Body Paragraph (Transitions)

Page Author: Eamon Cunningham

Transitions are words or phrases that show relationships between sentences, paragraphs, and even larger sections of an essay. Transitions help readers understand how and why information, arguments, and ideas are related to one another. Transitions help improve an essay’s coherence, a quality of writing where one part of the paper flows to the next without any noticeable gaps, bumps, or unexpected shifts.

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Considerations

It is important to ensure that transitional words and phrases reflect the order and relationship of ideas in the essay. Among the most popular types of transition are:

To Show Addition
To Give Examples
To Compare
To Contrast
To Summarize or Conclude
To Show Time
To Show Place or Direction
To Indicate Logical Relationship
To Signal Concession

Transitions that inaccurately link ideas in the paper (i.e. using chronological transitions when the paper calls for a comparison) can be misleading and damaging to the paper’s overall effectiveness. As a general practice, it is best to put transitional words/phrases at the beginning of sections in the essay where new ideas are introduced. Doing so will help readers follow the writer’s train of thought with more purpose and clarity.

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Contents

1 Transitional Words and Phrases
2 Transitional Sentences
3 Transitional Paragraphs
3.1 Quick Navigation
3.2 Introduction
3.3 Body Paragraphs
3.4 Conclusion

Transitional Words and Phrases

Transitional words and phrases signal connections between, or even within, sentences. Writers should consider several things while selecting transitional words and phrases:

the transitional word or phrase captures the relationship of ideas that are being linked (i.e. do not use chronological transitions when comparison is needed)
the transitional word or phrase is specific (i.e. do not use “consequently” when “also” would be more precise) and
the transitional word or phrase has a consistent tone with the surrounding text (i.e. do not use “thus” in an informal paper or do not use “all in all” in a scholarly paper).

Common Transitional Words and Phrases

To Show Addition

Suggested Transitions
and, also, besides, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, next, too, first, second

To Give Examples

Suggested Transitions
for example, for instance, to illustrate, in fact, specifically,

To Compare

Suggested Transitions
also, in the same manner, similarly, likewise

To Contrast

Suggested Transitions
but, however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, still, even though, on the contrary, yet, although

To Summarize or Conclude

Suggested Transitions
in short, in summary, in conclusion, to sum up, therefore

To Show Time

Suggested Transitions
after, as, before, next, during, later, finally, meanwhile, then, when, while, immediately

To Show Place

Suggested Transitions
above, below, beyond, nearby, opposite, close, to the left

To Indicate Logical Relationships

Suggested Transitions
if, so, therefore, consequently, thus, as a result, for this reason, because, since

To Signal Concession

Suggested Transitions
acknowledging this, admittedly, granted, recognizing all this,

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Transitional Sentences

Transitional sentences usually link the first sentence of a new paragraph with the first sentence of a previous paragraph to show their relationship. Since the topic sentences signal global connections in a paper, using these places as a point for transition allows writers to connect the subject of a previous paragraph in the topic sentence of the next one. Transitional sentences can be executed in two ways.

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Repetition of Keywords

Keywords can act as a form of transition since they draw a reader’s attention to central concepts, terms, or ideas that run across paragraphs. Deliberately placing keywords in a paragraph's topic sentence can give an effect of coherence between different discussions of these related ideas. To prevent repetitions from becoming dull, writers can use variations of a keyword (ex. run, runner, running), pronouns referring to the word (ex. runners…they), and synonyms (ex. run, spring, race, dash).

First sentence of paragraph 1: The results of the testing revealed a surprising trend that shocked the world.

First sentence of paragraph 2: This surprising trend was one of the leading justifications for a change in global policy.

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Signal a Shift in Focus

Transitional words can also be placed at the beginning of paragraphs to indicate a change in the focus of the discussion. Deliberately selecting a transition to capture the essence of the shift in focus can give an effect of coherence.

Despite the novel’s critical acclaim, Dan Brown’s opening chapter does not deliver on the book’s billing of mystery, tension, and suspense.

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Transitional Paragraphs

Transitional paragraphs are short paragraphs, purposefully placed in between larger units of writing, that alert readers to connections between blocks of text that are more than one paragraph long. Writers can mark these moments of transition by inserting short paragraphs at key points in the essay. Transitional paragraphs can be executed in two ways.

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Introducing a Change in Topic

Transitional paragraphs can be effectively used when there is a major shift in focus (i.e. that the first part of the paper has come to a close and the second part is about to begin). These short paragraphs not only communicate a shift in the paper’s focus, but they also stand out visually in the paper’s layout, thus drawing a reader’s attention to the shift.

“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?”

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Subheadings

Subheadings are short phrases or sentences that help the writer announce a new topic boldly without the need for subtle transitions. These phrases which usually sit above blocks of text and are designated with Roman Numerals, though the required formatting conventions of the paper’s style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) will often determine the exact rules surrounding their inclusion.

I. Overview

II. Literature Review

III. Methodology