Transitions...
in your essay
Transition Words & Phrases
 Use transition words and phrases to show the
direction of your thoughts.
 Without transitions, important ideas can be
completely missed or misinterpreted.
 Use transition words and phrases to show the
direction of your thoughts.
 Combine short, choppy sentences.
 Read your writing aloud to hear awkward
constructions and unnecessary repetition.
Lists of Transition Words &
Phrases

Addition: also, in addition, too, moreover, and, besides, furthermore, equally
important, then, finally

Example: for example, for instance, thus, as an illustration, namely, specifically

Contrast: but, yet, however on the one hand/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
More Transition Words &
Phrases

Result: therefore, thus, as a result, so, accordingly

Summary: hence, in short, in brief, in summary, in conclusion, finally

Sequence: first, second, third, next, then, finally, afterwards, before, soon,
later, meanwhile, subsequently, immediately, eventually, currently

Place: in the front, in the foreground, in the back, in the background, at
the side, adjacent, nearby, in the distance, here, there
Paragraph Flow
 Introduction: the first section of a paragraph; should
include the topic sentence and any other sentences
at the beginning of the paragraph that give
background information or provide a transition.
 Body: follows the introduction; discusses the
controlling idea, using facts, arguments, analysis,
examples, and other information.
 Conclusion: the final section; summarizes the
connections between the information discussed in
the body of the paragraph and the paragraph’s
controlling idea.
Why use transitions?
 Transitional expressions emphasize the
relationships between ideas, so they help readers
follow your train of thought or see connections that
they might otherwise miss or misunderstand. The
following paragraph shows how carefully chosen
transitions (CAPITALIZED) lead the reader
smoothly from the introduction to the conclusion of
the paragraph.
Example
 I don’t wish to deny that the flattened, minuscule
head of the large-bodied "stegosaurus" houses little brain from our subjective,
top-heavy perspective, BUT I do wish to assert that we should not expect more
of the beast. FIRST OF ALL, large animals have relatively smaller brains than
related, small animals. The correlation of brain size with body size among
kindred animals (all reptiles, all mammals, FOR EXAMPLE) is remarkably
regular. AS we move from small to large animals, from mice to elephants or
small lizards to Komodo dragons, brain size increases, BUT not so fast as body
size. IN OTHER WORDS, bodies grow faster than brains, AND large animals
have low ratios of brain weight to body weight. IN FACT, brains grow only
about two-thirds as fast as bodies. SINCE we have no reason to believe that
large animals are consistently stupider than their smaller relatives, we must
conclude that large animals require relatively less brain to do as well as
smaller animals. IF we do not recognize this relationship, we are likely to
underestimate the mental power of very large animals, dinosaurs in particular.
Keep in mind…
 Transitional words and phrases connect sentences
and paragraphs to each other. Paragraph transitions
suggest a particular relationship between one idea
and the next.
 THIS IS THE BIG IDEA OF TRANSITIONAL
SENTENCES IN YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS
Explanation
Quite often, if you are having a terrible time figuring out how to
get from one paragraph to the next, it may be because you
shouldn't be getting from one paragraph to the next quite yet,
or even ever; there may be something crucial missing between
this paragraph and its neighbors—most likely an idea or a
piece of evidence or both. Maybe the paragraph is misplaced,
and logically belongs elsewhere. The reason you can't come up
with a gracious connective sentence is that there's simply too
large an intellectual span to cross, or that you've gone off in
the wrong direction.
Transitions between paragraphs that really do belong where they
are in the essay can be strengthened by the repetition or
paraphrasing of one paragraph's key words into the next.
Paragraph-to-Paragraph
Coherence
 The paragraphs in your essay should flow logically
from one to another.
 Transition sentences concluding one paragraph and
beginning another help to bridge parts of the
discussion.
 Without transition “bridges” between paragraphs,
the discussion will seem disjointed- the flow would
be off and leave the reader hanging with their
thoughts from the previous paragraph.
Body – First Paragraph
 The first paragraph of the body should contain the
strongest argument, most significant example,
cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point.
The first sentence of this paragraph should include
the “reverse hook” which ties in with the
transitional hook (thesis statement) at the end of the
introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this
paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie
into the second paragraph of the body.
Body – Second Paragraph
 The second paragraph of the body should contain
the second strongest argument, second most
significant example, second cleverest illustration, or
an obvious follow up to the first paragraph in the
body. The first sentence of this paragraph should
include the reverse hook which ties in with the
transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of
the body. This topic should relate to the thesis
statement in the introductory paragraph (the second
subpoint listed). The last sentence in this paragraph
should include a transitional hook to tie into the
third paragraph of the body.
Body – Third Paragraph
The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest
example,weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the
body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in
with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this
paragraph should be in the first sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement
in the introductory paragraph (the third subpoint).The last sentence in this paragraph
should include a transitional, concluding hook that signals the reader that this is the
final, major point being made in the paper. This hook also leads into the last or
concluding paragraph.
How It Should Look
Topic Sentence
Provide the main idea of the paragraph.
Supporting Evidence
Include specific textual evidence: cited quotes, paraphrases or
summary; or evidence that supports your thesis from other
sources: anecdotes, first-person interviews or your own
experience.
Analysis
Explain to the reader the significance of the evidence you have
provided. Think about why you chose to include it. How does the
piece of evidence support your thesis?
Transition
Connect each paragraph with a sentence or two that demonstrates
how each idea leads into the next, and how they work together to
support your position.