0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第四十期——Transitions

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0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】汇总贴 & DAY I 主谓一致
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二期——情态动词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三期——冠词、数词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第四期——虚拟语气
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第五期——倒装
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第六期——从句
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第七期——名词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第八期——代词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第九期——动词的时态
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十期——连词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十一期——动词、动词语态
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十二期——动词不定式、分词、动名词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十三期——独立主格、特殊词
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十四期——Active and Passive Voice
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十五期——Apostrophe & Hyphens
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十六期——Parallel Structure
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十七期——Commas
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十八期——Dangling Modifiers
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第十九期——Capital Letters
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十期——Spelling
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十一期——HOCs\LOCs
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十二期——Sentence Clarity& Fragments
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十三期——R&S Punctuation Patterns
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十四期——Punctuation
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十五期——Articles: A versus An
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十六期——How to Use Articles (a/an/the)
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十七期——Count and Noncount Nouns
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十八期——In/Dependent Clauses
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第二十九期——Adjective or Adverb
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十一期——Appositives
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十期——Adjectives and Adverbs
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十二期——Irregular Verbs
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十三期——Numbers
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十四期——Prepositions
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十五期——Pronouns
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十六期——Subject/Verb Agreement
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十七期——Verb Tenses
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十八期——Parts of Speech Overview
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第三十九期——Quotation Marks
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第四十期——Transitions
0910AW SPECTACULAR 之【SU & SY SO】第四十一期——Phrasal& idioms

Transitions and Transitional Devices

This resource was written by Purdue OWL.
Last full revision by Ryan Weber.
Last edited by Karl Stolley on August 20th 2006 at 8:24PM
Summary: A discussion of transition strategies and specific transitional devices.

Writing Transitions

Good transitions can connect paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Instead of treating paragraphs as separate ideas, transitions can help readers understand how paragraphs work together, reference one another, and build to a larger point. The key to producing good transitions is highlighting connections between corresponding paragraphs. By referencing in one paragraph the relevant material from previous ones, writers can develop important points for their readers.

It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off (instances where this is especially challenging may suggest that the paragraphs don't belong together at all.) Picking up key phrases from the previous paragraph and highlighting them in the next can create an obvious progression for readers. Many times, it only takes a few words to draw these connections. Instead of writing transitions that could connect any paragraph to any other paragraph, write a transition that could only connect one specific paragraph to another specific paragraph.

Example: Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits.

Another important thing to note is that the corporation had expanded its international influence.

Revision: 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.

Example: Fearing for the loss of Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck, effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War.

But then something else significant happened. The Swedish intervention began.

Revision: Fearing for the loss of more Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck, effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War.
Shortly after Danish forces withdrew, the Swedish intervention began.

Example: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.

There are other things to note about Tan as well. Amy Tan also participates in the satirical garage band the Rock Bottom Remainders with Stephen King and Dave Barry.

Revision: 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.

Transitional Devices

Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your paper. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas a paper develops. Transitional devices are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. And finally, transitional devices link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.
There are several types of transitional devices, and each category leads readers to make certain connections or assumptions. Some lead readers forward and imply the building of an idea or thought, while others make readers compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts.

Here is a list of some common transitional devices that can be used to cue readers in a given way.

To Add:and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.)

To Compare:whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true

To Prove:because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is

To Show Exception:yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

To Show Time:immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then

To Repeat:in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted

To Emphasize:definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation

To Show Sequence:first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon

To Give an Example:for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate

To Summarize or Conclude:in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently, on the whole