Being Cohesive: What Are Transitions?
In this section, you're going to look at the next feature
of cohesive paragraphs: transitions.
Do you know what transitions do?
In business writing, transitions
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link
sentences together and
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show the
relationships between sentences.
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What does this mean?
Read the following paragraph, which has NO transitions.
What do you think of this paragraph?
|
The customer had proper identification. Her records
showed that her account was overdrawn. She didn't have a pre-arranged
overdraft facility. The counter service officer couldn't make the
withdrawal for her. |
This is NOT an effective paragraph.
The ideas don't flow smoothly. The writer "jumps" from
one idea to another. The ideas are not linked together. It's difficult to guess
what's coming next.
Being Cohesive: Different Types Of Transitions
Look at the paragraph again. This time, you will see that
three types of transitions are used.
|
The customer had proper identification. However,
her records showed that her account was overdrawn. In addition, she didn't
have a pre-arranged overdraft facility. Therefore, the counter service
officer couldn't make the withdrawal for
her. |
The use of However at the beginning of the second
sentence signals a change in direction. It suggests a comparison / contrast is
about to follow. If a customer has the proper identification, you would expect
everything to be okay. But, in this case, everything is not okay and the word
However tells you this.
In addition tells you of the other problem the writer
wants to mention (ie, no overdraft facility). It highlights the fact that there
are two problems: the customer's account is overdrawn and the customer has no
overdraft facility. The transition also shows you that these two problems are of
equal importance.
Therefore draws your attention to the cause and effect
relationship between the ideas contained in this paragraph. The two problems
mentioned above were the cause. The final effect was that the counter service
officer was unable to make the withdrawal for the customer.
Can you see how transitions make a paragraph cohesive?
Without them your reader may get confused or misunderstand what you're trying to
say.
Being Cohesive: 5 Types of
Transitions
In the table below, five types of transitions are listed
with some examples.
|
When you want to |
you can use |
Transition category |
|
Give specific examples |
For example, Such as, To illustrate, Namely
|
Example |
|
Show the sequence of actions or events, giving
instructions |
First, Then, Finally, Earlier |
Sequence |
|
Introduce additional information of equal
importance |
In addition, Also, Moreover, Furthermore,
Similarly, Likewise
|
Equal weight
|
|
Show similarities or
differences |
However, Yet, On the other hand,
But |
Comparison/Contrast
|
|
Show results of actions
|
Therefore, As a result, So,
Consequently |
Cause-effect
|
In the previous screen, you saw how to use three types of
transitions:
1) comparison / contrast
2) equal weight
3) cause-effect
Look at the following sentence to see how the other two
categories of transitions are used.
|
Then you can write an opening sentence, such as,
"Thank you for your letter of 14 February 2000,"
... |
Notice how Then is giving an instruction for the next
action in a sequence of events.
Such as tells you that an example of an opening sentence
(mentioned in the first phrase) is about to follow.
Learning Point 4
There are five basic types of
transitions:
Example
Sequence
Contrast / compare
Equal importance
Cause / effect.
Transitions make a paragraph cohesive by
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linking the
sentences together smoothly
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showing the
relationship between sentences
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helping us
move quickly between ideas.
They show the reader where we've been and where we're
going with our writing.
Being Cohesive: Transitions
In this exercise, choose the set of three transitions
that you think is the most suitable for the paragraph.
For example, if you think the correct transitions for
paragraph 1 are
In addition, Consequently and Later, then choose option
A
1. Nancy is very busy. She wants to go
home but she has to telephone a long list of new customers to confirm their
orders. ________, she has to write many e-mails. ________, she will have to stay
late at the office. _______ , when she's finished, she will go home.
A. In addition, Consequently, Later
B. If, Therefore, Besides
C. Then, Finally, Again
D. Then, For instance, Later
2. There will be an important company meeting this
weekend. All the Directors will be there. _____ , all the Senior Managers will
be there. We will discuss new business developments on Saturday. ____ , on
Sunday, we will look at new business strategies. _____ , the Chairman will
address everyone and give a speech in the evening before dinner.
A. Later, Finally, Consequently
B. In addition, Then, Finally
C. Later, So, Consequently
D. However, Before, For example
3. Life is full of difficult questions. ______ , what
would you do if you suddenly had an accident? _______ , what if the accident
prevented you from working? Maybe everything would be fine without HSBC
insurance. _______ , for just a few dollars each month, you could provide your
family with complete peace of mind.
A. Also, In fact, On the other hand
B. Nevertheless, However, To illustrate
C. For example, Moreover, On the other hand
D. First, Then, For example
In each of the sentences below, the transitions are
missing, unnecessary or incorrect. Correct each sentence. After you've corrected
a sentence, click "A" to see the answer.
1. We sell insurance. We sell investment products.
We sell insurance. We also sell investment products.
(missing transition)
2. Our advertising budget has increased over the last
quarter. Sales have not increased.
Our advertising budget has increased over the last
quarter. However, sales have not increased. - (missing transition)
3. Although, I wanted to go to the seminar, but I didn't
have the time.
Although, I wanted to go to the seminar, but I didn't
have the time.
Although I wanted to go to the seminar, but I didn't have
the time.
Remove either "although" or "but" (unnecessary
transition)
4. Since Mr Jones was on sick leave, so the meeting was
cancelled.
Since Mr Jones was on sick leave, so the meeting was
cancelled.
Since Mr Jones was on sick leave, so the meeting was
cancelled.
Remove either "since" or "so" (unnecessary
transition)
5. Due to Mr Lewis arrived late, the meeting did not
start on time.
Since Mr Lewis arrived late, the meeting did not start on
time.
Replace "due to" with "since" - (incorrect
transition)
So, now you know how to use transitions.
When you use topic sentences, supporting sentences and
transitions correctly, you will write cohesive paragraphs. You can use this
knowledge whenever you need to revise your documents.
Learning Point Summary
Remember:
When you revise your paragraphs to make them cohesive,
you need
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only one idea
in each paragraph
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a topic
sentence that summarises the main idea
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supporting
sentences that support the main idea
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transitions
that link the sentences together
（來源：中國物流論壇 實習生江巍 英語點津 Annabel 編輯）
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