Transitions and Transitional Devices

 

What is a Transition?

A transition is a way of connecting paragraphs so that ideas and concepts flow easily and logically.  Using transitions allows readers to understand that the paragraphs are not all separate ideas but that the ideas in each paragraph relate to other paragraphs and help build a stronger argument.

Another way to think of transitions is as the blinkers of the literary world.  Suppose your friend is driving to a destination you have never visited and you are following in the car behind.  In that scenario, your friend’s blinker indicates to you that your friend is going to change direction but stay on the same path that leads to the destination; likewise, transitions and transitional phrases, like blinkers, indicate that the topic is changing direction, but still staying along the same course with the same destination in mind.  Without your friend’s blinkers, the changes in direction are abrupt because you did not know they were coming; without transitions, your readers do not know where they are going either and slight changes in thought seem random.

 

What Makes a Transition Effective?

Ideally, an effective transition allows readers to link previous paragraphs with the current paragraph; that is, the end of each paragraph should introduce the next paragraph.  A transitional sentence includes information from the previous paragraph that relates to the current.  To make this easier, it is usually best to start a new paragraph where the old one leaves off; instead of writing transitions that can connect any paragraph to any other, create transitions that can only connect the specific paragraph to another specific one, preferably between sequential paragraphs.

 

What are Some Good Transitional Strategies?

The key to producing good transitions is to stress the connections between related paragraphs.  Referencing the relevant material from previous paragraphs in the current one allows writers to develop important points for their readers.  Emphasizing key ideas and phrases from the previous paragraph and continuing them in the next creates an organization that is easy for readers to follow.  Usually, it only takes a few words or phrases to make good connections. 

Here are some examples of how to achieve good transitions.  These examples are not intended to be all encompassing, but they do provide some basic strategies. 

 

Conjunctive Adverbs

A conjunctive adverb is an adverb (a word that describes or modifies non-nouns) that connects two clauses to show cause and effect, contrast, comparison, sequence or other relationships. 
Use a semicolon or a period before the conjunctive adverb in order to separate two independent clauses (complete thoughts) joined by a conjunctive adverb – a conjunctive adverb is not strong enough to join two independent clauses with only a period.  Use a comma after the conjunctive adverb when it is at the beginning of the second independent clause.

Good Example (Effective Conjunctive Adverb)
Throughout the story, Oedipus believes he is able to see and understand many situations; however, he exhibits his true ability to see after he blinds himself.

Bad Example (Conjunctive Adverb Misplaced)
Oedipus believes he is able to see and understand many situations; he exhibits his true ability to see after he blinds himself, however.

Old-New Pattern of Information

When writing transitions, another good method is to employ the old-new pattern of information.  This means discussing something previously mentioned before discussing a new topic or idea; readers find it easier to digest new information if they can connect it to previously learned information, so the old-new pattern serves not only as a transitional tool, but also as a way to increase readers’ comprehension.  The old-new pattern can apply to both paragraphs and individual sentences.

To follow this pattern, begin your first body paragraph with information you introduce to readers in your introduction.  Finish your paragraph with new information, and then use that new information as old information in the next paragraph.

 

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