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Cohesion and Transitions

Author: Sophia
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what's covered
In this lesson, you will learn about using transition words and phrases to make your writing feel more cohesive. Specifically, this lesson will cover:

Table of Contents

1. Cohesion

One approach to big-picture revising is to check the overall structure of the paper as you move from paragraph to paragraph. You can list each paragraph and check that its content relates to the purpose and thesis statement. Each paragraph should have one main point that supports the overall argument. Ask yourself how well the rhetorical devices you use (evidence, examples, emotional appeals) are effective in making your case and persuading the reader. Be sure your paragraphs flow logically from one to the other without distracting gaps or inconsistencies.

When revising, make sure the larger elements of the piece are as you want them to be before you revise individual sentences and make smaller changes. If you make small changes first, they might not fit well with the big picture later on. Here are some other suggestions:

  • Read aloud to hear awkward phrasing or unclear sentences.
  • Outline your draft after writing to see how ideas are organized and whether any sections are off-topic. This is sometimes called a reverse outline because it comes after the initial draft. Giving a quick summary of each paragraph (even a phrase rather than a sentence) in a fresh outline can help you see when you switch topics.
  • Ask “So what?” at the end of each paragraph. If the answer isn’t clear, that paragraph may need a stronger connection to your thesis.
  • Solicit feedback from peers or instructors and look for patterns in their responses.

2. Transitions

A paragraph flows when ideas are organized logically and sentences move smoothly from one to the next. Transitional words and phrases help your writing flow by signaling to readers what is coming in the next sentence. Transitional words and phrases show the connections or relationships between sentences and paragraphs and help your writing flow smoothly from one idea to the next.

To organize your paper most effectively, use transitional words or phrases, which show readers the relationship between different ideas—that is, how ideas connect with or are separate from each other. In the paragraph below, transitional words and phrases are underlined.

Take a look at the paragraph below, as the transitional words and phrases are underlined.

EXAMPLE

To get a copy of your transcript from Abbott Community College, first log on to the college website. Next, click the “Transcript” link to the left of the college logo. When the link opens, fill out the information requested in the boxes. Then upload a copy of your student ID and pay $10 electronically. Finally, submit your form. Your transcript will be emailed to you, but you may have to wait up to three days before you receive it.

The transitional words and phrases show readers the sequence of steps students need to follow to get a transcript. If you remove the transitional words and phrases, the paragraph would be choppy, and readers might not follow the steps as easily.

Transitions also help guide readers between paragraphs. The strongest transitions tell readers what the next part of the paper is going to be doing. Is it an example of what you just said? Then, saying “for example” gives your reader a sense of what will come next. “A related, but even more important point” tells your reader they really need to pay attention to what is coming up. If you create a reverse outline as we recommended during the revision stage, you can use that as a map for coming up with transition phrases. If you write out single words that describe the relationship between paragraphs (example, counterargument, or comparison), you can use those to build strong transitions.

Transitional words and phrases and their functions in paragraphs
Types of Transition Transitional Words/Phrases Example
Addition again, and, further, in addition, next, then, also, as well as People living in low-income neighborhoods often have little flexibility at work. In addition, transportation can be a challenge.
Cause or Effect accordingly, consequently, for this reason, hence, therefore, thus, as a result Low-income communities often have less access to health care. Consequently, those living there tend to have poorer health outcomes.
Amplification again, also, apparently, first (second, third), moreover, indeed, more, most, in fact Doctors in underserved neighborhoods often treat conditions outside their expertise. In fact, the lack of access to specialists can be deadly.
Chronology after, before, during, earlier, finally, first (second, third), immediately, last, next, then, later Before they are treated, patients can be provided with virtual education.
Concession or Agreement although, at least, at any rate, certainly, (even) though, in spite of, of course, still, nevertheless, nonetheless It can be difficult to reach underserved communities; nevertheless, it is an important mission for global health.
Comparison or Contrast at the same time, comparatively, conversely, however, instead, likewise, moreover, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, rather, similarly, still, yet, despite Preventive medical screening saw a decline during the last decade. However, in recent years, the rates have begun to rebound.
Detail including, in particular, namely, specifically, to list There are many methods of patient education, including print, verbal explanations, and technology-enhanced animations.
Emphasis or Clarification above all, again, certainly, especially, furthermore, in fact, particularly, indeed Increasing all aspects of healthcare accessibility is important, but above all, access to obstetric care should be increased.
Example chiefly, for example (instance), in other words, in particular, mainly, specifically Smaller clinics serving low-income neighborhoods face challenges. For instance, they frequently struggle financially.
Intention for this purpose, in order to do this, to this end, with this in mind Health care institutions must make smart choices regarding costs. In order to do this, they must consider staffing and technology.
Location above, along, behind, below, here, near, next to, opposite, to the left (right) of, under The places with the greatest shortage of doctors tend to also be the poorest communities. Patients there often forgo routine medical checkups.
Summary finally, in conclusion, in short, in other words, thus While increasing access to quality healthcare for all is a challenge, it is a worthy one. In short, all people deserve access to healthcare.

Let’s take a look at a body paragraph a student wrote about the need for a traffic light at a street that leads into his college.

IN CONTEXT
Revising With Transitions

The first version has no transitions.

Many vehicles speed through the intersection without regard to the posted speed limit. A traffic signal would make vehicles slow down. They would not be able to speed through the signal.

Pedestrian safety is a problem. Many students and others cross this intersection when coming to or leaving campus, and they must dodge traffic to get across. A traffic signal would allow them to cross at appropriate times.

The amount of traffic has increased dramatically. A manufacturing plant opened four blocks from the intersection. The number of businesses in the strip mall at the intersection has grown by 50%. The college has changed its traffic routing for football games. Fans must enter via this intersection.

The most compelling reason to install a traffic signal is that the number of accidents has risen far past an acceptable limit. According to recent police reports, a traffic accident occurs at least three times a month. One accident resulted in a loss of life.

The student then added transitions and changed the wording accordingly to help readers follow his ideas. The underlined transitions at the beginning of each paragraph alert readers to the four reasons he presents and to where he changes from one to another. The underlined transitions within the paragraphs help readers understand the relationship of ideas.

The main problem is that many vehicles speed through the intersection without regard to the posted speed limit. A traffic signal would make vehicles slow down, since they would not be able to speed through the signal.

While there are occasional fender benders, pedestrian safety is a bigger problem. Many students and others cross this intersection when coming to or leaving campus, and now they must dodge traffic to get across. A traffic signal would allow them to cross at appropriate times.

Another reason to install the traffic signal has to do with the amount of traffic, which has increased dramatically in recent years. Two years ago, a manufacturing plant opened four blocks from the intersection. In the past 16 months, the number of businesses in the strip mall at the intersection grew by 50%. Furthermore, the college has changed its traffic routing for football games, and now fans must enter via this intersection.

Finally, the most compelling reason to install a traffic signal is that the number of accidents has risen far past an acceptable limit. According to recent police reports, a traffic accident occurs at that intersection at least three times a month. In fact, one of those accidents resulted in a loss of life.

3. Sentence Combining

This section will help you write strong sentences that convey your meaning clearly and concisely. Sentence combining is an often-used revision strategy that can completely transform a narrative. When writers compose early drafts with many short sentences rather than more sophisticated efforts at varied or complex sentence construction, the writing appears choppy and disjointed. Once you have a complete draft of your essay, consider combining sentences to provide your audience with more effective and nuanced ways of reading your work.

You can combine short, repetitive sentences into a simple sentence with a compound predicate or subject.

EXAMPLE

Original: I learned to play piano. I was 5 years old. Learning to play piano is my literacy experience. Memorizing the location of the keys is also my literacy experience.

Combined Sentences: Learning to play piano at the age of 5 and memorizing the location of the keys are my literacy experiences.

Or you can combine the shorter sentences into a complex sentence with a dependent clause.

EXAMPLE

Original: I learned to read in first grade. Learning to read made me want to be a teacher. I want to share my experience with reading with future first graders.

Combined Sentences: Learning to read as a first grader made me want to become a teacher so that I could share my experiences with future first graders.

Read through the draft of your essay, and look for sentences that are closely related enough that they can be combined for richer meaning. However, keep in mind that short sentences can be effective in your writing, especially when you want to create realistic dialogue or show action. Strive to create a balance among sentence lengths and types to engage your audience. Remember, too, that the best test of whether words are pulling their own weight and providing rhythm, balance, and emphasis is to read the passage aloud. Let your ear tell you what is sharp and clear and what could benefit from editing.

summary
In this lesson, you learned how to strengthen your academic writing. Cohesion ensures that your ideas are clearly connected and consistently support your thesis throughout the draft. Techniques such as reverse outlining, asking “So what?” after each paragraph, and reading aloud help identify weak or off-topic sections. You’ve also learned the importance of using transitions to guide your reader smoothly from one idea to the next. Transitional words and phrases clarify relationships between sentences and paragraphs, making your writing more organized and easier to follow.

Additionally, you explored how sentence combining improves clarity and flow by turning choppy, repetitive sentences into more complex and engaging structures. Whether through compound or complex sentence forms, combining ideas helps maintain reader interest and conveys meaning more effectively. Together, these revision strategies help you craft writing that is coherent, persuasive, and polished.

Source: This tutorial has been adapted from OpenStax "Writing Guide". Access for free at openstax.org/books/writing-guide/pages/1-introduction . License: Creative commons attribution 4.0 international

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