Using Transition
Words and Phrases
Prepared By:
Ragia Magdeldin
Y
Youssef
f
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• O
One of the most common weaknesses I see in f h
k
I
i
students’ writing is poor logical flow from one idea or point to the next This usually takes the form of a
point to the next. This usually takes the form of a bunch of seemingly unrelated phrases thrown together with little or no sense of sequence, continuity, or q
,
y,
relativity. • Although the overall subject may be obvious, the g
j
y
words to describe it seem to be scattered on the page like an almost random set of unconnected thoughts. Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• Consider the following three sentence example:
C id th f ll i th
t
l
• The entire building had to be searched.
• They started the search on the third floor.
• It took three hours to complete the search. p
• Notice that the three separate statements are all valid sentences. They convey the bare essential facts of the situation but nothing more
situation, but nothing more. Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• IIn fact, they raise almost more questions than they answer. For f t th
i
l
t
ti
th th
F
example:
‐ Was it a serious incident?
Was it a serious incident?
‐ Had it ever happened before?
‐ Why did they start on the third floor?
‐ What about the first two floors?
What about the first two floors?
‐ Is three hours a long time for that?
‐ How long does it usually take?
• These are all logical (and obvious) questions that the average These are all logical (and obvious) questions that the average
person might ask when reading a paragraph made up of the three sentences above. • Let
Let'ss transform these now, using transition phrases: transform these now using transition phrases:
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
•
“UNLIKE the previous minor incident, this time the entire building had to be searched. BECAUSE the fire was still smoking on the first two floors, they started on the third working upwards covering the first two last
they started on the third, working upwards, covering the first two last. CONSEQUENTLY, it took them a full three hours before they finally completed the typical two‐hour job.”
•
Notice the use of the transition words: UNLIKE, BECAUSE, and CONSEQUENTLY. Using these three words has allowed us to easily connect the three independent sentences and give them a sense of chronological order and logical flow They also allow us to answer ALL of
chronological order and logical flow. They also allow us to answer ALL of the obvious questions, either with the transition word itself, or by adding a couple more words.
•
In short, transition words/phrases have turned three dry independent phrases into a little story that makes sense to the reader.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• These types of words/phrases are ideal for g
y
g
allowing one to easily connect thoughts, and create logical sequences between sentences and paragraphs They are usually inserted at
and paragraphs. They are usually inserted at the beginning of a sentence and normally refer directly back to the previous sentence
refer directly back to the previous sentence and/or paragraph without repeating the specific subject.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• U
Use transitional words to guide your reader t
iti
l
d t
id
d
through each step of the article:
• First..., next..., then..., finally....
First next then finally
• Apparently..., for example..., but actually..., in conclusion....
conclusion
• Sometimes..., but not always....
• On the one hand..., on the other hand..., in O th
h d
th th h d i
summary....
• Because..., therefore....
Because therefore
• Use transitional words to Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• U
Use transitional words to point out how the current t
iti
l
d t
i t th
th
t
thought is related to the previous one:
• on the other hand
earlier in the day
similarly
furthermore
in other words
because
consequently
in order to
undoubtedly
to sum up.
•
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using
Transition
s
Words
and
d
Phrases
• Use transitional words to spell out the connections
among the different
among the different elements of your writing. Addition:
• I felt a cold shiver, then I saw them sneaking up on me.
Junior ate all the turkey; furthermore he ate all the
furthermore, he ate all the pie.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• Example
Example:
• Junior loves weird combinations of foods; for instance, yesterday he poured gravy on his cake.
• Every object seemed determined to drown out my cries as I ran; one motorcycle in
out my cries as I ran; one motorcycle, in particular, met me at every intersection for the sole purpose of making my call for help
the sole purpose of making my call for help inaudible.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using
Transition
s
Words
and
d
Phrases
• Comparison:
• Junior still felt hungry; likewise George sized up
likewise, George sized up the leftovers.
I slowed from fatigue;
I slowed from fatigue; similarly, my pursuers fell behind.
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Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• Cl
Clarification:
ifi ti
• Junior turned next to the bountiful harvest of the fjords of Norway that is to say a can of sardines
fjords of Norway, that is to say, a can of sardines.
The pavement rose suddenly and hit my arms; in other words I fell
other words, I fell.
• Cause:
• Because he expected the movie to make him he expected the movie to make him
hungry, Junior slipped a few sardines into his coat p
pocket for a snack.
• I saw the outline of a familiar building; for that reason, I felt renewed hope.
p
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• Eff
Effect:
t
• Junior bought popcorn and forgot about the sardines; consequently his cleaning bill was even larger than
consequently, his cleaning bill was even larger than usual that month.
I wore hiking boots; therefore my feet grew tired from th
the extra weight, but I had better traction on the icy t
i ht b t I h d b tt t ti
th i
sidewalks.
• Purpose:
• In order to confuse my pursuers, I darted into the theater.
Junior was standing in the aisle, so that a man could get past to his seat.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• IIntensification:
t ifi ti
• As our cars collided, I recognized her ; undoubtedly she too was surprised to meet this
undoubtedly, she, too, was surprised to meet this way.
In the darkness my pursuers cried out as they fell
In the darkness, my pursuers cried out as they fell over our prostrate forms; surely they had lost at last.
• Summary:
• In the fight, one villain broke an arm. Another g ,
was knocked cold. A third rose to stab me when my dog bit him. In short, confusion reigned.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• Conclusion:
• Finally, overcome with relief and nearly y,
y
overwhelmed by the smell, I dragged Junior into the sunlight. Leaning close to his trembling lips, I
the sunlight. Leaning close to his trembling lips, I could just make out his gutteral whisper: "I'm starving "
starving.
• Concession:
• Admittedly, I was taken aback; nonetheless, I g
gg
g
y
bought him the biggest hamburger in Brooklyn. Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and Phrases
• The previous are just examples, and there are y
p
many other such transition words and phrases that are used in everyday conversation or writing.
writing
• In my opinion, appropriate use of these words/phrases is the number one technique / h
h
b
h
for making any type of writing flow logically and clearly.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Using Transition Words and
Phrases
• Bottom line: Smooth, orderly and logical
transitions from one thought
g to the other,,
one sentence to the next, and one
paragraph to another are key to creating
clear meaning and flow in any document.
Transition words and phrases will achieve
this for you.
• The
Th ffollowing
ll
i
paragraph
h iis unified
ifi d and
d
coherent. Notice how the italicized words
and phrases (called transitions) guide us
along, helping us see how one detail leads
to the next.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Why I Don'tt Make My Bed
Why I Don
Make My Bed
Ever since I moved into my own apartment last fall, I have
gotten out of the habit of making my bed
bed--except
except on Fridays,
of course, when I change the sheets. Although some people
may think that I am a slob, I have some sound reasons for
breaking the bed
bed-making
making habit. In the first place, I am not
concerned about maintaining a tidy bedroom because no one
except me ever ventures in there. If there is ever a fire
inspection
p
or a surprise
p
date,, I suppose
pp
I can dash in there
to fluff up the pillow and slap on a spread. Otherwise, I am
not bothered. In addition, I find nothing uncomfortable about
crawling into a rumpled mass of sheets and blankets. On the
contrary, I enjoy poking out a cozy space for myself before
drifting off to sleep. Also, I think that a tightly made bed is
downright uncomfortable: entering one makes me feel like a
loaf of bread being wrapped and sealed. Finally, and most
importantly, I think bed-making is an awful way to waste
time in the morning. I would rather spend those precious
minutes
i t
checking
h ki
my email
il or ffeeding
di
th
the catt th
than ttucking
ki
iin
corners or snapping the spread.
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef
Thank you for paying Thank
you for paying
attention..Hope it was useful..
p
Ragia Magdeldin Youssef