Improve Writing Skills with Transitional Words & Phrases

Creating Coherence Between Sentences & Paragraphs Coherence is the glue that holds ideas in place within paragraphs. Transition words and phrases provide a connection between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. They improve the flow of ideas and guide the reader toward a clear understanding of the writer s intent. This month, help your students improve their writing and revising skills with the use of transitional words and phrases. These revising concepts are directly from your guides. For more in depth teaching of these skills, refer back to your ER grade level guide for powerpoints, activities, and more! Feel free to make this your own by practicing a few each day to start off your class, during your tutorials or review time, or you can assign it to individual students to work on at their own pace. Be sure to check out the Combining Sentences Game that practices using conjunctions in compound and complex sentences!

Transitions in Paragraphs Let s Practice Transitions between sentences connect ideas and help to Transitions between sentences connect ideas and help to create a logical flow. In the following examples, A create a logical flow. In the following examples, A represents the first sentence in the paragraph and B represents the first sentence in the paragraph and B represents the second sentence. Revise sentence B using represents the second sentence. Revise sentence B using a transition words or phrases from the suggestion. a transition words or phrases from the suggestion. 1. 1. Choose a transition that expresses an example: Choose a transition that expresses an example: A. Most middle schoolers like to read about books that resonate with A. Most middle schoolers like to read about books that resonate with their own life. their own life. B. Themes like identity and friendship are among the favorites. B. Themes like identity and friendship are among the favorites. 2. 2. Choose a transition to express an alternate or different Choose a transition to express an alternate or different idea: idea: A. Middle grade chapter books are usually longer in length, A. Middle grade chapter books are usually longer in length, averaging 30,000 to 50,000 words. averaging 30,000 to 50,000 words. B. Some authors like Torrey Maldonado write shorter novels. B. Some authors like Torrey Maldonado write shorter novels.

Cause & Effect Click the wheel Click the wheel below to spin: Use the transition word to express a cause and effect with one of the topics on the next slide. TEACHERS: The link will open the spinner in another tab. You will have to switch back and forth from the spinner to the topic list, or put the topics to write about on a chart paper or white board prior to the lesson. I stayed up late to finish my favorite book. I stayed up late to finish my favorite book. Consequently, slept through my alarm the following day. slept through my alarm the following day. Consequently, I I

Topics to Write About Use the transition word and topic of choice Use the transition word and topic of choice to create a complete sentence. to create a complete sentence. Playing a sport Reading a favorite book Watching a scary movie Making a PB&J Making a plan for the future Playing video games Going to the mall

Location Click the wheel Click the wheel below to spin: Use the transition word to show location within the sentence about one of the topics on the next slide. TEACHERS: The link will open the spinner in another tab. You will have to switch back and forth from the spinner to the topic list, or put the topics to write about on a chart paper or white board prior to the lesson. My team scored the winning goal. My team scored the winning goal. In the background could hear the crowd cheering loudly. could hear the crowd cheering loudly. In the background, I , I

Topics to Write About Use the transition word and topic of choice Use the transition word and topic of choice to create a complete sentence. to create a complete sentence. Playing a sport Reading a favorite book Watching a scary movie Making a PB&J Making a plan for the future Playing video games Going to the mall

Additional Ideas/ Agreement Click the wheel Click the wheel below to spin:Use the transition word to show agreement within the sentence about one of the topics on the next slide. TEACHERS: The link will open the spinner in another tab. You will have to switch back and forth from the spinner to the topic list, or put the topics to write about on a chart paper or white board prior to the lesson. As soon as the eerie music began to play on the movie I As soon as the eerie music began to play on the movie I was watching I jumped in my seat! was watching I jumped in my seat! Of course spilled my popcorn. spilled my popcorn. Of course, I also , I also

Topics to Write About Use the transition word and topic of choice Use the transition word and topic of choice to create a complete sentence. to create a complete sentence. Playing a sport Reading a favorite book Watching a scary movie Making a PB&J Making a plan for the future Playing video games Going to the mall

Alternate Ideas/ Disagreement Click the wheel Click the wheel below to spin: Use the transition word to show disagreement within the sentence about one of the topics on the next slide. TEACHERS: The link will open the spinner in another tab. You will have to switch back and forth from the spinner to the topic list, or put the topics to write about on a chart paper or white board prior to the lesson. I couldn t wait to go shopping at the mall. I couldn t wait to go shopping at the mall. However I didn t have enough money to buy the shoes I I didn t have enough money to buy the shoes I wanted. wanted. However, ,

Topics to Write About Use the transition word and topic of choice Use the transition word and topic of choice to create a complete sentence. to create a complete sentence. Playing a sport Reading a favorite book Watching a scary movie Making a PB&J Making a plan for the future Playing video games Going to the mall

To Show An Example Click the wheel Click the wheel below to spin: Use the transition word to show an example within the sentence about one of the topics on the next slide. TEACHERS: The link will open the spinner in another tab. You will have to switch back and forth from the spinner to the topic list, or put the topics to write about on a chart paper or white board prior to the lesson. I think it would be amazing to get to travel to I think it would be amazing to get to travel to different countries. different countries. For example For example, I would love to backpack across Europe. backpack across Europe. , I would love to

Topics to Write About Use the transition word and topic of choice Use the transition word and topic of choice to create a complete sentence. to create a complete sentence. Playing a sport Reading a favorite book Watching a scary movie Making a PB&J Making a plan for the future Playing video games Going to the mall

Creating Coherence Between Paragraphs Coherence describes the transition between paragraphs in any genre, informational, opinion, argument, or narrative. This segue from idea to idea is performed by transition words or phrases. Transitions should clarify the connection between ideas, not patch up structural mistakes. Editor s Eye: Editor s Eye: When revising to improve coherence between paragraphs we can ask: What type of transition do I need between paragraphs? If the paragraphs are arranged so that the content flows logically from one to the next, the transition will highlight the relationship between them by summing up the previous paragraph and suggesting the content of the following paragraph. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places.

Transitions Between Paragraphs Let s Practice Transitions between paragraphs connect ideas and help Transitions between paragraphs connect ideas and help to create a logical flow. In the following examples, A to create a logical flow. In the following examples, A represents the last sentence in paragraph one. B represents the last sentence in paragraph one. B represents the first sentence of paragraph two. Revise represents the first sentence of paragraph two. Revise sentence B using one of the suggested transition words sentence B using one of the suggested transition words or phrases or phrases 1. Choose a transition that shows cause and effect: 1. Choose a transition that shows cause and effect: A. In the novel, a raging storm disrupts the main character s travels. A. In the novel, a raging storm disrupts the main character s travels. B. She spends the next day attempting to reach the airport. B. She spends the next day attempting to reach the airport. 2. Choose a transition that indicates location: 2. Choose a transition that indicates location: A. On Shadow Point, the airport is located on the south shore. A. On Shadow Point, the airport is located on the south shore. B. At the tip of the peninsula is a lighthouse. B. At the tip of the peninsula is a lighthouse.

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate transitional word or phrase to connect the sentences Fill in the blanks with an appropriate transitional word or phrase to connect the sentences within the paragraph.. within the paragraph.. The author has also forgot to create each main idea paragraph and has written all three The author has also forgot to create each main idea paragraph and has written all three main ideas into one body paragraph. Using the main ideas into one body paragraph. Using the paragraph, and use a transitional word or phrase to create coherence between the new paragraph, and use a transitional word or phrase to create coherence between the new paragraphs. paragraphs. BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN Who would you choose to save you from the clutches of an evil villain? Would you opt for Batman to sweep you to safety in his supremely sleek batmobile? Or, perhaps you d prefer to have Superman fly to your rescue? Of course, both superheroes are up to the job. They ve faced down bad guys in hundreds of comic books, on television and even on the silver screen. Whether you re a tried and true Batman fan or a diehard Superman fanatic, you ve got to admit that the two have some interesting similarities and other striking differences. Let s examine both as we take a look at their childhoods, their superpowers and their alter egos. split each main idea into its own split each main idea into its own _______Batman was born an ordinary earthling, Superman hails from planet Krypton. Like the epic heroes of Greek mythology, both had traumatic events in their early childhoods that inspired them to greatness. Batman witnessed the murder of his parents as a boy and vowed to devote his life to fighting crime. As a baby, the Man of Steel saw the destruction of his home planet and survived only because his father sent him skyrocketing to earth in a space capsule. Batman was raised by his butler, Alfred in gloomy Gotham City, ______ Superman was adopted by a farmer and spent his childhood in the pastoral peace of Smallville, Kansas where he grew up determined to use his powers to promote justice. _______ Batman and Superman are mighty forces against evil, but only Superman has true superpowers. As we all know, he is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. ______ has x-ray vision and supersonic lungs. The amazing alien can inhale and exhale with enough force to extinguish a forest fire or move heavy objects out of his way. Batman has none of these gifts. I_____ , the Caped Crusader depends on his super- human intelligence and awesome gadgetry. Criminals beware. His batcave is filled with advanced crime-fighting equipment of his own design. ______ are the bat-rope that he uses to climb tall buildings and the Batcopter, which is tricked out with Bat-pontoons for water landings. __________Superman and Batman have alter-egos that allow them to interact with mere mortals whenever they please. Batman s Bruce Wayne is tall, dark and handsome. Rich and sophisticated, he runs a big business and gives generously to charity. The moody aristocrat catches the eye of many a society belle, but prefers the company of his trusted sidekick Robin and,______, Alfred. Superman masquerades as Clark Kent, a small-town boy making a home for himself in the city of Metropolis. He wears thick, black-framed glasses and works hard as a newspaper reporter, _____ he has yet to fully earn the respect of his editor. Clark is an honest man who is often forced to lie in order to mask his true identity, especially when he s late to work. That s not something Bruce Wayne worries about since he s the boss! Isn t it fun to look at the early childhoods, the extraordinary powers and the distinctly different alter egos these two classic superheroes? Without a doubt, Batman and Superman are unique individuals who happen to share some special characteristics.