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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME (SLO): Paragraphs should be logically organized and
focused.
DLA OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE: Student will be able to use transitions to emphasize organization of
major and supporting ideas in a paragraph.
TIME NEEDED TO COMPLETE: 30-45 minutes (You’ll need to complete the independent activity
IN THE WRITING CENTER, so be sure you’ve allotted enough time to do so.)
INSTRUCTIONS: Get DLA handout, look over directions, go to a work station (computer, desk)
to complete the independent activity, and then sign up with a tutor to review the activity.
INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY (20-30 minutes):
A. Review the attached handout USING TRANSITIONS.
B. Practice using what you’ve learned by completing Transition Exercise #1 and Transition
Exercise #2.
REVIEW WITH TUTOR: (10-15 minutes)
1. Go over your answers to the Transition Exercises #1 and #2 with the tutor. With assistance
from the tutor, identify and review any of the transitions that might still be giving you
problems.
2. If you have an essay from class, circle transitions that you’ve used. If you think you need
additional transitions, add them. Explain to the tutor how each transition functions in your
essay to signal what’s coming up next or to stress the organization of your ideas.
Student Name __________________________________________________________
Date _________________ Tutor Signature ___________________________________
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must complete all of the items in the Independent Activity portion of this DLA
before meeting with a tutor for the Review. If your instructor wants evidence of this completed DLA,
return this form to him or her with the tutor’s signature included.
Directed Learning Activity
Topic: Using Transitions
Course: English B
USING TRANSITIONS
Transitions are words that help the reader move smoothly from one idea to another. A transition acts
like a road sign or signal flag to let readers know where they are and to tell readers what to expect
coming up next in a paragraph or essay.
Uses of Transitions:
To emphasize the organization of your ideas (Examples: least to most important reasons, time order of an event). To emphasize the relationship of one idea to another (major point, example to illustrate a point, similar or opposite idea to the previous one)
Transitions to show overall ORGANIZATION of ideas:
Words to show main points: First, Second, Third, Finally First, Next, Last For one thing, For another thing, Finally First, More significant (important), Most significant (important) First, Even worse (better), Worst (Best) of all
Words to show examples : For example, For instance, Also, in addition, (to add another example) Another (to add another example)
First, Next, For one thing, For another thing,
For example, For instance, That is,
In addition, Also, Moreover, Furthermore
In conclusion, All in all, Truly, Yes,
Signals a major point will follow
Signals an example coming up
Signals the concluding point
Signals another similar example or idea to follow
Uses of Transitions:
- To emphasize the organization of your ideas (least important to most important reasons, time order of an event, etc.).
- To emphasize the relationship of one idea to another (major point, example to illustrate a point, similar or opposite idea to the previous one)
Correction Symbol: trans
Transition Exercise #
A. Look at the following outline for a one-paragraph essay that tells why Oktoberfest is the writer’s favorite holiday. Each major point in the outline—a reason why the writer likes this holiday--is indicated by a Roman numeral (I, II, III). Each major point is illustrated by 3 specific examples/pieces of information, labeled A, B, and C.
Paragraph Outline:
Topic Sentence: Oktoberfest is my favorite holiday.
I. Big Bear Tradition
A. Family always goes up to Big Bear Lake and rents a cabin
B. Oktoberfest parties at Convention Center
C. Activities for children and adults – everyone can enjoy
II. Crazy costumes
A. German costumes – men in lederhosen, women dressed as Bavarian beer garden waitresses
B. Crazy hats – chicken hats, alpine hats with a feather, beer hats
C. Silly necklaces
III. Entertainment
A. German band
B. Dances – polka, chicken dance, pizza hut dance
C. Contests – beer drinking, log sawing, stein holding
B. Now look at the following paragraph based on the outline. Notice how the transitions serve to emphasize the organization and relationships between the points and examples.
Key to Paragraph with Transitions Identified: Transitions that indicate major points (I, II, III on outline) are enclosed in boxes. Transitions that indicate examples and additional examples to illustrate the major points are underlined. The transition that identifies the conclusion is circled.
© LA Times
A Unique Holiday
Oktoberfest is my favorite holiday. One thing that I love about Oktoberfest is my family’s
tradition of going to Big Bear Lake for a weekend every October. We rent a cabin there so that
we can attend the Oktoberfest activities that go on at the Big Bear Convention Center all month.
The center has activities for children and adults, so everyone from my little cousins to my
grandparents can find something to enjoy. For example, German games, music, foods and drinks
are featured. Another thing that I love about Oktoberfest is the costumes people wear. For
instance, men and boys will dress up in lederhosen , which are leather shorts with built-in
suspenders to hold them up. Girls and women like to dress up as Bavarian beer garden
waitresses, like the woman on the St. Pauli beer label. People who don’t have a costume wear
crazy hats: chicken hats, alpine hats with a feather, and even hats with beer cans on them. Also,
people can purchase silly necklaces to wear. Last year, for example, my sister bought a necklace
with a rubber chicken hanging from it. The best thing about Oktoberfest is the entertainment.
For example, at least one band actually comes from Germany each year to play music at the
Convention Center, and even local bands play “oompah” music. Dancing to this music is a lot of
fun. Of course there is the traditional polka dancing; in addition, the chicken dance and the Pizza
Hut dance are very popular. Another source of entertainment is the contests. For instance, there
are beer drinking, log sawing, and stein holding contests for women and men. All in all, the
family tradition, costumes, and entertainment make Oktoberfest a unique holiday experience
that I look forward to every year.
C. Refer to the paragraph above to fill in the blanks.
- List the three transitions that signal a major idea:
_______________________ _______________________ ____________________
- List two transitions that signal an example:
________________________ _________________________
Sources for College Writing
Students can draw on a variety of sources to help them with writing assignments.
_____________________, they can draw on personal experiences. __________________,
for an assignment about communication skills, a writer might think about the way he or she
communicates through conversations with others while at work or at home.
_________________, a writer might look at ways he or she communicates with others
electronically via email or texting or Facebook. Students might _________________ find
examples of written communication skills by looking at skills they’ve learned for previous
writing assignments. _________________________, student writers can look for ideas
from other people’s experiences. _______________________, writers can interview other
students or even family members. ______________________, a writer may have heard
others talk about this topic, maybe in class. ___Another______ source would be
television shows on the topic of communication. __________________, college writers may
find that they need to do some research to complete an assignment. __________________,
lots of experts have written articles or books on the topic of communication skills.
______________________, a search of “communication skills” on the internet might
provide useful information; ____moreover___, reference librarians can help students
find research materials in special collections or databases. ______________, college writers
need to be able to draw on a combination of personal experience, observations of others,
and research materials to develop their written assignments.
Paragraph adapted from John Langan’s Exploring Writing: Sentences and Paragraphs , 2E.
first major idea example
additional example example
additional example
second major idea
example
third major idea
additional example
additional example
example
additional example
additional example
Transition Exercise #
Opposites
My cousins Joanne and Mary couldn’t be more different. First, Joanne is a total nonconformist.
For one thing, Joanne’s appearance is bizarre. For example, her hair is partially shaved and dyed pink,
and she’s covered in tattoos. In addition, her favorite clothes are ripped and have pictures on them of
things like skulls. Furthermore, Joanne has a wild personality. For instance, she’ll do outrageous things,
like the time she got her nose pierced. Another time, she hitchhiked to San Francisco at 2:00 a.m.
Finally, when it comes to interests, Joanne is really into music. She plays the guitar in a punk rock band,
and she loves to go to clubs and concerts to check out other bands. In contrast, Mary is the total
opposite of Joanne. For one thing, Mary’s appearance is very conservative. For instance, her naturally
blond hair is usually in a ponytail, and her favorite clothes are sweats or a soccer uniform. Unlike Joanne,
Mary is the type of person who likes to follow the rules. For example, she’s never missed a day of
school, and she can be relied on to be the designated driver any time she goes out to a party. Finally,
Mary is a jock. She plays almost every sport, but soccer is her favorite. When she’s not playing sports,
she’s watching them on television or in person. Truly, if I didn’t already know that Joanne and Mary are
cousins, I would never guess that they’re related to each other because they’re complete opposites.
- What three transitions introduce Joanne’s character traits: nonconformist, wild personality, interests?
_____________________ ___________________ ______________________
- List two transitions used in describing Mary that show contrast :
______________________ _______________________
- List two transitions used to introduce examples :
______________________ _______________________
- List two transitions used to add another example:
______________________ _______________________
- What transition is used to signal the conclusion? ________________________________
The following paragraph contrasts the writer’s two cousins. Three major differences are identified, and each of these is illustrated with several specific examples.
- Read the paragraph and circle any transitions.
- Then write the transitions in the appropriate blanks below.
