TRANSITIONS: CREATING FLOW AND CONNECTIONS IN OUR WRITING

Natalie LaffertyNational Writing Project

Florida Gulf Coast UniversitySummer 2012

What is a transition?

The connection (a word, phrase, clause, sentence, or entire paragraph) between

two parts of a piece of writing, contributing to cohesion (About.com, 2012).

The Research

In both academic writing and professional writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers (UNC College of Arts and Sciences, 2012).

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 (Purdue Owl, 2012).

It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off. 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 (Purdue Owl, 2012).

Confused?

Let’s take a look at the positive effects of using transitions in the world we live in.

Many great ideas were created by making a connection. For instance…

Transformers

Speaking of 80’s trends…

Even Uncle Jesse fell victim to this “hair-raising” transition: business in the front, party in

the back.

Connections in Nature

The Puggle

The Liger

Buckbeak

Connections in Food

Transitions via Celebrity

Bennifer

Kimye

BRANGELINA!!!

Okay, okay…back to writing. Let’s look at an essay.

References

About.com. (2012). Transition. Retrieved from Grammar & composition: http://grammar.about.com/ od/tz/g/transitionterm.htm

Purdue Owl. (2012). Writing transitions. Retrieved from Purdue online writing lab: http://owl.english.purdue. edu/owl/resource/574/01/

UNC College of Arts and Sciences. (2012). The writing center. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.unc.edu/ handouts/transitions/