How do you use transitions and connectors to link your ideas and evidence in a coherent way?

1 What are transitions and connectors?

Transitions and connectors are words or phrases that show the relationship between different parts of a text. They can indicate contrast, comparison, cause and effect, sequence, addition, example, emphasis, and so on. For example, words like "however", "similarly", "because", "then", "also", "for instance", and "in other words" are common transitions and connectors. They help the reader to follow the logic and structure of the author's argument and to see how the evidence supports the main idea.

2 Why are transitions and connectors important?

Transitions and connectors are important for both reading and writing, because they help to create coherence and clarity in a text. Coherence means that the text is well-organized and easy to follow, while clarity means that the text is precise and unambiguous. Without transitions and connectors, a text can be confusing, disjointed, and vague. The reader may lose track of the author's purpose, main points, and supporting details. On the other hand, with effective transitions and connectors, a text can be persuasive, engaging, and informative. The reader can understand the author's message, evaluate the evidence, and form their own opinion.

4 How do you use transitions and connectors in your own writing?

Using transitions and connectors in your own writing can help you to communicate your ideas and evidence more effectively and persuasively. To use transitions and connectors in your own writing, you need to consider three factors: the purpose, the position, and the variety of your transitions and connectors. First, you need to decide what purpose your transition or connector serves. Do you want to show contrast, comparison, cause and effect, sequence, addition, example, emphasis, or restatement? Choose the transition or connector that best matches your purpose. Second, you need to decide where to position your transition or connector. Do you want to place it at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence or a paragraph? Choose the position that best suits your flow and rhythm. Third, you need to vary your transitions and connectors. Do not repeat the same transition or connector too often. Use synonyms, paraphrases, or different types of transitions and connectors to avoid monotony and redundancy.

5 How do you practice using transitions and connectors?

One way to practice using transitions and connectors is to read texts that use them effectively and analyze how they create coherence and clarity. You can also try to rewrite texts that lack transitions and connectors and compare the difference. Another way to practice using transitions and connectors is to write your own texts and ask for feedback from others. You can use checklists, rubrics, or peer review to assess your use of transitions and connectors. You can also use online tools, such as Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid, to check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and readability.

6 How do you improve your critical reading skills with transitions and connectors?

Using transitions and connectors can help you to improve your critical reading skills in several ways. First, they can help you to identify the main idea and the supporting details of a text. You can use transitions and connectors as clues to find the thesis statement, the topic sentences, and the evidence of a text. Second, they can help you to evaluate the strength and relevance of the evidence. You can use transitions and connectors to examine how the author connects the evidence to the main idea and whether the evidence is sufficient, reliable, and consistent. Third, they can help you to synthesize the information from different sources. You can use transitions and connectors to compare and contrast different perspectives, arguments, or findings from different texts and to draw your own conclusions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?