Step 4. Transitional Devices
Connecting ideas
Transitions are the words and phrases that help you as an author to lead your readers from one sentence to another, from one idea to the following one, and from the beginning to the end of your paper. Each transition has its particular function in a sentence. For example, a transition can show that the author is going to add some new information to what has already been said, that he or she is going to contradict to what was said before, that the author is going to pause to provide an illustration, etc. Because transitions function in sentences in very specific ways, make sure that you use the appropriate transition in any particular context as it is better not to use a transition than to use a wrong one.
In short, transitions (1) help readers follow your ideas, (2) help them see connections that otherwise could be misunderstood, and (3) lead the readers smoothly from introduction to conclusion. Of course to make your writing flow, you should understand the relationships between the sentences, the paragraphs, as well as relationships between paragraphs and your thesis. This section of the unit will help you to understand and establish these relationships.