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Transitions
Transitions are the words and phrases that writers
use to connect ideas. Transitions are important because they
help a text flow smoothly and they help readers understand how ideas
are connected.
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Ideas
joined without transitions
(choppy) |
Gambling is a popular American
pastime. Blackjack requires concentration.
Craps requires players to learn complicated rules.
Slot machines are easy to play. Frank J.
Fahrenkopf Jr., head of the American Gaming Association,
says, "It's the slot machine that drives the industry
today" (qtd. in Rivlin, "Bet on It," Motives for
Writing, p. 203). |
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Ideas
joined with appropriate transitions
(smoother) |
Gambling is a popular American
pastime, but not all casino games are equally popular.
Whereas blackjack requires concentration and craps
requires players to learn complicated rules, slot
machines are easy to play. The ease of play
appears to be one reason why Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.,
head of the American Gaming Association, concludes that
"the slot machine drives the industry today" (qtd. in
Rivlin, "Bet on It," Motives for Writing, p.
203). |
Always make sure that your
transitions accurately indicate the relationship between ideas.
Students who add transitions thinking only of eliminating choppiness
sometimes find that their "smooth" text is misleading.
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Ideas
joined without transitions
(choppy) |
Gambling is a popular American
pastime. Blackjack requires
concentration. Craps requires players to learn
complicated rules. Slot machines are easy to play.
Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., head of the American Gaming
Association, says, "It's the slot machine that drives
the industry today" (qtd. in Rivlin, "Bet on It,"
Motives for Writing, p. 203). |
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Ideas
joined with inappropriate transitions
(confusing and misleading ) |
Gambling is a popular American
pastime because blackjack requires concentration.
Craps requires players to learn complicated rules, and
slot machines are easy to play. In conclusion,
Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., head of the American Gaming
Association, says, "It's the slot machine that drives
the industry today" (qtd. in Rivlin, "Bet on It,"
Motives for Writing, p. 203). |
The chart on page 42 of The
Longman Concise Companion demonstrates when many transitional
words and phrases are most appropriate.
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