Transitions to improve Organization Transitions Also called

Transitions to improve Organization

Transitions Also called “connectors” or “signal words” Good writers use a transition each time he or she introduces a new idea

Expository Paragraphs Need Transitions are the glue for the key ideas.

Expository Paragraphs Need Transitions: Introduce new ideas Help the writer and the reader follow your ideas Connect reasons, details, or facts within a paragraph Are determined by the purpose of writing

Transitions can… • • • Give instructions Make a point Show things are alike Show things are different Add information Indicate time Show place or location Explain a problem Explain a process Explain a cause or an effect Conclude

Basic Transition sets One way- Another way First- Another- Next First-Second- Third The first-The second One –Then- Another One- Also One example- Another example A good- A better-The best One- Another- Finally First of all- Second- Last First of all- In addition- Finally

More sophisticated transition sets • • • One- One other- Along with-last First- In addition-Equally important At first- After One- Equally important To begin- Then- Consequently It started when- As a result- Then- Thereafter At the beginning- Then- Following this -Finally One important- Another important- The most important Initially- Then- After that As soon as- Next- Later- In the end To begin- At the same time- Finally To start- Furthermore-Additionally-Last

Vary Your Transitions First, a new student should get organized. Not- First is…. Change it to: One important skill for a new student is to get organized. Bury Your Transitions Inside the sentence Change it to: Getting organized is one important skill for a new student.

Vary and Bury Your Transitions Instead of: Second, a new student should develop study habits. Try to Vary and Bury: Developing study habits is another key to success.

Sample Paragraph Identify the transitions The Flood of ’ 93 By Ty Alexander (8 th grade) Although I did not know much about the flood of ’ 93, I know a few things after reading many articles on this topic. First, I learned that many kids were affected by the flood. Many kids were upset because they saw their parents under lots of stress. They also were forced to leave their homes, friends, and everything lese they owned including their valuables. Those who seemed most affected were between the ages of 6 and 13. Second, I saw that thousands of acres of crops were destroyed. SO many crops were lost because the flood covered the fields where the crops were growing. Some people estimate that 4 million dollars worth of crops were lost. Farmers hope to get some compensation from the government. Third, I learned about the Mississippi River. During the flood the river was over three times fuller than usual. In places the river covered land over three miles away from the bank. Last, those in charge of clean up say the flood did about 10 million dollars worth of damage. The flood has certainly had an effect on people and the environment.

Sample Paragraph Identify the transitions The Effects of Child Abuse According to Information From One Child By Laura Bush (eight grade) Although One Child by Torey L. Hayden is a sad story, it conveys many important points about child abuse. To begin, I learned begin that child abuse sometimes makes children hide their real feelings. In the book, one example is when Sheila doesn’t want to show love and instead doesn’t show any feelings at all. Another example is when Sheila hides her true self by acting terrible. Following this, children may this keep their feelings inside thinking that this will make them a better person. Sheila thought that if she never cried, her father would never hurt her because she was not showing that she was hurt herself. She told Torey “I don’t cry. Ain’t nobody can hurt me that way. They don’t know if I hurt if I don’t cry. ” A child consequently may feel bad or not feel wanted because of what the abuser says or does. An example of this is when Shelia tells Torey that she was a bad girl and that is why her mother left her and took her brother away. For a long time Sheila was led to believe that this was true, and that her father also thought she was a bad girl. Obviously, Torey Hayden’s book communicates many important points about child abuse.

Group Activity Highlight the existing transitions Revise to Vary & Bury the transitions You will write your changes on the board.

Example work sheet (Group-Handout) Example 1 Saturdays With My Family and Our Dog, Jake On Saturdays I like to do two things. First, I like to sleep in because I usually stay up late on Friday night. Second, I like to take walks in the park with my family and our dog, Jake. Saturdays are great. Example 2 Chores Although I do not like to do chores, I must do them to earn my allowance. First, I take out the trash. Second is empty the dishwasher. Finally every week I must pick up the mess in my room. I definitely do not like to do chores but I do like spending my allowance. Example 3 Good Friends When I am with my friends, we have a great time. First of all, we like to laugh. We tell stories and laugh at all the silly parts of our stories. Second, sometimes we go shopping together. We might buy things or we might just look around. Third, my friends and I also play games. Our favorite game is hide-n-seek. Finally, we like to watch videos together.

Example work sheet (Individual- Handout) Example 4 Ways of Meeting Oppression Oppressed people deal with their oppression in three ways. First is acquiescence: the oppressed resign themselves to their doom… Second, oppressed people sometimes deal with oppression by resorting to physical violence and corroding hatred…Third, oppressed people in their quest for freedom practice nonviolent resistance… Example 5 The Fall of Rome Historians have long been fascinated by the fall of the Roman Empire and the causes of the fall. Although at one time most historians blamed the invasions of barbarians for Rome’s collapse, a more careful study shows that Rome has long contained seeds of its own destruction. First, the economy of Rome was in serious disorder. Historian Max Weber argues that the decline of slavery and cities couple wit the development of self-sufficient manors left the city-based governments in poverty. Second, wealthy Romans indulged in unheard-of luxury, widening the gap between the social classes. Third, another historian, Mikial Rostovtzeff, adds to the causes of Rome’s collapse as intellectual crisis. He claims that the influx of conquered nationalities “barbarized” Rome sapping it of its intellectual vigor. Last, Rome’s political structure was in disarray. Uncertainty over who held the ruling power, the people or the nobles in the Senate, led to revolutions and massacres. Example 6 Edith Ann: My Life, So Far You know what happens when you get angry? First, your face gets just like a fist. Then your heart gets like a bunch of bees that fly by and sting your brain in the front. Your eyes are like two dark clouds looking for trouble. Your blood is like a tornado. And then you have bad weather inside your body.