Sometimes the jump between two paragraphs or sentences can be difficult or awkward. You want to help your readers through your text as much as possible. Transitions help to smooth the way for your readers so they don't have to supply the connections between your ideas. At their best, transitions should be invisible to the reader—like punctuation. Here are some common sorts of transitions:

• Repeat key words or ideas from the thesis statement or essay map in the topic sentences of subsequent paragraphs. The repetition should reinforce your main points.
• Begin introducing the topic of the next paragraph in the final sentence of the previous paragraph, and again echo key words. This helps paragraphs seem to flow naturally from one to the other.

Specific Transition Words: (from Ideas and Details, by M. Garrett Bauman)

• Time Transitions: now, then, before, afterwards.
• Space Transitions: nearby, further down the hallway, behind the door.
• Contrast Transitions: however, despite this, although the source says.
• Example Transitions: for example, in fact, for instance.
• Addition Transitions: in addition, besides, also.
• Concluding Transitions: thus, therefore, finally.
• Place Marker Transitions: (to move reader from point to point): second, next, lastly.

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