EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS

Transitions facilitate the clear transfer of information by providing a smooth flow between the sentences, paragraphs, and sections of the paper or essay.

TO EMPHASIZE A POINT
for this reason with this in mind frequently to repeat Important to realize to point out Indeed significant that In fact to emphasize Most compelling evidence truly

To show location
Above Across Amid To the left Down Back of Around In the center of Beyond Alongside

To contrast items
Although Otherwise Even so Nevertheless As opposed to On the contrary However Conversely In spite of this In the meantime

To compare items
Accordingly Likewise In the same way Also In conjunction with Comparable to As Just as

To show time
After/before Third Immediately Prior to During Soon Until Meanwhile Last/next As soon as

To clarify
For example For instance In other words Put another way To illustrate the point Stated differently To clarify That is Simply stated

To add information
Additionally Along with Further Another Equally important In addition As well moreover

To conclude or summarize
Accordingly Consequently In closing In short All in all Therefore To conclude As a result Thus lastly

METHODS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT

Narration
Use narration to establish a series of events that tells the reader what happened. It tells a coherent story or a part of a story. It follows a chronological order, but it may also contain flashbacks interruptions that take the story back to an earlier time. This pattern or time line is usually easy to understand. Note the use of transitional words such as first, next, then, after, etc.

Description
Use description to provide a physical picture or a functional view of the topic. Physical description sketches a portrait of a person, place, or thing by identifying the shapes, materials, position, and functions of its subject. Use concrete and specific words that appeal to one or more of the readers sensessight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

Comparison and Contrast

Use comparison and contrast to develop a topic by examining its similarities or differences to another thing, process, or state. Comparison emphasizes the similarities, contrast the differences.
You may use both comparison and contrast in a paragraph. The two subjects may be presented one at a time, or a paragraph may proceed point by point, treating the two subjects together, one aspect at a time.

Definition
Use definition when you want to set working generalizations that will help control the meaning and scope of important terms. A definition puts a word or concept into a general class and then provides details to distinguish it from others in the same class. Extended definitions make use of other patterns of development like examples, comparison or contrast, etc.

Argumentation
This involves the presentation of your stand on a certain issue. It should also present opposing statements or the cons of the issue. An argumentative essay should consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic.

Cause and Effect

Use cause and effect in paragraphs when you are tracking the development of one situation out of another. It analyzes how events are influenced by or caused by othersthe linkage of causation. The effect may be stated in the topic sentence, with the causes listed in the body of the paragraph. Or it may move from cause to effects.