Transitions - University Writing Center

Transitions are words or phrases that help your paper “flow.” They allow readers to move easily between sections of your paper, and they set up the relationships between different points you make.

Transitions between paragraphs

Contrasting Ideas

The transition contrasts the ideas from paragraph A (Tan’s wellknown novel) with paragraph B (Tan’s not well-known rock band) to show us how the ideas are related.

...Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.
Though her fiction is well known, her work with the satirical garage band the Rock Bottom Remainders receives far less publicity.

Cause and Effect

The transition shows that the main idea in paragraph A (a rise in profits) is caused by the idea in paragraph B (expanded international influence).

…Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits.
These impressive profits are largely due to the corporation's expanded international influence.

Repeating Key Words

The transition sentence takes key words from paragraph A (authentic worlds) and paragraph B (narrative) and combines them logically together.

…In his novel Feed, M. T. Anderson definitely possesses a talent for creating believably authentic worlds, and though I was disappointed with the plot development, this shortcoming does not distract from Anderson's call for us to evaluate our own materialism and dependency on technology.
A major component to the authenticity of Anderson's new world is the narrator's voice. It was strangely refreshing to read a first-person narrative that actually sounded like it was coming from a teenage boy.

Expanding on a Key Concept

The transition sentence takes a theme (media shaping our ideas) and expands on it in the next paragraph by relating it to older teens today
and what we can do to stop it.

…In the book, Veronica sadly realizes how much the media has unconsciously shaped her thinking – a danger many of us face today.
Even though being controlled by the media is a scary thought, becoming aware of such problems is the first step to creating critical thinkers. M.T. Anderson's Feed is an excellent framework for older teens to discuss and explore the urgency of such problems as over-dependency and consumerism

Transitions within paragraphs

Logical Relationship	Transitional Expression
Similarity/Comparison	also, in the same way, just as...so too, likewise, similarly, along the same lines
Exception/Contrast	but, however, in spite of, on the one hand...on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet, conversely, despite the fact that
Sequence/Order	first, second, third, ... next, then, finally
Time	after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then
Example	for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate, to take a case in point, consider
Emphasis	even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
Elaboration	to put it another way, to put it bluntly, to put it succinctly, ultimately, in short, in other words, that is, by extension, actually, again
Cause and Effect	accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus, it follows then
Additional Support or Evidence	furthermore, in addition, moreover, then, equally important, further, also, and, as well
Conclusion/Summary	finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary

Logical Relationship

Transitional Expression

Similarity/Comparison

also, in the same way, just as...so too, likewise, similarly, along the same lines

Exception/Contrast

but, however, in spite of, on the one hand...on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet, conversely, despite the fact that

Sequence/Order

first, second, third, ... next, then, finally

Time

after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then

Example

for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate, to take a case in point, consider

Emphasis

even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly

Elaboration

to put it another way, to put it bluntly, to put it succinctly, ultimately, in short, in other words, that is, by extension, actually, again

Cause and Effect

accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus, it follows then

Additional Support or Evidence

furthermore, in addition, moreover, then, equally important, further, also, and, as well

Conclusion/Summary

finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary