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How to Make
Transitions | List of
Transition Words | Transitions
Between Paragraphs
"How do I make my writing 'flow'?"
This is a common question I get from students.
Why worry about this? Let's start with an
example from an essay on Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried.
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Another way O'Brien
shows truth is what is remembered and imagined is that imagination can
be an extremely powerful aspect of a story. O'Brien insists that the
unimaginable aspects of a story is the "truth" and the normal aspects
are there to make the story believable. Since the war was so reluctant
normal ideas are necessary to a story. "Often the crazy stuff is true
and the normal stuff isn't, because the normal stuff is necessary to
make you believe the truly incredible craziness" (O'Brien 71). In
fundamental nature it would be difficult to believe a war story unless
there are practical characteristics that go collectively in the story.
In truth nothing really has to be true, however, in essence these
actions may have happened one time or another during the way, it may
not have been O'Brien's platoon but somewhere during the war these
instances happened. "Tim O'Brien takes the act of trying to reveal and
understand the uncertainties about the war one step further, by looking
at it through the imagination" (Kaplan 383). According to O'Brien,
these aspects are very well needed to make people feel the real drama
of the war.
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At what point do you lose track of the writer's
argument? For me it's around the third sentence -- though I'm having
trouble in the second.
What's needed here?
Transitions -- but not of the "Next," "First," "Second" variety.
Remember that when moving from sentence to sentence, readers must be
able to follow your logic. This is accomplished by using transitions.
The "This" in the previous sentence illustrates one way of knitting
together your thinking/writing – and is an important word to keep in
mind. By referring back to "follow your logic," the "This" acts as a
bridge, a connection between the two points you're making in your
sentences. Another way to make a connection is to use words like
"another" (for a list of such words, see below). Connections can also
be made by repetition, as in this sentence where I repeat the word
"connection" from the previous sentence. Using repetition and
transition words keep readers focused on the main topic of your
paragraph/idea, which in turn makes it easier for readers to follow
your logic.
By now you should be wondering, "well, how do I come up with effective
transitions?" Easy. Working one paragraph at a time, develop/brainstorm
a list of synonyms or words/phrases associated with the focus of that
paragraph (Example? In a paragraph on "coping" you might include words
like settle, satisfied, adapt, make adjustments, psychological, change
etc.). Keep this list handy as you revise/proofread, and be sure to
insert these words throughout the paragraph.
- Adding a point:
furthermore, besides, finally, in addition to
- Emphasis:
above all, indeed, in fact, in other words, most important
- Time:
then, afterwards, eventually, next, immediately, meanwhile, previously,
already, often, since then, now, later, usually
- Cause and Effect:
as a result, therefore, thus
- Examples:
for example, for instance
- Contrast:
but, however, in contrast, instead, nevertheless, on the other hand,
though, still, unfortunately
- Similarity:
like, also, likewise, similarly, as
Between paragraphs, the best technique is to repeat a word or idea from
the previous paragraph. As usual, this is best illustrated with an
example. Take a look at the following:
In addition to his character flaws, the end result of
Sammy's "heroic" deed makes him a realistic hero.
Without even reading the previous paragraph, you can
tell the subject of it was _________. That's the advantage of
repetition between paragraphs: you keep reminding the reader of your
focus which means you keep reminding the reader of your argument, which
means you keep your reader happy.
© 2018 David Bordelon
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