What are transitions?
Transitions are words or phrases that help connect the different ideas in a composition. They guide the reader smoothly from one idea to another so that your writing doesn’t feel choppy or disconnected. They can be used to show the links between different pieces of information within the same paragraph or to make connections between different points in a paper.
Transitions make you appear more skilful as a writer because they help your separate sentences and ideas flow smoothly together. If your writing has good flow and is easy to understand, your readers will have a better impression of you and your ideas.
Using transitions effectively will also strengthen the argument within your paper or paragraph because they help to make it clear how each point reinforces or proves your thesis. It is important to remember that, while these connections may be obvious to you, your readers may need help to see them. Transitions make these connections clearer.
Transitions make you appear more skilful as a writer because they help your separate sentences and ideas flow smoothly together. If your writing has good flow and is easy to understand, your readers will have a better impression of you and your ideas.
Using transitions effectively will also strengthen the argument within your paper or paragraph because they help to make it clear how each point reinforces or proves your thesis. It is important to remember that, while these connections may be obvious to you, your readers may need help to see them. Transitions make these connections clearer.
Tips for using transitions:
When using transitions, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Keep your transitions fresh. Too many people start each paragraph with ‘First,’ ‘Second’ and ‘Third’ and then begin their conclusion with ‘In conclusion.’ Don’t fall into this trap. Your writing will seem amateurish and unimpressive. Vary your transitions with every piece of writing.
- Try to choose transitions that fit the context in which you are using them. For example, if you want to introduce a point that builds on something you already said, you may choose a transition word like ‘Furthermore,’ ‘Additionally,’ ‘Likewise,’ ‘Moreover’ or ‘Further.’ Check out this resource that lists transition words by their function and try to use some of these in your next paragraph or essay.
Do transitions really make a difference?
Read the following paragraphs. The first set does not use transitions at all. The second set uses transitions within and between the paragraphs. After reading, ask yourself: Which paragraphs had better flow? Which set impressed me more as a reader? Which set made the connections between the main ideas clearer to me? Once you answer those questions, the benefits of using transitions should be pretty obvious.
Version 1
Some people think that students shouldn’t have part time jobs while they are in school. A job can add extra stress to their lives. They think it distracts students from their school work. They fall behind. It can be hard to catch up. Many begin to fail. If students have to work late, they may skip class to catch up on sleep or fall asleep in class and miss important information.
There are many advantages to having a part time job if you are a student. You can earn extra money for the things that you like to do. This extra money could even be used to pay for school supplies or field trips. A job can also help students learn time management and teach them responsibility. A part time job has many benefits for students.
Version 2
Some people think that students shouldn’t have part time jobs while they are in school. During the school year, a job can add extra stress to their lives. For instance, many think it distracts students from their school work. As a result, they fall behind, and it can be hard to catch up. Eventually, many begin to fail. Furthermore, if students have to work late, they may skip class to catch up on sleep or fall asleep in class and miss important information.
However, there are many advantages to having a part time job if you are a student. For example, you can earn extra money for the things that you like to do. In fact, this extra money could even be used to pay for school supplies or field trips. In addition, a job can also help students learn time management and teach them responsibility. Clearly a part time job has many benefits for students.
Version 1
Some people think that students shouldn’t have part time jobs while they are in school. A job can add extra stress to their lives. They think it distracts students from their school work. They fall behind. It can be hard to catch up. Many begin to fail. If students have to work late, they may skip class to catch up on sleep or fall asleep in class and miss important information.
There are many advantages to having a part time job if you are a student. You can earn extra money for the things that you like to do. This extra money could even be used to pay for school supplies or field trips. A job can also help students learn time management and teach them responsibility. A part time job has many benefits for students.
Version 2
Some people think that students shouldn’t have part time jobs while they are in school. During the school year, a job can add extra stress to their lives. For instance, many think it distracts students from their school work. As a result, they fall behind, and it can be hard to catch up. Eventually, many begin to fail. Furthermore, if students have to work late, they may skip class to catch up on sleep or fall asleep in class and miss important information.
However, there are many advantages to having a part time job if you are a student. For example, you can earn extra money for the things that you like to do. In fact, this extra money could even be used to pay for school supplies or field trips. In addition, a job can also help students learn time management and teach them responsibility. Clearly a part time job has many benefits for students.