Helping your Paragraphs Flow: Creating Good Transitions

1. Helping your Paragraphs Flow:Creating Good Transitions

2. What is a Transition? • Transitions link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so there are no breaks between ideas.

3. Types of Transitions • A transition can be • A single word • A phrase • A sentence

4. Transitions – To Add • These words signify that you’re explaining an idea in your writing: • And, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what’s more, in addition, first (second, etc.) • Example: Twilight is a movie about vampires. It shows how relationships can sometimes be complicated. • Twilight is a movie about vampires. Furthermore, it shows how relationships can sometimes be complicated.

5. Transitions – To Compare • These words signify you’re comparing a previous idea to a new one in your paper, or describing two different things: • But, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, although, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true… • Example: Brownies and cupcakes are delicious. I like all kinds of desserts. • Brownies and cupcakes are delicious. However, I like all kinds of desserts.

6. Transitions – To Prove • Use these words to indicate support for your argument: • Because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is… • Example: Mr. Samford respects the military. He served time in the navy when he was younger. • Mr. Samford respects the military. In fact, he served time in the navy when he was younger

7. Transitions – To Show Time • When telling events in a time sequence, these words help make the order clear: • Immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then… • Example: Mr. Swint gets to work early. He gets ready for the day. • Mr. Swint gets to work early. Then,he gets ready for the day.

8. Transitions – To Emphasize • Emphasis words do just that – serve to emphasize points that you want the reader to really be aware of and understand: • Definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, never, without a doubt, certainly… • Example: Ms. Oerter likes to jog. She jogs every morning. Ms. Oerter enjoys a healthy lifestyle. • Ms. Oerter likes to jog. She jogs every morning. Obviously, Ms. Oerter enjoys a healthy lifestyle.

9. Transitions – To Summarize or Conclude • When trying to summarize your points, using these words clearly signals the end of your paragraph or topic: • Summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, therefore, accordingly, as a result… • Example: The 6th grade teachers are all really good friends. They all get along great with one another. • The 6th grade teachers are all really good friends. Consequently, they all get along great with one another.