Read These Two Versions
In Chapter 6, you learned how to support your arguments with evidence.
You practiced naming your sources — "According to the school nurse…" and "Based on attendance records…" You mastered the "For example… This shows that…" move that makes arguments convincing and real. Your body paragraphs are now strong.
But here's a new challenge: What if your editorial has all the right ideas but they feel disconnected? Like separate thoughts that don't quite fit together? That's exactly what this chapter fixes.
"The school canteen runs out of food early. Students go hungry. The canteen should hire more staff. Students in the afternoon session suffer the most. The school has enough budget. Nothing has been done."
"The school canteen runs out of food early, which means students go hungry before the school day even ends. Because of this, students in the afternoon session suffer the most. The school has enough budget to hire more staff. However, nothing has been done about it."
Both versions say exactly the same things. But Version 1 sounds choppy, like short separate thoughts bumping into each other. Version 2 sounds smooth, like one connected idea flowing naturally. The difference is transition words.
7.1 What Are Transition Words?
Transition words are words or phrases that connect one idea to another.
They act like bridges. They help the reader move from one sentence or paragraph to the next without getting lost. Without transitions, your writing feels like a list of unconnected thoughts. With transitions, it feels like a real, flowing argument. Think of transition words as stepping stones across a river.
7.2 Connecting Ideas Smoothly
Transition words perform different functions depending on the logical relationship between your sentences. Choose your stepping stones carefully!
7.3 Common Transition Words and What They Do
Use these when you want to pile on another reason or supporting detail.
✅ "In addition, the food is often cold."
Use these when your next idea goes in a different, surprising, or opposite direction.
✅ "However, no action has been taken."
Use these when one thing causes another in your argument.
✅ "As a result, many students struggle to focus."
Use these when you want to back up an idea with a specific situation.
✅ "For example, last week, 60 students went hungry."
Use these when you want to explain why something happens.
✅ "Because the canteen has only two staff members, the line moves slowly."
Use these at the start of your final paragraph to signal the end.
✅ "In conclusion, the school must act now."
7.4 Keeping Paragraphs Connected
Transition words don't just connect sentences inside a paragraph; they connect full paragraphs together. This is called paragraph flow — the way your editorial moves smoothly from introduction to body to conclusion.
End of Paragraph 1: "...students in the afternoon session are already going hungry because of the canteen's limited supply."
Start of Paragraph 2: "In addition to the food shortage, the quality of the available food is also a serious concern..."
See how the start of Paragraph 2 picks up exactly where Paragraph 1 left off? That transition phrase keeps the reader moving forward without any confusion.
Choppy vs. Smooth — Side by Side
"Students carry heavy bags. Their backs hurt. They arrive at school tired. They cannot focus. Schools must fix this. A rotation schedule would help. Nothing has been done."
"Students carry heavy bags every day, and as a result, many arrive at school already tired and in pain. Because of this constant physical strain, they struggle to focus during morning classes. A rotation schedule would solve this problem. However, despite this simple solution being available, nothing has been done. Therefore, the school must act now."
One Important Warning
Transition words are powerful, but do not overuse them! You do not need a transition word at the start of every single sentence. That starts to feel unnatural and forced. Use them where they are needed — when connecting two different ideas, making a contrast, or signaling a conclusion.
✏️ Practice Time
Match transition words to their logical jobs, fill in paragraph blanks, and smooth out choppy drafts.
Transition Word MatchRead each sentence pair and determine the correct transition word that should link them.
Guided Writing — Add the TransitionsFill in the blanks with the correct logical transition words.
"The school's only water fountain has been broken for three weeks. [Result], students have been forced to buy bottled water from the canteen every day. [Contrast], not every student has money to spend on water. [Conclusion], the school must repair the fountain immediately..."
"Many students stay after school for club meetings and remedial classes. [Contrast], the school has no proper waiting area for students who are picked up late. [Example], last Tuesday, more than 30 students waited outside in the rain for almost an hour. [Conclusion], the school must build..."
Writing Practice — Improving Paragraph FlowRewrite this choppy paragraph to make it flow smoothly using at least three transition words.
"The school does not have enough benches in the covered court. Students eat lunch on the floor. It is unhygienic. Some students stand during their entire break. They get tired. The school must add more benches. Students deserve a comfortable place to eat and rest."
🔍 Self-Check Guide
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| I used at least three different, logical transition words in my paragraph | ☐ | ☐ |
| My paragraph flows smoothly and naturally when read aloud | ☐ | ☐ |
| The transition words accurately represent the logical relations between ideas | ☐ | ☐ |
| My paragraph maintains its strong position and clear conclusion | ☐ | ☐ |
📊 Simple Rubric
🧠 Transition Selector Quiz
Read each description or sentence and select the correct transition word or logical job category.