As you write an informative report, you need to move from one point to the next. If you just jump right in, leaping from idea to idea, though, your writing will appear "choppy," or disconnected. Your goal is to move smoothly from one idea to the next, and that calls for transitions. A good transition connects ideas by having one paragraph reference the next.
One way to do this is to have the first paragraph make a reference to what is coming in the next one. The following passage begins with the end of a paragraph about the pure country joys of the modern family farm, and ends with a suggestion of things to come (in bold) in the next paragraph, which is about technology on the modern family farm.
Living on a farm, with fresh air and open spaces, depending on the whims of nature to make a living, may seem like a long-ago dream, but is in fact a reality for the more than two million farmers in the United States. With its wholesome outdoor atmosphere and the delights of fresh milk, eggs, and vegetables, the idea of the family farm seems like an anachronism. But the family farm has worked its way into today's world through many technological means.
The modern family farm depends on a dizzying spectrum of technology to keep it running at an efficient level. Along with machines designed to increase the efficiency of milk and egg production, the modern farmer is computer-savvy, charting progress and maintaining records that keep his operation running on a level with any top corporate offices.
The technique of referencing one paragraph in the next can also be adapted so that the second paragraph refers back to the first one in its opening sentence. Here is an example of that kind of transition.
Living on a farm, with fresh air and open spaces, depending on the whims of nature to make a living, may seem like a long-ago dream, but is in fact a reality for the more than two million farmers in the United States. The family farm is alive and thriving, and the romantic image of its wholesome atmosphere and fresh milk, eggs, and vegetables is in fact the chosen way of life for many families whose lives are spent raising the food we set on our tables. But while the family farm might appear at first to be a charming anachronism, in truth it relies on a dizzying spectrum of technology to keep it running at an efficient level. Along with machines designed to increase the efficiency of milk and egg production, the modern farmer is computer-savvy, charting progress and maintaining records that keep his operation running on a level with any top corporate offices.
The first part of the boldface sentence refers back to the previous paragraph, joining it to the new idea with with a connecting sentence.
Building transitions between paragraphs is one way to connect your ideas. Often, all that's needed is a word or phrase. Click each of the types of transitions in the list below to see examples of words and phrases you can use to guide readers smoothly through your report.
| To Add or Prove | in addition, equally important, furthermore, what's more, moreover, next |
| To Compare or Contrast | by comparison, however, although, in contrast, similarly, meanwhile, nevertheless, while this may be true |
| To Show Sequence or Time | following, now, subsequently, consequently, before, next, soon, thus |
| To Show Exception | yet, however, nevertheless, despite, sometimes, in spite of |
| To Give an Example | for example, for instance, to demonstrate, to illustrate, take the case of |
| To Emphasize or Repeat | obviously, in any case, undeniably, certainly, without a doubt, as has been noted |
| To Summarize or Conclude | in brief, as shown, therefore, as a result, consequently |
