Transitions and Continuity Devices
for the Literary Analysis Essay
Where they go
Examples to use Transitions to avoid
Be sure to include a transition
Remember to use a variety
Don't fall into the
in the following locations in
of words to connect ideas.
predictable numbering trap or
your essay:
constantly repeat the same
words.
•The topic sentence of your first
body paragraph
One of the elements the author
First…
uses successfully is irony…
• In the sentence that starts your
second example in the first body
paragraph
Another example of irony
occurs when…
•In the concluding sentence of
your first body paragraph
Clearly these examples of irony
force the reader to think about…
•The topic sentence of your
second body paragraph
In addition to irony, the author
uses imagery…
•In the sentence that starts your
second example in the second
body paragraph
An additional sample of
imagery that involves the
reader…
•In the concluding sentence of
your second body paragraph
Both of these passages of
imagery help the reader
visualize…
•The topic sentence of your third
body paragraph
Characterization as well as
irony and imagery plays an
important role in this story.
Don't overuse a specific transition
such as also or another.
Second…
Third…
• In the sentence that starts your At the start of the story the main
second example in the third body character is afraid, but later he
paragraph
is obviously stronger…
•In the concluding sentence of
your third body paragraph
Indeed, these examples show
how the character develops, and
that helps us identify with her.
•In the first sentence of your
conclusion
Finally, we can see how the
elements work together to make In conclusion…
the story significant.