How Can You Review Your Paragraphs to Make Sure They Work Together to Develop Your Main Idea?

Transitions, Signal Phrases, and Pointing Words

Transitions connect your ideas and go far easier for your readers to follow your thought process.

Learning Objectives

Place situations where transition words are needed

Key Takeaways

Primal Points

The first pace in writing a clear paper is creating carve up paragraphs for each idea that supports the paper's main thesis.
Transitions can make connections betwixt different paragraphs or between sentences within the same paragraph.
Pointing words connect the content from one part of the paper and relate it to some other part.
A indicate phrase alerts the reader that the writer is about to cite evidence from an exterior source.

Key Terms

signal phrases: A sentence or phrase alerting the reader that the upcoming information is not the writer's just is from an outside source.
transition: A discussion or phrase connecting 1 function of a discourse to some other.
pointing words: A term, such every bit "this" or "that," referring dorsum something or someone mentioned before in the text.

In expository writing, each paragraph should articulate a single primary thought that relates straight to the thesis argument. This construction creates a feeling of unity, making the paper feel cohesive and purposeful. Connections between ideas—both between sentences and between paragraphs—should enhance that sense of cohesion.

Following the parts of a poorly constructed statement tin can experience like climbing a rickety ladder. Transition words and phrases support the rungs and rails, smoothing the journey of reading your paper so it feels more like climbing a wide, comfortable staircase. Remember, though, that transitions are more than just words and phrases; if y'all're having trouble coming upwards with transitions between paragraphs, revisit your essay's overall structure to make sure your ideas themselves are arranged in a logical lodge, with no repetitions or missing steps.

Why Use Transitions?

Using transitions will make your writing easier to empathise by providing connections betwixt paragraphs or between sentences inside a paragraph. A transition tin can be a word, phrase, or sentence—in longer works, they can fifty-fifty exist a whole paragraph. The goal of a transition is to analyze for your readers exactly how your ideas are continued.

Transitions refer to both the preceding and ensuing judgement, paragraph, or department of a written work. They remind your readers of what they just read, and tell them what will come up next. Past doing so, transitions help your writing feel like a unified whole.

Transitions Between Paragraphs

In Topic Sentences

Using transitions in your topic sentences can explain to the reader how one paragraph relates to the previous one. Consider this set of topic sentences from a paper virtually metrical variation in the verse form "Caliban Upon Setebos":

Paragraph one: "Browning begins the poem by establishing a correspondence betwixt metrical variation and destructive language."
Paragraph ii: "Once Caliban begins his exploration of the nature of Setebos, though, the design established earlier in the poem begins to suspension down."
Paragraph three: "Browning further subverts the metrical conventions established in the opening stanza past … switching to iambic pentameter when acknowledging that unmotivated events tin can and practice occur."

The transitions aid the reader understand how the argument is progressing throughout the paper, beginning with the verse form's basic meter, and then explaining dissimilar ways in which the pattern shifts. The discussion "though" in the second topic judgement lets the reader know that the pattern explained in the first paragraph is going to change in the second paragraph. The employ of "further" in the third topic judgement alerts the reader that the pattern is shifting over again in the third paragraph. These elementary words are the handrail for the steps the reader is climbing.

In Last Sentences

A paragraph'south concluding judgement also offers an excellent opportunity to begin the transition to the next paragraph—to wrap up one idea and hint at the next.

Yous can use a question to betoken a shift:

Information technology's clear, then, that the ring's biggest selling original compositions were written early on in their career, but what exercise we know about their later works?

Alternatively, you could conclude by comparison the thought in the electric current paragraph with the idea in the next:

While the Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in natural resources, it has led a troubled political existence.

An "if–then" structure is a common transition technique in last sentences:

If we are decided that climate change is now unavoidable, then steps must be taken to avoid complete disaster.

Hither, you're relying on the betoken you've just proven in this paragraph to serve as a springboard for the adjacent paragraph's master idea.

Transitions Within Paragraphs

Transitions within a paragraph help readers to conceptualize what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or brusk phrases. Words like while, however, still, but, and similarly, as well as phrases similar on the other mitt and for instance, can serve every bit transitions betwixt sentences and ideas. Meet the "List of Common Transitional Devices" beneath for more than examples.

Pointing Words

Pointing words permit yous refer dorsum to circuitous ideas concisely. As well called "hooks," these words scoop upward the information merely offered and link it to other information in the paper. Let's look at an example:

There is cypher overtly deviant almost the poem's formal elements. But upon close examination, those intricacies of grade are even more suggestive of a problem in the island bureaucracy than is the content of Caliban's speech.

This is a concluding sentence, and the word "those" refers to the writer's argument laid out in the previous paragraphs. If the author had instead written "the intricacies," we readers might not know to mentally link the previous argument with this statement. Using the word "those" is a gesture to include all the references to form that went before this paragraph.

Can y'all come across how the pointing words (this, that, these, those) in the post-obit examples serve to link 1 idea to the next, or to the primary idea of the newspaper?

"For those reasons…"
"This suggestion is farther buoyed by…"
"These facts clearly point to…"
"That kind of reasoning merely makes sense if…"

Signal Phrases

Besides inside paragraphs, signal phrases alert the reader that he or she is about to read referenced material, such equally a quotation, a summation of a report, or statistics verifying a claim. Ideally, your bespeak phrases will connect the idea of the paragraph to the information from the outside source.

"Jennifer Aaker of the Global Business concern School at Stanford University writes, in support of this thought, that…"
"In fact, the United Nations Environmental Program found that…"
"Notwithstanding, 'Recycling programs,' the Northern California Recycling Association retorts…"
"As graph 3.2 illustrates, nosotros tin can by no means be sure of the upshot."

Such phrases fix the reader to receive information from an administrative source and subconsciously signal the reader to process what follows as evidence in support of the bespeak being made.

Here are some mutual signal-phrase verbs: acknowledges, adds, admits, argues, asserts, believes, claims, confirms, contends, declares, denies, disputes, emphasizes, grants, implies, insists, notes, observes, points out, reasons, refutes, rejects, reports, responds, suggests, thinks, writes.

Transition Paragraphs

In longer works, you might need an entire paragraph to connect the ideas presented in 2 separate sections. The purpose of a transitional paragraph is to summarize the data in the previous paragraph, and to tell your reader how it is related to the information in the next paragraph. Transition paragraphs are proficient places to review where you accept been and how information technology relates to the next step of your argument.

Appropriate Use of Transition Words and Phrases

Before using a particular transitional word or phrase, be certain y'all completely sympathise its meaning and usage. For example, if you use a word or phrase that indicates add-on ("moreover," "in addition," "further"), you lot must really be introducing a new idea or piece of evidence. A common fault with transitions is using such a word without actually adding an thought to the discussion. That confuses readers and puts them back on rickety basis, wondering if they missed something.

Whenever possible, stick with transition words that actually have meaning and purpose. Overusing transition words, or using them every bit filler, is distracting to the reader. "It is further concluded that," for instance, sounds unnatural and a little grandiose because of the passive voice. "Likewise," or "Furthermore" would be clearer choices, less likely to make the reader's optics coil.

With that said, hither are some examples of transitional devices that might be useful one time you've verified their appropriateness:

To betoken addition: and, once again, and and then, too, as important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what'due south more, moreover, in addition, still, first (second, etc.).

"Strength of idea is indeed a cistron in entrepreneurial success, merely equally important is economical viability."

To signal comparison: whereas, but, nonetheless, on the other hand, even so, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparing, where, compared to, upward confronting, counterbalanced against, although, conversely, in contrast, although this may be truthful, likewise, while, whilst, although, fifty-fifty though, on the i hand, on the other mitt, in contrast, in comparison with, but, all the same, alternatively, the erstwhile, the latter, respectively, nevertheless.

"In contrast to what we now consider his pedantic prose, his verse seemed set gratis to express what lies in every human heart."

To signal a logical connectedness: because, for, since, for the aforementioned reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, likewise, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is.

"The Buddha sat nether the bodhi tree for the aforementioned reason Jesus meditated in the desert: to crush temptation once and for all."

To bear witness exception: nevertheless, however, even so, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of form, once in a while, sometimes.

"Advocates of corporate taxation incentives cite increased jobs in rural areas as an offset; still, is that sufficient justification for removing their financial responsibilities?

To show time: immediately, thereafter, soon, afterward a while, finally, and so, subsequently, previously, formerly, starting time (second, etc.), next, and and then.

"Beginning, the family unit suffered a devastating firm fire that left them without any possessions, and presently thereafter learned that their passage to the New Globe had been revoked due to a clerical error."

To summarize or indicate repetition: in cursory, as I have said, as I take noted, equally has been noted, as nosotros have seen, to summarize.

"We accept seen, then, that not only are rising temperatures and increased atmospheric condition anomalies correlated with an increase in nutrient and h2o shortages, simply animal-migration patterns, also, announced to exist afflicted."

To point emphasis: definitely, extremely, evidently, in fact, indeed, in whatsoever instance, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, even so, only, nonetheless, it cannot exist denied.

"Obviously, such a highly skilled architect would not usually be inclined to give his services abroad, and yet this man volunteered his services over and again to projects that paid him but through appreciation."

To indicate sequence: first, second, third, and then forth, adjacent, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, earlier this, simultaneously, concurrently.

"Then, finally, the author offers one last hint about the story's true subject: the contemplative description of the mountains in the distance."

To indicate an example: for example, for instance, in this case, in another example, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, consider.

"Take, for example, the famous huckster P. T. Barnum, whose reputation as 'The Prince of Humbugs' belied his dearest and support of the finer things of life, similar opera."

To qualify a statement: under no circumstances, mainly, generally, predominantly, usually, the majority, almost of, almost all, a number of, some, a few, a little, fairly, very, quite, rather, almost.

"Generally, nosotros tin can assume that this statement has merit, just in this specific case, information technology behooves united states to dig deeper."

The transition of the sun: Transition words and phrases are used to make the shift from one thought to the adjacent as polish and seamless every bit the arc of the sun over the earth.

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Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-writing/chapter/connecting-your-ideas/