If you were going to build a house, you would need a strong foundation. Could you put the beams to hold your roof in place without anything to keep them in place? Of course not; they would fall down right away. In the same way, the columns or beams are like the main ideas of your document. They need to have connections to each other so that they become interdependent and stay where you want them so that your house, or your writing, doesn’t come crashing down.
Transitions involve words or visual devices that help the audience follow the author’s ideas, connect the main points to each other, and see the relationships you’ve created in the information you are presenting. They are often described as bridges between ideas, thought or concepts, providing some sense of where you’ve been and where you are going with your document. Transitions guide the audience in the progression from one significant idea, concept, or point to the next. They can also show the relationships between the main point and the support you are using to illustrate your point, provide examples for it, or refer to outside sources. Table 11.5 "Types of Transitions in Writing" is a summary of fourteen different types of transitions. Consider them as you contemplate how to bring together your information and make notes on your outline.
|
Type |
Definition |
Examples |
|
1. Internal Previews |
An internal preview is a brief statement referring to a point you are going to make. It can forecast or foreshadow a main point in your document. |
If we look ahead to, next we’ll examine, now we can focus our attention on, first we’ll look at, then we’ll examine |
|
2. Signposts |
A signpost alerts the audience you are moving from one topic to the next. Sign posts or signal words draw attention to themselves and focus the audience’s attention. |
Stop and consider, we can now address, turning from/to, another, this reminds me of, I would like to emphasize |
|
3. Internal Summaries |
An internal summary briefly covers information or alludes to information introduced previously. It can remind an audience of a previous point and reinforce information covered in your document. |
As I have said, as we have seen, as mentioned earlier, in any event, in conclusion, in other words, in short, on the whole, therefore, to summarize, as a result, as has been noted previously, |
|
4. Sequence |
A sequence transition outlines a hierarchical order or series of steps in your document. It can illustrate order or steps in a logical process. |
First…second…third, furthermore, next, last, still, also, and then, besides, finally |
|
5. Time |
A time transition focuses on the chronological aspects of your order. Particularly useful in an article utilizing a story, this transition can illustrate for the audience progression of time. |
Before, earlier, immediately, in the meantime, in the past, lately, later, meanwhile, now, presently, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon as long as, as soon as, at last, at length, at that time, then, until, afterward |
|
6. Addition |
An addition or additive transition contributes to a previous point. This transition can build on a previous point and extend the discussion. |
Additionally, not to mention, in addition to, furthermore, either, neither, besides, on, in fact, as a matter of fact, actually, not only, but also, as well as |
|
7. Similarity |
A transition by similarity draws a parallel between two ideas, concepts or examples. It can indicate a common area between points for the audience. |
In the same way, by the same token, equally, similarly, just as we have seen, in the same vein |
|
8. Comparison |
A transition by comparison draws a distinction between two ideas, concepts or examples. It can indicate a common or divergent area between points for the audience. |
Like, in relation to, bigger than, the fastest, larger than, than any other, is bigger than, both, either…or, likewise |
|
9. Contrast |
A transition by contrast draws a distinction of difference, opposition, or irregularity between two ideas, concepts or examples. This transition can indicate a key distinction between points for the audience. |
But, neither…nor, however on the other hand, although, despite, even though, in contrast, in spite of, on the contrary conversely, unlike, while instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, regardless, still, though, yet, although |
|
10. Cause and Effect, Result |
A transition by cause and effect or result illustrates a relationship between two ideas, concepts or examples and may focus on the outcome or result. It can illustrate a relationship between points for the audience. |
As a result, because, consequently, for this purpose, accordingly, so, then, therefore, thereupon, thus, to this end, for this reason, as a result, because , therefore, consequently, as a consequence, and the outcome was |
|
11. Examples |
A transition by example illustrates a connection between a point and an example or examples. You may find visual aids work well with this type of transition. |
In fact, as we can see, after all, even, for example, for instance, of course, specifically, such as, in the following example, to illustrate my point |
|
12. Place |
A place transition refers to a location, often in a spatially organized essay, of one point of emphasis to another. Again, visual aids work well when discussing physical location with the reading audience. |
opposite to, there, to the left, to the right, above, adjacent to, elsewhere, far, farther on, below, beyond, closer to, here, near, nearby, next to |
|
13. Clarification |
A clarification transition restates or further develops a main idea or point. It can also serve as a signal to a key point. |
To clarify, that is, I mean, in other words, to put it another way that is to say, to rephrase it, in order to explain, this means |
|
14. Concession |
A concession transition indicates knowledge of contrary information. It can address a perception the audience may hold and allow for clarification. |
We can see that while, although it is true that, granted that, while it may appear that, naturally, of course, I can see that, I admit that while |
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