal bridges
- Key words can be repeated in several sentences
- Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences
- Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
- Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences
A topic sentence
A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the paragraph (as the first sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general rule for less experienced writers, although it is not the only way to do it). Regardless of whether you include an explicit topic sentence or not, you should be able to easily summarize what the paragraph is about.
Adequate development
The topic (which is introduced by the topic sentence) should be discussed fully and adequately. Again, this varies from paragraph to paragraph, depending on the author's purpose, but writers should be wary of paragraphs that only have two or three sentences. It's a pretty good bet that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that short.
Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed:
- Use examples and illustrations
- Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
- Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
- Use an anecdote or story
- Define terms in the paragraph
- Compare and contrast
- Evaluate causes and reasons
- Examine effects and consequences
- Analyze the topic
- Describe the topic
- Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)
How do I know when to start a new paragraph?
You should start a new paragraph when:
- When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always start in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own paragraph.
- To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can serve to contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument, or any other difference.
- When your readers need a pause. Breaks between paragraphs function as a short "break" for your readers—adding these in will help your writing be more readable. You would create a break if the paragraph becomes too long or the material is complex.
- When you are ending your introduction or starting your conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should always be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions have multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and the writer's purpose.
Transitions and signposts
Two very important elements of paragraphing are signposts and transitions. Signposts are internal aids to assist readers; they usually consist of several sentences or a paragraph outlining what the article has covered and where the article will be going.
Transitions are usually one or several sentences that "transition" from one idea to the next. Transitions can be used at the end of most paragraphs to help the paragraphs flow one into the next.
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The college application season is upon us, and high school students everywhere are staring down at one of the most daunting tasks: the college essay. As someone who has guided countless applicants through the admissions process and reviewed admissions essays on an undergraduate admissions committee, I've pinpointed the essential ingredient to a differentiated candidacy—the core of your college admissions X-factor .
The essential ingredient to your college admissions X-factor is your intellectual vitality. Intellectual vitality is your passion for learning and curiosity. By demonstrating and conveying this passion, you can transform an average essay into a compelling narrative that boosts your chances of getting accepted to your top schools. Here are five dynamic strategies to achieve that goal.
Unleash Your Authentic Voice
Admissions officers sift through thousands of essays every year. What stops them in their tracks? An authentic voice that leaps off the page. Forget trying to guess what the admissions committee wants to hear. Focus on being true to yourself. Share your unique perspective, your passions, and your values. Authenticity resonates deeply with application reviewers, making your essay memorable and impactful. You need not have experienced trauma or tragedy to create a strong narrative. You can write about what you know—intellectually or personally—to convey your enthusiasm, creativity, and leadership. Intellectual vitality shines through when you write with personalized reflection about what lights you up.
Weave A Captivating Story
Everyone loves a good story, and your essay is the perfect place to tell yours. The Common Application personal statement has seven choices of prompts to ground the structure for your narrative. The most compelling stories are often about the smallest moments in life, whether it’s shopping at Costco or about why you wear socks that have holes. Think of the Common Application personal statement as a window into your soul rather than a dry list of your achievements or your overly broad event-based life story. Use vivid anecdotes to bring your experiences to life. A well-told story can showcase your growth, highlight your character, and illustrate how you've overcome challenges. Intellectual vitality often emerges in these narratives, revealing how your curiosity and proactive approach to learning have driven you to explore and innovate.
Reflect And Reveal Insights
It's not just about what you've done—it's about what you've learned along the way. When you are writing about a specific event, you can use the STAR framework—situation, task, action, and result (your learning). Focus most of your writing space on the “R” part of this framework to dive deeply into your experiences and reflect on how they've shaped your aspirations and identity.
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The most insightful college-specific supplement essays demonstrate depth of thought, and the ability to connect past experiences with your future life in college and beyond. Reflecting on your intellectual journey signals maturity and a readiness to embrace the college experience. It shows admissions officers that you engage deeply with your studies and are eager to contribute to the academic community.
Highlight Your Contributions—But Don’t Brag
Whether it's a special talent, an unusual hobby, or a unique perspective, showcasing what you can bring to the college environment can make a significant impact. Recognize that the hard work behind the accomplishment is what colleges are interested in learning more about—not retelling about the accomplishment itself. (Honors and activities can be conveyed in another section of the application.) Walk us through the journey to your summit; don’t just take us to the peak and expect us know how you earned it.
Intellectual vitality can be demonstrated through your proactive approach to solving problems, starting new projects, or leading initiatives that reflect your passion for learning and growth. These experiences often have a place in the college-specific supplement essays. They ground the reasons why you want to study in your major and at the particular college.
Perfect Your Prose
Great writing is essential. Anyone can use AI or a thesaurus to assist with an essay, but AI cannot write your story in the way that you tell it. Admissions officers don’t give out extra credit for choosing the longest words with the most amount of syllables.
The best essays have clear, coherent language and are free of errors. The story is clearly and specifically told. After drafting, take the time to revise and polish your writing. Seek feedback from teachers, mentors, or trusted friends, but ensure the final piece is unmistakably yours. A well-crafted essay showcases your diligence and attention to detail—qualities that admissions officers highly value. Intellectual vitality is also reflected in your writing process, showing your commitment to excellence and your enthusiasm for presenting your best self.
Crafting a standout college essay is about presenting your true self in an engaging, reflective, and polished manner while showcasing your intellectual vitality. Happy writing.
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Clear transitions are crucial to clear writing: They show the reader how different parts of your essay, paper, or thesis are connected. Transition sentences can be used to structure your text and link together paragraphs or sections. Example of a transition sentence for a new paragraph. In this case, the researchers concluded that the method ...
Transitions. Transitions help your readers move between ideas within a paragraph, between paragraphs, or between sections of your argument. When you are deciding how to transition from one idea to the next, your goal should be to help readers see how your ideas are connected—and how those ideas connect to the big picture.
Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper. However, these words all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure…
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. Transitions within paragraphs: As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act ...
An important part of essay writing is learning how to effectively employ paragraph transitions—shifting from one paragraph or idea to the next. Learning to effectively use the different types of transitions will help you write more cohesive pieces and improve the clarity of your writing.
Transitions Quick Guide. There are two kinds of transitions: (a) transitional words and phrases that are used at the start of a sentence to show how the sentence connects with the previous sentence and (b) transitional sentences that are used at the start of a paragraph to show how the paragraph logically connects with the previous paragraph.
Clear transitions are crucial to clear writing: they connect different parts of your essay and structure your text. This video will walk you through the use ...
Effective paragraph transitions signal to readers how two consecutive paragraphs relate to each other. The transition signals the relationship between the "new information" and the "old information." For example, the new paragraph might. elaborate on the idea presented in the preceding paragraph; introduce a related idea
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. The key to producing good transitions is highlighting connections between ...
Transitions between paragraphs may appear at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places. If the transition introduces new ideas, it usually appears at the beginning of the second paragraph. Below is a chart of transition words that are useful for linking ideas within a paragraph.
When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the
Transitions Transitions Between Paragraphs. While within-paragraph transitions serve the purpose of alerting readers of upcoming shifts in perspective or voice, between-paragraph transitions serve the unique purpose of alerting readers of upcoming shifts in argument or idea.Because one of the core rules of effective paragraph-writing is limiting each paragraph to only one controlling idea (see ...
Effective Ways to Introduce New Essay Topics. Introduce the topic with a transition word, like "Similarly" or "Likewise.". Use a contrasting transition word for clashing topics, like "However" or "Yet.". Give an overview of the topic you're discussing after the introductory sentence. Method 1.
A transitional paragraph is a paragraph in an essay, speech, composition, or report that signals a shift from one section, idea, or approach to another. Usually short (sometimes as short as one or two sentences), a transitional paragraph is most commonly used to summarize the ideas of one part of a text in preparation for the beginning of ...
A word, phrase, or sentence that marks a shift in thought from one paragraph to the next. A paragraph transition may appear at the end of the first paragraph or at the beginning of the second paragraph--or in both places. Read More. Definition and Examples of a Transition in Composition. By Richard Nordquist.
The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one paragraph. If you begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new paragraph. There are some simple ways to tell if you are on the same topic or a new one. You can have one idea and several bits of supporting evidence within a single paragraph.
Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.
The best essays have clear, coherent language and are free of errors. The story is clearly and specifically told. After drafting, take the time to revise and polish your writing. Seek feedback ...
Transitions Transitions help your readers move between ideas within a paragraph, between paragraphs, or between sections of your argument. When you are deciding how to transition from one idea to the next, your goal should be to help readers see how your ideas are connected—and how those ideas connect to the big picture.
Here's just a taste of what Gama AI can do for you: -Expertly write academic papers, song lyrics, and resumes. -Plan your dream vacation with personalized travel itineraries. -Translate languages in real-time, making communication a breeze. -Curate delicious recipes for every taste and dietary preference. -Share jokes to brighten your day and ...
The five-paragraph essay is a mainstay of high school writing instruction, designed to teach students how to compose a simple thesis and defend it in a methodical, easily graded package. It's ...