Organization There are six categories of transition words:

1. Narrative WritingTo write a narrative essay, you’ll need to tell a story (usually about something that happened to you) in such a way that the audience learns a lesson or gains insight.

2. PurposeThe purposeof an essay is to share a particular incident or encounter so that readers can make a connection to the author’s experiences and apply it to real world situations. The author’s approach may be either humorous or serious--or somewhere in between.

3. ContextThe circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

4. OrganizationThere are six categories of transition words:

5. Spatial order. Words used in descriptive writing to signal spatial relationships, such as above, below, beside, nearby, beyond, inside, and outside.Example:"Our new home was one of a number of wooden single-story units huddled together in a horseshoe enclosing a courtyard. Our new apartment was toward the rear center of the horseshoe, away from the entrance to the courtyard. To reach the kitchen, one had to pass through a small windowless anteroom made of loosely arranged planks. Anybody inside could easily look through the chinks without being observed. Against the wall opposite the entrance to the kitchen was a large stove, which took up about one fifth of the room. Right next to the stove was a bench with a bucket of water resting on it. Past the bench, in the middle of the wall, was a door leading to the only other room. To the right of the door stood a cupboard for pots, dishes, and food. Next to the cupboard, leaning against the wall on the right, was old Helena's bed. The kitchen was too small to accommodate another bed. There was just enough room for a table and chairs, which had to be placed next to the kitchen window. It was a strategic window, affording a view of the entire courtyard."(Nechama Tec, Dry Tears: The Story of a Lost Childhood. Oxford Univ. Press, 1984)

6. Chronological order. Words used in writing narratives and instructions to signal time sequence, such as: before, after, first, next, then, when, finally, while, as, during, earlier, later, and meanwhile.Chronological Order in a Process Analysis"How to Boil an Egg Like a Pro”"Put your eggs in a saucepan and cover them with about one-half inch cold water. Heat the pan until the water is simmering and cook like this for seven minutes, using a timer. As soon as the timer dings put the saucepan into the sink and turn on the cold tap, allowing the water to overspill. It doesn't need to be galloping; a steady but vigorous flow will do. After a minute turn off the tap and leave the eggs in the cold water for another couple of minutes, or until they are cold enough to hold comfortably."When time's up your eggs will be cooked, and with no soft center remaining."(Bunty Cutler, 211 Things a Clever Girl Can Do. Perigee, 2008)

7. Numerical order. Words used in expository writing to signal order of importance, such as first, second, also, finally, in addition, equally important, and more or less importantly.

8. Cause/effect order. Words used in expository writing to signal causal relationships, such as because, since, for, so, as a result, consequently, thus, and hence.

9. Comparison/contrast order. Words used in expository writing to signal similarities and differences, such as (for similarities) also, additionally, just as, as if, as though, like, and similarly; and (for differences) but, yet, only, although, whereas, in contrast, conversely, however, on the other hand, rather, instead, in spite of, and nevertheless.

10. General/specific order. Words used in descriptive reports and arguments to signal more specific elaboration on an idea, such as for example, such as, like, namely, for instance, that is, in fact, in other words, and indeed.

11. Division-and-Classification: A classification or division essay groups objects, people, or events by the characteristics that they share. Usually, the writer begins with a group of people or things and then separates them into subgroups or types. There are several steps to writing an effective division or classification essay.

12. PointofView (viewpoint)The perspective from which a speaker or writer recounts a narrative or presents information.This angle of vision, the point of view from which the people, events, and details of a story are viewed, is important to consider when reading a story.

13. Point of View (viewpoint)An automobile accident occurs. Two drivers are involved. Witnesses include four sidewalk spectators, a policeman, a man with a video camera who happened to be shooting the scene, and the pilot of a helicopter that was flying overhead. Here we have nine different points of view and, most likely, nine different descriptions of the accident.

14. Details that are carefully chosen and well-organized can help make a piece of writing or an oral report more precise, vivid, convincing, and interesting.

15. About DetailsNatalie Goldberg on Original Details"Life is so rich, if you can write down the real details of the way things were and are, you hardly need anything else . . . You don't have to be rigid about original detail. The imagination is capable of detail transplants, but using the details you actually know and have seen will give your writing believability and truthfulness. It creates a good solid foundation from which you can build."(Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, 2nd ed. Shambhala, 2005)

16. Narrative Writing PromptWrite a narrative essay explaining what we covered in class on Wednesday & Thursday with Miss Washburn. Be sure to include:  clear context, well-chosen details, logical organization, a consistent point of view, and purpose.   The essay should be a one page response Due Tuesday- follow the online NARRATIVE rubric