Transitions

1. Transitions Warm up: Prepare a sheet of paper in the notes section of your binder to take notes.

2. What is a transition? • A transition is an element that smoothes the leap from one paragraph to the next. The reader should not feel disoriented by a new paragraph; (s)he should feel that it all makes sense, that the ideas or elements clearly connect.

3. How are transitions made? • The transition is often made in two places: in the concluding sentence of the previous paragraph and in the topic sentence of the next paragraph. • First of all, in the concluding sentence of a paragraph, a writer often points to or sets up the topic of the next paragraph. • Then in the topic sentence of the next paragraph, the writer refers directly or indirectly to the topic of the previous paragraph. You can integrate key words or phrases from the concluding sentence into your topic sentence. You can also make this connection with a transitional word.

4. Transitional Words and Phrases • Likewise • In the same way • On the other hand • Conversely • Both • As a result • For this reason • Similarly • Different • However • Whereas • Unlike • Caused by • Also • Have in common • On the contrary • Instead • Consequently • But • Because of

5. Read the following paragraph about The Snowflake Institute. The Snowflake Institute of Safe Skiing provides the best winter-sport instruction around. While other ski schools merely slap skis on you and teach you the snow plow, The Snowflake Institute recognizes that getting on a ski lift safely the first day may be challenge enough for many a skier. More than once, the new skier at Alps Are Us has been knocked over on his or her face and forced to eat a huge humiliating mouthful of snow. At The Snowflake Institute, the skiing process is broken down into steps so that by the end of a week, a new skier can put on ski boots and skis, ride a lift, and ski down the beginners’ slopes without fear.

6. Snowflake Institute Discussion • What is the writer trying to do? • Why is the writer writing it? • Does (s)he have a bias? • Who is the audience for the paragraph?

7. Sample concluding sentence transition The Snowflake Institute of Safe Skiing provides the best winter-sport instruction around. While other ski schools merely slap skis on you and teach you the snow plow, The Snowflake Institute recognizes that getting on a ski lift safely the first day may be challenge enough for many a skier. More than once, the new skier at Alps Are Us has been knocked over on his or her face and forced to eat a huge humiliating mouthful of snow. At The Snowflake Institute, the skiing process is broken down into steps so that by the end of a week, a new skier can put on ski boots and skis, ride a lift, and ski down the beginners’ slopes without fear. The Snowflake Institute makes the skiing process far easier than other area ski schools. Key words: the skiing process

8. Sample concluding sentence transition The Snowflake Institute of Safe Skiing provides the best winter-sport instruction around. While other ski schools merely slap skis on you and teach you the snow plow, The Snowflake Institute recognizes that getting on a ski lift safely the first day may be challenge enough for many a skier. More than once, the new skier at Alps Are Us has been knocked over on his or her face and forced to eat a huge humiliating mouthful of snow. At The Snowflake Institute, the skiing process is broken down into steps so that by the end of a week, a new skier can put on ski boots and skis, ride a lift, and ski down the beginners’ slopes without fear. For this reason, The Snowflake Institute is your best choice in winter-sport instruction. Transitional words: For this reason

9. Assignment • Write two different topic sentences to follow The Snowflake Institute paragraph. In one, repeat a key word to create the transition; in another, use a transitional word or phrase. • Pick the one you like best and then write a paragraph about in imaginary terrible ski school called “Alps Are Us.” Make up all the details, but write in the same tone as the first paragraph; they should go well together.

10. Debrief • Share your paragraph with your elbow partner. • Discuss what worked well in your transition and/or how you could improve it. • Make the changes you discussed.