Westward Expansion Research Report 

2.  Learn about transitions.

Transitions are words and phrases that provide a connection between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. Transitions help to make a piece of writing flow better. They can turn disconnected pieces of ideas into a unified whole, and prevent a reader from getting lost in the essay. 

There are two kinds of transitions:

• Transitions between paragraphs: If you have done a good job of arranging paragraphs so that the content of one leads logically to the next, the transition will highlight a relationship that already exists by summarizing the previous paragraph and suggesting something of the content of the paragraph that follows. A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two (however, for example, similarly), a phrase, or a sentence. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places.

• Transitions within paragraphs: As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or short phrases.

SAMPLE TRANSITIONS

Similarity - also, in the same way, just as … so too, likewise, similarly

Exception/Contrast - but, however, in spite of, on the one hand … on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet

Sequence/Order - first, second, third, … next, then, finally

Time - after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then

Example - for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate

Emphasis - even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly

Place/Position - above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there

Cause and Effect - accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus

Additional Support or Evidence - additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then

Conclusion/Summary - finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary

4.  Add a heading (title) to your paragraph.

• Be creative.

• Do NOT just call it the name of your topic.

You will have 2 days to revise your first and second subtopics and complete your subtopic 3 paragraph, heading, picture, and caption.