Transitions: Paper is literally a path…a path through the evolution of your thought. Like any

trip, we need markers to let us know where we have been and where we are going. Stop

signs, street lights, even advertising markers for attractions. Transitions should be used

purposefully, so you will need to consider which ones will most precisely articulate the

relationship between your ideas.

1. Spatio-Temporal: These demonstrate connections based on time, consequence, and

proximity.

● Sequence: First, Next, Third, Finally,

● Sequence: After, Before, Immediately, Later, Meanwhile, Occasionally, Soon

(All paragraphs point toward a central thing from which they emerge)

● Consequence: Consequently, Since, Thus, Therefore, By consequence, As a

result (something is interdependent on what came before or what comes after)

● Proximity: Above, adjacent, adjoining, beyond, far, here, near, there (These

are likely to function as prepositions too)

2. Evaluative: These indicate that your paragraph is demonstrating or proving something

is true, in terms of its scope and scale.

● Attribution: Citing an authority, Introducing evidence: X states, Y points

out, X opines, Y notes, X argues

● Purpose: in order that, in order to, intending to, so that

● Illustration: For example, For instance, Specifically, to

Demonstrate

● Emphasis: by all means, certainly, indeed, in fact, no doubt, of course, surely

● Comparison/Contrast: In contrast, However, Nevertheless,

Similarly, Likewise, Since, but, conversely, despite, on the other hand,

comparably, in the same way, likewise, similarly

● Counter-Argument: granted that, naturally, of course, to be sure

● Reinforce or intensify a point: Moreover, Furthermore,

Additionally, In addition, again, also, and, as well, besides

● Clarification: i.e., in other words, that is to say, to put it another way

● Summarize: In sum, In conclusion, As a result, briefly, in the final

analysis, to summarize, to sum up

Qualifiers also describe the limits of a claim.

Arguers must qualify their claims by:

1) explaining under which circumstances the claim is true

2) estimating the probability that a claim is true

Circumstantial Qualifiers

absolutely

probably

possibly

most of the time

seldom

regularly

never

usually

generally

least

Probability Qualifiers

occasionally

always

sometimes

as a rule

typically

hardly ever

potentially

tentatively

often

frequently