Transitions (a mini-lesson) discusses the importance of showing readers the organization of an essay through linking ideas, signposting where the essay is going, and using transitional words. It cautions that transitional words should not be used merely for the sake of it, but should genuinely connect ideas. It also recommends using repetition of key words and phrases between paragraphs to link similar thoughts and ideas.

1. Transitions
(a mini-lesson)
Showing the Reader Your
Organization

2. Linking Ideas
• Unless readers can move easily from one
thought to another, they will surely find
something else to read or turn on the
television.

3. Show the reader where you are
going
• You understand the organization of your
essay, but your readers don’t.
• Your readers need some stepping stones.
Be sure to place them in readily
accessible and visible spots.

4. Transitional Words
o
o
o
o
o
o
and,
but,
nor,
yet,
or,
(and sometimes) so —
o
o
o
o
however,
moreover,
nevertheless,
on the other hand .

5. A word of caution…
• Don’t just drop transitional expressions into your
essay merely because you know these devices
connect ideas.
• But, if you can read your entire essay and not find
any, then you must wonder what, if anything, is
holding your ideas together.
• Practice by inserting a tentative however,
nevertheless, consequently .
• Reread the essay later to see if these words provide
the glue you needed at those points.

6. Repetition of Key Words and
Phrases
• I call these “paragraph hooks.”
• This technique links paragraphs that have
similar thoughts and ideas.
• Essentially you take one or two strong,
key words from near the end of one
paragraph and place those same words or
slight variations of them at the beginning
of the next paragraph.

7. Example