Module 2: Section 3

Transitions in paragraphs: Connecting your ideas

Now that you’re more familiar with organizing your writing, you can improve it even further by creating interesting sentences that “flow” clearly from one to another. Knowing how to confidently use transitions is an important way to make sure readers can follow your ideas.

View the Transitions Within Paragraphs tutorial to learn how to connect sentences together within pargraphs.

Below, you will see two versions of the same paragraph. While they have the same topic, they do not both use transitions in the same way. As you read them, compare how well ideas are connected. Are there any points where you become confused? Where might more transitions be helpful? Which one is overall more effective in conveying the main idea?

Paragraph #1

Two of the most famous American writers of the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were close friends who agreed on almost all issues. They differed in the ways they followed their beliefs. Both believed that people needed to follow their consciences. Their consciences went against the laws of the land. One way was with slavery. They believed it was immoral and should be outlawed. The primary reason for the war being against Mexico over Texas was to increase the number of states allowing slavery. They were opposed to that. Thoreau announced that his taxes were paying for an immoral war to support an immoral practice. He would no longer pay those taxes. He was arrested and put in jail. He was pleased to go to jail. He believed that if the people who believed as he did would do the same, slavery would be abolished quickly. Some unknown person paid his taxes, and he was released. He never go to test his theory. Emerson never did anything but speak and write against slavery and the war.

Paragraph #2

Two of the most famous American writers of the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were close friends who agreed on almost all issues, but they differed in the ways they followed their beliefs. Both believed that people needed to follow their consciences, even when their consciences went against the laws of the land. One of the ways in which their consciences spoke to them was with slavery, which they believed was immoral and should be outlawed. Because the primary reason for the war being against Mexico over Texas was to increase the number of states allowing slavery, they were opposed to that as well. The difference between Emerson and Thoreau can best be seen by what Thoreau did about it. He announced that because his taxes were paying for an immoral war to support an immoral practice, he would no longer pay those taxes. Consequently, he was arrested and put in jail. He was pleased to go to jail, however, for he believed that if the people who believed as he did would do the same, slavery would be abolished quickly. Unfortunately, some unknown person paid his taxes, and he was released, so he never go to test that theory. In contrast, Emerson never did anything but speak and write against slavery and the war.

Look back at the sample paragraphs in the previous section. Do you see how transitions help show how the paragraphs are organized?