2.7: Transitions and Paragraph Cohesion
- Page ID
- 304214
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\(\newcommand{\longvect}{\overrightarrow}\)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Transitions and Paragraph Cohesion
Cohesion focuses on the link between ideas so that they flow naturally from one to the next. When a paragraph has cohesion, ideas progress smoothly to create a connected whole.
Imagine cohesion as a waterfall cascading (flowing down) smoothly and continuously. There are different ways to achieve cohesion. One of them is by using transitions.
Transitions are also called connecting words. They help the writer organize thoughts and guide the readers in understanding the order of ideas clearly. Transitions are often needed not only between supporting sentences but also within them.
Compare the two paragraphs “Filing an Insurance Claim after Ice Storm Damage” below. Which one is better? Why is it better? Underline the transitions in Paragraph 2 that you do not see in Paragraph 1.
Paragraph 1
Filing an Insurance Claim after Ice Storm Damage
Filing an insurance claim after ice storm damage may seem complicated, but it is not hard if you follow these steps. Make sure your home is safe. You may need to turn off the water if pipes are broken or cover a damaged roof or window to stop more water from coming inside. Check your homeowner’s insurance policy to understand what is covered and how much your deductible is. Take clear photos and videos of all damage: fallen tree branches, roof damage from heavy ice, or water damage inside your home. Make a list of damaged items and keep receipts for any temporary repairs or hotel stays if you cannot live in your home. Contact your insurance company to report the damage and provide details about what happened. It will usually send an adjuster to inspect your home and estimate the cost of repairs. The insurer will review the information. They will decide how much they will pay according to your policy. If you follow these steps, you will be on your way to getting your home repaired in no time.
Paragraph 2
Filing an Insurance Claim after Ice Storm Damage
Filing an insurance claim after ice storm damage may seem complicated, but it is not hard if you follow these steps. The process begins with making sure your home is safe. For example, you may need to turn off the water if pipes are broken or cover a damaged roof or window to stop more water from coming inside. Then check your homeowner’s insurance policy to understand what is covered and how much your deductible is. Before you file your claim, take clear photos and videos of all damage, such as fallen tree branches, roof damage from heavy ice, or water damage inside your home. Also, make a list of damaged items and keep receipts for any temporary repairs or hotel stays if you cannot live in your home. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the damage and provide details about what happened. When you contact the company, it will usually send an adjuster to inspect your home and estimate the cost of repairs. Finally, after reviewing the information, the insurer will decide how much they will pay according to your policy. If you follow these steps, you will be on your way to getting your home repaired in no time.
With connecting expressions like “begins with," “such as," “Before you file your claim," and other underlined transitions, Paragraph 2 explains the steps much more clearly.
How are the transitions used?
- The transition for the first major supporting idea is often optional.
- “Finally” is usually used to show the last major supporting idea in the body of the paragraph. It is not used at the beginning of the conclusion.
- The transition at the beginning of the concluding sentence is optional. It is actually more common without it.
- After most transitions, there is usually a comma, but this is not always true. There are different types of transitions with different punctuation rules. You will learn them step by step throughout the course.
- Do not overuse transitions; otherwise, the paragraph will read very unnaturally. As you read and write more, you will gradually develop a sense of when a transition is or is not necessary.
Here are some common transitions:
| Meaning | Transitions |
|---|---|
| Addition | first, second, then, next, in addition, also, furthermore, moreover, last, finally … |
| Contrast | but, yet, on the other hand, on the contrary, however, nevertheless, though, even though, although … |
| Time | first, second, then, next, at ____ (clock time), in the morning (afternoon, etc.), after that, soon, in the beginning, at the same time, meanwhile, at first, at last, before, after, later, when, while, as soon as, until … |
| Reason | for, due to, because of, because, since, as … |
| Result | so, therefore, thus, consequently, as a result … |
| Location | near, beside, next to, in front, behind, around, on the top, on the bottom, on the right/left, to the right/left, under, opposite, above, below … |
| Conclusion | in conclusion, in summary, to sum up, in brief, for those reasons … |
| Example | like, such as, including, for example, for instance … |
Study Paragraph “Good Roommates” in 2.5 again. Notice how the three transitions (first, moreover, finally) connect the supporting ideas and the transition (in brief) is used before the concluding sentences.
Study Paragraph “No Capital Punishment” in 2.5 again. Notice how the transitions (first of all, therefore, nevertheless, next, however, for instance) are used to connect ideas between supporting ideas and within them. The transition (for these reasons) is placed before the concluding sentence.
Exercise 17
Choose the appropriate transitions below and type them in the boxes to finish the paragraph about a daughter. There may be more than one correct answer, but type just one. Not all listed transitions are needed. When you complete the entire exercise, you can click “Check” for feedback. You may retry or see all the answers. The first one is an example.
Transitions: first, second, next, in addition, also, furthermore, moreover, last, finally, for example, to sum up
You can view and complete this exercise online in the original text.
Exercise 18
Choose the appropriate transitions below and type them in the boxes to finish the paragraph about a life lesson. There may be more than one correct answer, but type just one. Not all listed transitions are needed. When you complete the entire exercise, you can click “Check” for feedback. You may retry or see all the answers. The first one is an example.
Transitions: however, on the first Saturday, then, after crying for an hour, while I was eating breakfast, now, at night, finally, after that, after I arrived
You can view and complete this exercise online in the original text.
Attributions:
- Content on this page was adapted from Building Academic Writing Skills (Cui), which was shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lin Cui.
- waterfall in Yellowstone National Park © Lin Cui is licensed under a CC BY (Attribution) license
- ESL Scholarship winners 2015/2016 © Lin Cui is licensed under a All Rights Reserved license