How to effectively write and use transitions in an essay

The importance of outlining your essay

Don’t go blind into your argument. Just like a building, a strong essay begins with a strong foundation and structure. A typical five-paragraph essay will have the following:

• Introduction: The introduction paragraph is where you should show the reader what you aim to write about. This is where you set the tone of your argument: are you writing formally or informally, taking a positive or negative stance, or refuting a specific issue or person? Your thesis statement will go at the end of your introduction paragraph.
• Argument 1: The next three paragraphs are where you expand on your argument. Begin with a topic sentence that serves as an overview of your intended position, before you introduce statistics, quotes, and other forms of research.
• Argument 2: A general rule is that you should introduce broader points to your argument before going into detail. Linking these paragraphs together will be vital to forming a cohesive argument.
• Argument 3: Bring your readers to your viewpoint with persuasion, based on your research: whether it’s through quotes from experts, or logical reasoning, this is where your passion in your argument can shine.
• Conclusion: Here, you summarize the points that you’ve just made. Remind the reader of your thesis statement from your introduction, and concisely sum up the arguments you’ve made in previous paragraphs. If you are asking the reader to act, here is where you bring up a call to action.

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The five-paragraph essay is a time-tested form of rhetoric. However, the way you link these paragraphs can make or break the effectiveness of your argument.

How to use paragraph transitions

Creating a transition between the paragraphs of your essay will bring out the relation between the points you’re making. Transitions can also provide your readers with a direction on where your argument is headed, so that they might better understand the rhetorical path that you are leading them on.

After you identify the subject and angle of your paragraphs, consider the relationships between these points: do they tell a narrative, or are they linked by chronological or another order? Both can be used to format your argument, as long as the path toward your thesis statement is clear.

What is the link between the points of research that you have found? Are the statistics connected, or do they contrast? Both can be effective points and counterpoints to form a transition. What are the central ideas of your points of argument?

Effective transition words to use

No matter if you’re comparing or contrasting your argumentative paragraphs, you can always begin a sentence with words or phrases that flow into each other.

These words can link arguments together:

• Similarly
• Likewise
• Therefore

Consequently, these words draw contrasts between ideas:

• However
• Although
• Conversely

Microsoft’s thesaurus and grammar tools can help you expand your vocabulary with synonyms and grammatical checks that will lend credence to your writing. For more tips on forming an ideal essay, check out these tips from Microsoft 365 on how to improve your writing skills.