Transitions and Coherence

1.

Transitions and
Coherence

2.

Coherence:
Means that a paragraph or group of sentences has a
smoothly developed train of thought— that is, one
idea follows from the previous idea and leads into
the next idea.
one idea
next idea
next idea

3.

Providing Coherence
1. Continuity in the developing
2. Continuity revealed by surface signals
3. More surface signals— logical connectors

4.

Providing Coherence
1. Continuity in the developing
Something old/something new
Picking up something old from a previous sentence
bridges the gap between sentences, while the something
new advances the idea being developed
Ex.
One important value in Brazilian culture is hospitality.
Hospitality to a Brazilian means essentially that your “door” is
always open to friends, relatives, and guests.

5.

Providing Coherence
2. Continuity revealed by surface signals
Need to bridge the gaps between ideas presented in
two clauses or between two sentences with surface
signals.

6.

Providing Coherence
3. More surface signals— logical connectors
• Pronouns as surface signals
Ex.
Many Japanese believe in the importance of teamwork.
They teach their children to think of the group first,
rather than their own individual needs.

7.

Providing Coherence
More Pronouns Examples:
Pronoun agreement (1st,2nd)3rd person: People in my culture will
share their goods and wealth with a poor widow’s family.
Demonstrative Pronoun (this, that, these, those): In a poor country,
generosity and sharing of one’s wealth are essential. These are
especially important values when a country has few government
services for the poor.
Pronoun Reference: When a father is gravely ill, he knows that
others in the village will care for his family.

8.

Coherence and Transitions
Logical Connectors
Logical connectors are also “surface signals” that bridge the
gap from one clause to another clause, from one sentence to
the next sentence, or from one group of sentences to the
next group of sentences.
Idea
Bridge
Idea

9.

Coherence and Transitions
The logical connector tells the reader directly the logical
relationship between the first idea and the second.
Ex.
Meir wanted to be a teacher; however, her parents wanted
her to get married.
However is the logical connector that tells the reader that
the logical relationship between the two ideas is Contrast.

10.

Coherence and Transitions
Transitions are connector words that show the
logical relationship between two clauses, between
two sentences, or between two groups of sentences.

11.

Coherence and Transitions
Using a Transition to Join Two independent
Clauses
One way of joining two independent clauses is with
a comma and a conjunction. But you can also join
two independent clauses with a transition.

12.

Coherence and Transitions
Using a Transition to Join Two independent
Clauses
Ex.
Meir wanted to be a teacher; furthermore, she became
prime minister of Israel.
*Punctuation here: When joining two independent clauses
with a transition a semicolon comes before the transition,
and a comma follows it.

13.

Coherence and Transitions
Using a transition to connect two sentences
First Sentence. Transition, Second Sentence.
Ex.
Meir’s parents did not think she should become a
teacher. However, her sister and brother-in-law gave
her the encouragement and support that she
needed to achieve her goal.

14.

Coherence and Transitions
You could also use the transition in the middle of
the second sentence.
Meir’s parents did not think she should become a
teacher. Her sister and brother-in-law, however, gave
her the encouragement and support that she
needed to achieve her goal.

15.

Coherence and Transitions
Using a transition to connect two groups of
sentences
Using a transition between groups of sentences is
particularly useful when you want to let the reader
know that you are shifting from one group of
sentences to another group of sentences.
Essentially, from one idea to the next idea.

16.

Coherence and Transitions
Using a transition to connect two groups of
sentences
Topic sentence
General statements
For example, ….
Specific example
Or
Topic sentence
General statements
Specific example
However,…
Contrasting example

17.

Logical Relationship
Transition
Addition
Moreover, Furthermore, In
addition, Besides
Contrast
Conversely, However, In Contrast,
nevertheless, Nonetheless, On the
contrary, On the other hand, Otherwise
Similarity
Likewise, Similarly
Result
Consequently, Thus, therefore,
Accordingly, hence, As a result
Reinforcement/Emphasis
Indeed, In fact
Time
Meanwhile, Subsequently
Exemplification
For Example, For instance, In
particular

18.

Transitions
Addition
Using a logical connector to convey that you are using the
second clause to add an additional idea to the first clause.
Meir’s parents wanted her to get a job; moreover, they
wanted her to get married.

19.

Transitions
Addition Practice
1. Meir wanted to go on to high school __________ she
wanted to become a teacher.
2. Meir knew that teaching would be satisfying for herself
__________ she knew that as a teacher she could help
children.

20.

Transitions
Contrast
Meir did not want to disobey her parents; however, she
knew that she needed an education.
Meir believed that a woman needed an education; in
contrast, her parents believed that a woman only needed to
get married.

21.

Transitions
Contrast
Meir’s parents thought she could be happy with Mr.
Goodstein; on the contrary, Meir knew she could not be
happy with a husband she did not love.
In Meir’s time, a woman could have a short career as a typist
or a shop clerk; otherwise, the focus of her life should be
marriage.

22.

Transitions
Contrast
However, On the other hand, and in contrast signal contrast;
each introduces a clause that is the opposite of the clause before
it.
Other contrast transitions, however, have very particular
meanings or are used only in certain situations.

23.

Transitions
Contrast
Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in particular “despite
that” (“that” being the idea just mentioned)
Sheyna and Shamai had very little money; nevertheless, they
decided to get married.

24.

Transitions
Contrast
Conversely means an opposite point of view, and it is most
commonly used to show the opposition of ideas or
opinions.
Meir’s mother thought Meir should become a typist;
conversely, Meir knew that she would die as a typist
hunched over a typewriter in a dingy office.

25.

Transitions
Contrast
On the contrary shows a strong opposition or
complete disagreement with what was said in
the previous clause.
Meir’s father believed that a woman should not be
too smart; on the contrary, Meir believed that a
woman should develop her mind.

26.

Transitions
Contrast Practice
1. Meir dreamed of becoming a teacher; however,
____________________________________________.
2. Meir wanted to please her parents; nevertheless,
_______________________________.

27.

Transitions
Similarity
Likewise, similarly
The idea in the second clause is similar to that in the first.
Ex.
Meir dreamed of her future as a teacher; likewise, Regina and
Sarah talked endlessly about what they would do when they grew
up.
Regina supported Meir’s decision to become independent;
similarly, Sheyna and Shamai wrote of their approval in letters
from Denver.

28.

Transitions
Result
Consequently, thus, therefore, accordingly, hence, as a result
Tells the reader that the first clause gives the cause and the
second gives the result.
Clause signaling cause; transition, clause signaling result.
Ex.
Meir’s parents thought she should marry someone “substantial”;
therefore, they chose for her the well-to-do Mr. Goodstein.

29.

Transitions
Reinforcement or Emphasis
Indeed, in fact
The second idea adds emphasis or reinforcement to the
first.
Ex.
Meir was pleased by Sheyna and Shamal’s invitation to
come to Denver; indeed, their offer was to her a lifeline that
she grabbed.

30.

Transitions
Time
Same time as – Meanwhile
Afterward – Subsequently
Ex.
Meir sat at the kitchen table planning her escape meanwhile, her
parents drank tea and talked.
Meir arrived at the train station at 5 A.M.; subsequently, she
found out that the Denver train didn’t leave until 7 A.M.
What is the meaning of each transition?

31.

Transitions
Exemplification
For example, for instance, in particular
Ex.
Meir’s life at home became intolerable; for example, she
and her parents had many arguments.
Which clause is the more general statement? Which is the
more specific statement?

32.

General Guidelines
Transitions can go at the end of 1
next.
paragraph or the beginning of the
Transitions can be their own sentence, or
topic/clincher sentences.
they can be part of your
Vary your transitional words (look online for more ideas)
When you move from 1 R to the next, you will need a larger/more
significant transition
Numbering your paragraphs does NOT count.
(The first reason…The second reason…)
Nor does merely putting a transition word in front of your topic
sentence

33.

References
Bates, Linda. Transitions: An Interactive Reading,
Writing, and Grammar Text. 2nd Ed. New York: St.
Martins Press, 1997. Print.

34.

Entering the Conversation
To make an impact as a writer you make statements that are:
Logical
Well-supported
Consistent
*ALSO, you must find a way to enter a conversation with others’ views–with
something “they say”

35.

They SAY, I Say

36.

Entering the Conversation
If your argument doesn’t identify the “they say” you are responding to, then it probably won’t
make sense:
What you are saying may be clear to the audience, but why you are saying it won’t be
Example: “The characters in The Sopranos are very complex.”

37.

Entering the Conversation
Your own argument–the “I say” moment of your text–should
always be a response to the arguments of others.
Ex.
“Some say that The Sopranos presents caricatures of Italian Americans. In
fact, however, the characters in the series are very complex.”

38.

Entering the Conversation
Templates for agreement:
She argues______, and I agree because_____.
Her argument that ______ is supported by new research showing that _______.

39.

Entering the Conversation
Template for disagreeing:
While she argues ______, I disagree because_______.
The argument he proposes, while persuasive, is inaccurate because______.

40.

Entering the Conversation
Template for conceding and rebutting:
He claims that _______, and I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I
agree that ______. On the other hand, I still insist that_______.
Although I grant that ____, I still maintain that _____.

41.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The
Question
Paraphrase: “translates a short passage from a source into the writer’s own
words” (372 Writing Arguments).

42.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The
Question
When to paraphrase:
When wanting to use specific information from a brief passage in the source
When you do not want to interfere with the flow of your own writing by inserting a
quote
*Be sure to avoid original writer’s grammatical structure and syntax.

43.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The
Question
What to remember when paraphrasing:
Suspend your own beliefs for a time by putting
yourself in the position of the author whose passage
your are paraphrasing, so as not to misrepresent their
message
Keep in mind your own argument so it fits into your
own agenda
Use signal verbs that fit the action:
“urge,” “emphasize,” “insist”

44.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The
Question
When to Quote:
When quoting will strengthen your own argument
Comes from a respected authority
When summarizing an opposing/alternative view and
want to use brief quotations to illustrate accuracy
To give readers a sense of the source’s voice
To analyze the writer’s choice of words or metaphors

45.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The Question
What to remember when quoting:
Quote relevant passages
Frame every quotation (insert it into a “quotation sandwich”)
Statement introducing it as top slice of bread
Explanation following it as the bottom slice of bread

46.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The
Question
Templates for Introducing Quotations (top slice
of bread):
X states, “______.”
In X’s view, “_______.”
According to X, _____.”

47.

To Paraphrase Or To Quote, That Is The
Question
Templates for Explaining Quotations(bottom slice of bread):
Basically, X is saying ______.
In other words, X believes _______.
In making this comment, X argues that ______.