good transitions for an expository essay

How Good Transition Words Can Improve Your Writing Good transition words guide your reader from one thought in your writing to the next. They allow you to arrange your ideas in a clear and meaningful way that the reader can easily follow. If you think of writing as being a type of journey, you can think of transition words as being like sign posts on this journey. They keep the traveler moving in the right direction and always aware of where she is headed. Without transition words, your reader runs the risk of getting lost in a confusing jumble of disorganized thinking. This post will teach you about the different transition words that are available and how to effectively use them in your writing. Example Transition Words There are dozens if not hundreds of possible transition words and phrases. To help you understand, I’ve divided them into different categories based on their purpose.  Here are the categories: Addition: transition words that build upon an idea, adding one thought to another. Comparison: transition words that show the similarities between two ideas. Conclusion: transition words that bring an idea to an end. Contrast: transition words that show the differences between two ideas. Reason: transition words that show the logical connection between two ideas. Result: transition words that show the consequences of an idea. Sequence: transition words that show the order of ideas in time and space. As you can see, transition words serve a variety of purposes. For your convenience, I made a table of some of the more common transition words and separated them into categories. Please note that this table serves as a good summary of transitions, but it isn’t comprehensive. If you want more examples, check out this extensive list of transition words. Good Transition Words in Use So, now you understand the different types of transition words that are available. Let.
Skip to main content. Search for. Synonym Antonyms Definitions The Classroom » School Subjects » Transitions for Expository Writing by William Martin, Demand Media Transitions guide the reader. Related Articles Rules of Expository Writing How to Create a Thesis Statement for a Persuasive Essay Effective Writing Skills for Paragraph Transitions How to Use Transitional Devices Expository essays require strong thesis statements, paragraph topic sentences and specific details; however, writers also need strong, smooth transitions to make these elements coherent and effective. Transitional phrases add cohesiveness and guide the reader in a logical but unobtrusive way. Paragraph Purpose Transitions between paragraphs are usually more effective in the first sentence of the next paragraph. Although the first sentence should show the paragraph’s relation to the previous one, its primary purpose is to introduce the information to come. For example: If an essay about caring for zoo animals has a paragraph on how they are fed, the next information should focus on something related, but distinctly different: “ each animal requires a unique environment. “ Information Connections Review the relationship of information within the two paragraphs to connect them in a logical way. If the information between the two contrasts, then use a contrasting transition: “compared to, whereas, conversely.” Since our zoo animal example adds another aspect, the proper connecting phrase should illustrate that addition while still primarily focusing on the next paragraph’s content: “In addition to special feeding techniques, each animal requires a unique environment.” Misplaced Transitions When transitions are used other than in the first sentence of the paragraph, they often interrupt narrative flow and draw readers’ attention away from the information. Phrases such as “As will be shown ” or “In the.
Transition words help make your essay flow smoothly from paragraph to paragraph. You can use them at the ends and beginnings of paragraphs, as well as in your introduction and conclusion. Transition words and phrases can be used in every type of essay, but they are most appropriate in expository or argumentative essays in which it’s important to present your ideas in a clear, logical flow. Read on for more insight into transition words for essays, including examples and descriptions of how to use them in your writing. Comparison and Contrast Transition Words Comparison and contrast transition words are obviously helpful when writing a compare/contrast essay, but you can also use them to compare two different pieces of information in an expository or argumentative essay. You may also use comparison and contrast transition words to contrast two different experiences in a narrative essay or to compare two different people, places or objects in a descriptive essay. Here are some of the most common comparison words, followed by examples: also in the same way likewise similarly EXAMPLES: In the same way, Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech inspired a generation. Similarly, my vacation to the beach was also peaceful and fun, just like my week at summer camp. Here are some of the most common contrast words, followed by examples: but however in spite of on the one hand/on the other hand in contrast on the contrary still yet EXAMPLES: However, this delicious breakfast was not as memorable as the dinner my family shared that evening. In contrast, my grandmother is always cracking jokes while my grandfather stays serious. Sequence/Order Transition Words Sequence words are especially important in narrative essays, where you must guide your reader through the events of your story. Sequence words can be used at the start of each paragraph to clearly mark out what happened first, next.