How to Write a Transition

An essay is a lot like a train route, where each station is a topic, point, or paragraph, and each stretch of track is the transition from one topic to the next.  Sometimes what needs the most work are the stations themselves: your thesis, your paragraphs, your conclusion, etc.  Sometimes, however, it's the track that needs a little maintenance.

Does your essay seem choppy, jumpy, or disjointed?  Have you received feedback that your arguments are hard to follow, or that they lose your train of thought (pun intended)?  These are clear signs that your track needs some work.

What is a transition?  It's a segue from one thought to another.  It connects two ideas helping the flow of your essay, paper, email, etc.    There are many different kinds of transitions, or stretches of train track, to help you get from station to station--let's take a look at a few:

1.  List track

When you are making a list in your paper and each individual item becomes it's own station, the list track will help you transition from item to item.

• First, chocolate is a popular confection that can be found in almost every culture across the world....Second, chocolate is versatile in its applications, being used in sweet and savory treats....Finally, chocolate can come in multiple forms, such as milk, dark, and white, finding a way to please almost every palette. 

You can also use next, then, one, two, three, lastly, etc.  These are short, simple ways to let us know you're going from one station of thought to another. 

2. Compare/Contrast track

Sometimes you're showing us that one station is like another station, or that they are not alike at all.  For the first, you can ride the compare track.  For the second, take the contrast track.  

• Compare track:
• Also, peanut butter is frequently used in candies and treats
• Similarly, peanut butter can be found in sweet and savory dishes.
• In the same way that people enjoy chocolate flavoring, people often crave the taste of peanut butter. 
• Other examples: likewise, like, so too, just as, in like manner, additionally 
• Contrast track:
• Caramel is a popular pairing with chocolate, but peanut butter is favored by many.
• Peanut butter, however, adds a little savory spike to the sweetness of chocolate. 
• On the other hand, peanut butter can't be enjoyed by those with nut allergies. 
• Other examples: be that as it may, contrasting, in spite of, nevertheless, nonetheless, though, still, yet

3. Evidence track

Often times you have a station dedicated to examples and evidence and it can be tricky to get there.  These are some tried and true transition tracks to get you there.

• For example, more people at restaurants choose chocolate desserts than non chocolate desserts (I made this up, but it's probably true.)
• For instance, women in the media are often shown to be chocolate addicts, even Commander Troi from Star Trek TNG.

You can also use e.g. (example given) and such as

4. Addition track

When you have more to add or build, one of these can come in handy.

• Additionally, dark chocolate has a few health benefits.
• Furthermore, chocolate has been proven to make you happier. (Made this one up too, but I think it's true.)
• Moreover, chocolate can go with just about any topping you can imagine. 

5. Ending track

It can be hard to know how to wrap it all up and transition from your last station to your conclusion station.  These are all great ways to do that.

• In conclusion, chocolate is the best dessert on the planet.
• To conclude, if people consumed more chocolate, they would be happier.
• In short, it's important to consider how much chocolate is healthy for a person to consume. 
• Finally, chocolate is always a good gift choice. 
• To summarize, it's important to analyze the pros and cons of each dessert choice.

Many variations exist for the ending track.  Pick one that suits you best.

Transitions can happen at the end of paragraphs, during paragraphs, and sometimes even during individual sentences.  The whole idea is that you're connecting the previous idea with the next one so that we follow your train of thought.  Don't leave us at one station when you're headed to the next!

Until next time, I remain your friendly neighborhood Online Writing Tutor,

Mrs. B