What are “transitions”?: Difference between revisions

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Transitions are words or phrases that connect ideas from one unit of text to another.  They provide clear, logical steps from one point to the next. Transitions are used in sentences, paragraphs, and large blocks of text.  
In both academic writing and professional writing, the goal is to relay information clearly and effectively, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to suceed in these goals. Transitions establish logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of a paper. Transitions tell the reader what to do with the information that is presented to them. Whether single words, quick phrases or full sentences, transitions function as signs for readers that tell them how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what is written. 


== Between Paragraphs ==
==''' Organization'''==
<table>
*The clarity and effectiveness of transitions depend on the organization of the paper.
*In the margins of the draft it is good to summarize a word and how it fits into analysis as a whole. This exercise should help to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.


When using transitions between paragraphs, the topic sentence of one paragraph should allude to the final sentence of the previous paragraph:


: . . . Presenting all sides of an event or topic will help keep the article close to the truth.
== '''Types of Transitions''' ==
:: The only truth that exists in a society with government controlled media is that of the government. . . .


Also, the topic sentence could allude to the topic sentence of the previous paragraph:
===Transitions between sections===
<table>
* Particulary in longer works, it may be necessary to include transitional paragraphs that summarize for the reader the information just covered.
===Transitions between paragraphs===
* Takes the topic sentence of the first paragraph and molds it with the topic sentence of the second paragraph. The transition between paragrahs can be a word or two, a phrase, or a sentence.
===Transitions within paragraphs===
* Transitions withing paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions are usually single words or short phrases.


::  Consider aseptic packaging, the synthetic packaging for the “juice boxes” so many children bring to school with their lunch. . . .
::  What is true for juice boxes is also true for other forms of synthetic packaging. (Hacker 34)


Another method is for the final sentence of a paragraph could be to briefly summarize the content and suggest ideas in the next paragraph.
=='''Transitional Expressions'''==
 
<table>
== Within Sentences ==
* Effectively constructing each transition often depends upon the ability to identify words or phrases that will indicate for the reader the kind of logical realationships you want to convey.
 
===Examples===
Within sentences, transitions are used to move from one part of the sentence to another. Some examples of these common words are:
*** Similarity- also, in the same way, likewise
 
*** Sequence- first, second, third, next, finally
<table width="500"><tr valign="top"><td width="250">
*** Emphasis- even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
* and
*** Conclusion- finally, in brief, in conclusion
* also
* besides
* for example
* but
* however
</td><td>
* in short
* after
* as
* above
* so
</td></tr></table>
 
These words are not only used to transition, they are also used to show:
 
<table width="500"><tr valign="top"><td width="250">
* addition
* give examples
* compare
* contrast
</td><td>
* summarize
* passing of time
* place or direction
* logical relationships
</td></tr></table>
 
== Transitional Paragraph ==
 
If blocks of text are too long then a transitional paragraph maybe needed.  A transitional paragraph summarizes the previous information as well as establishes its relevence to the next section of information. A transitional paragraph provides a logical step from one part of a block of text to the next part:
 
::  Although the great apes have demonstrated significant language skills, one central question remains: Can they be taught to use that uniquely human language tool we call grammar, to learn the difference, for instance, between “ape bite human” and “human bite ape”?  In other words, can an ape create a sentence? (Hacker 35)
 
Transitions allow the reader to continue reading at a steady pace and prevent the reader from making unnecessary pauses after every five sentences.


== Works Cited ==
== Works Cited ==
* Faigley, Lester. "Signal relationships with Transitional Terms." The Brief Penguin Handbook. New York: Longman-Pearson Education, Inc. 2003: p. 48-49.


* ---. "Link Across Paragrpahs." The Brief Panguin Handbook. New York: Long-Pearson Education, Inc. 2003: p. 50-51.
* ---. "Link Across Paragrpahs." The Brief Panguin Handbook. New York: Long-Pearson Education, Inc. 2003: p. 50-51.

Revision as of 11:36, 3 March 2005

In both academic writing and professional writing, the goal is to relay information clearly and effectively, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to suceed in these goals. Transitions establish logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of a paper. Transitions tell the reader what to do with the information that is presented to them. Whether single words, quick phrases or full sentences, transitions function as signs for readers that tell them how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what is written.

Organization

  • The clarity and effectiveness of transitions depend on the organization of the paper.
  • In the margins of the draft it is good to summarize a word and how it fits into analysis as a whole. This exercise should help to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.

Types of Transitions

Transitions between sections

  • Particulary in longer works, it may be necessary to include transitional paragraphs that summarize for the reader the information just covered.

Transitions between paragraphs

  • Takes the topic sentence of the first paragraph and molds it with the topic sentence of the second paragraph. The transition between paragrahs can be a word or two, a phrase, or a sentence.

Transitions within paragraphs

  • Transitions withing paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions are usually single words or short phrases.


Transitional Expressions

  • Effectively constructing each transition often depends upon the ability to identify words or phrases that will indicate for the reader the kind of logical realationships you want to convey.

Examples

      • Similarity- also, in the same way, likewise
      • Sequence- first, second, third, next, finally
      • Emphasis- even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
      • Conclusion- finally, in brief, in conclusion

Works Cited

  • ---. "Link Across Paragrpahs." The Brief Panguin Handbook. New York: Long-Pearson Education, Inc. 2003: p. 50-51.
  • Hacker, Diana. "Providing Transitions." A Writer's Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's 2003: p. 33-35.

Composition FAQ

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