MENU EXIT Transitions In writing, a transition is the smooth progression from one idea to another. A good transition helps the reader see how ideas are connected. Continue…

Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT In writing, a transition is the smooth progression from one idea to another. A good transition helps the reader see how ideas are connected. How could a transition improve this paragraph? The temperature soared into the triple digits for the second day in a row. The increased use of air conditioning strained the city’s power supply. Click to see a revision

Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT In writing, a transition is the smooth progression from one idea to another. A good transition helps the reader see how ideas are connected. The revised paragraph flows better because the transition helps to show the sequence of events. The temperature soared into the triple digits for the second day in a row. The increased use of air conditioning strained the city’s power supply. ORIGINAL REVISED The temperature soared into the triple digits for the second day in a row. By the third day, the increased use of air conditioning had strained the city’s power supply. Next

MENU EXIT Transitions Transitions can signal different types of relationships. Click the transitional relationship you want to explore. MENU Sequential Order Order of Importance Cause and Effect Spatial Order Comparison and Contrast

Sequential Order Transitions MENU EXIT Use transitions like these to show the sequence of time or steps in a process. first during before second then at the beginning afterwards soon at the same time next finally subsequently last already later Next

Sequential Order Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Where could you add transitions to help make this sequence clearer? To download photographs from your digital camera onto your computer, connect the cable from the camera to the correct port in your computer. The photography program will automatically open. Click on “download images” and click on “save to folder.” Write the name of the folder in the dialog box and hit enter. Click to see a revision

Sequential Order Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT These transitions indicate the sequence of steps for downloading photographs to a computer. To download photographs from your digital camera onto your computer, first connect the cable from the camera to the correct port in your computer. The photography program will automatically open. Next, click on “download images,” then click on “save to folder.” Finally, write the name of the folder in the dialog box and hit enter. Menu

Order of Importance Transitions MENU EXIT Use words like these when you are trying to show the relative importance of people, places, things, or events. first second best worst main more important most important least important Next

Order of Importance Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT When colleges review your application, they want to know whether you are a well-rounded student. To do this, they look at your grades and extracurricular activities as a whole. SAT scores are also on the list. Their objective is to make sure you will be able to excel at their institution. Whether or not a relative went to the college is rarely considered. Where could you add transitions to help show the relative importance of these criteria? Click to see a revision

Order of Importance Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT When colleges review your application, they want to know whether you are a well-rounded student. To do this, they first look at your grades and extracurricular activities as a whole. SAT scores are second on the list. Their main objective is to make sure you will be able to excel at their institution. Whether or not a relative went to the college is considered least important. These transitions stress the importance of some criteria over other criteria. Menu

Cause and Effect Transitions MENU EXIT Transitional words can also show a cause-and-effect relationship. Continue…

Cause and Effect Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Transitional words can also show a cause-and-effect relationship. In this example, the transition clarifies the effect of the first action (the cause). I had an allergic reaction to the medication. The doctors monitored my condition carefully. As a result, Next

Cause and Effect Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Use transitional words and phrases like these to show relationships between events and their results. as a result because therefore consequently since thus so for if...then Next

Cause and Effect Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Over the past few years, gas prices have risen steadily. As a result, more people are riding bicycles or taking public transportation. People are also driving more fuel-efficient cars and hybrids. Consequently, air pollution is lessening. What transitions in this paragraph point to the results that followed a rise in gas prices? Click to see the transitional words

Click to see the cause-and-effect relationships PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Transitions Cause and Effect Over the past few years, gas prices have risen steadily. As a result, more people are riding bicycles or taking public transportation. People are also driving more fuel-efficient cars and hybrids. Consequently, air pollution is lessening. What transitions in this paragraph point to the results that followed a rise in gas prices? Click to see the cause-and-effect relationships

Cause and Effect Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT The transitions highlight the cause-and-effect relationships. Gas prices have risen. As a result, More people are riding bicycles. Air pollution is lessening. Consequently, Menu

Spatial Order Transitions MENU EXIT Use transitional words and phrases like these when describing details according to their position in space (front to back, near to far, top to bottom, and others). above beside to the right of past in the other direction below down over behind in front of near under beneath in back of on top of to Next

Spatial Order Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT The sports arena was well planned by the team of architects. In front of the main entrance numerous sets of stairs lead to the seating areas. To the right of the entrance are the food and souvenir vendors. Bathroom facilities are located on the level below. Which words point out the spatial relationships in this description? Click to view the transitional words

Spatial Order Transitions PREVIOUS MENU EXIT The sports arena was well planned by the team of architects. In front of the main entrance, numerous sets of stairs lead to the seating areas. To the right of the entrance are the food and souvenir vendors. Bathroom facilities are located on the level below. Which words point out the spatial relationships in this description? Menu

Comparison and Contrast MENU EXIT Transitions Comparison and Contrast Use comparison and contrast transitions to signal the similarities and differences between people, places, things, or events. but however unlike in contrast similarly like both each yet although even though on the contrary Next

Comparison and Contrast PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Transitions Comparison and Contrast Caves with limestone deposits have two kinds of formations: stalactites and stalagmites. Both types are created when water seeps through rock, causing minerals to dissolve. In each case, these minerals precipitate out of the water when they come into contact with air. Although they contain the same compounds, stalactites and stalagmites form in different ways. Stalactites drip from the ceiling, creating hanging icicle-like structures. In contrast, stalagmites rise from the cave floor. What words in the paragraph signal the comparisons and contrasts? Click to view the transitional words

Comparison and Contrast PREVIOUS MENU EXIT Transitions Comparison and Contrast Caves with limestone deposits have two kinds of formations: stalactites and stalagmites. Both types are created when water seeps through rock, causing minerals to dissolve. In each case, these minerals precipitate out of the water when they come into contact with air. Although they contain the same compounds, stalactites and stalagmites form in different ways. Stalactites drip from the ceiling, creating hanging icicle-like structures. In contrast, stalagmites rise from the cave floor. What words in the paragraph signal the comparisons and contrasts? Menu