Logic & Transitions

-Planning
- logic
-Transitions

Kinds of Logical Order

Chronological
Logical Division of Ideas
Comparison and Contrast
 Transitions
Transitions are words that help make your writing more coherent.
Link logical relationship between one idea and another idea.

They create connections between:

- one clause and another clause

- one sentence and another sentence

- one group of sentences and the next group of

sentences
 Transitions
A badly selected transition may confuse, rather
than help, readers.
CONFUSING: Nobody inquired about the money
found outside. Moreover, it was given to
charity.
(The word “moreover” indicates that one action
happened in addition to the other.)
HELPFUL: Nobody inquired about the money
found outside, so it was given to charity.
(The word “so” indicates that one action
happened as a result of the other.)
 Transitions
Look at the two groups of sentences below.
Which sentences read more smoothly?

My friend, Marcos, loves to play sports and is very athletic. He has won a
scholarship to play football at a university next year.

My friend, Marcos, loves to play sports and is very athletic. In fact, he has
won a scholarship to play football at a university next year.
 Example
;however,

Marcos loves to go swimming in his parents won’t allow him to do

the ocean. that.

The transition, however, tells the reader that

the logical relationship between the two ideas is
contrast.
 Joining Two Independent Clauses
One way of joining two independent clauses is with a
semicolon, a transition, and a comma.

; furthermore,

Marcos is a great he’s very good at scuba

swimmer diving.

Marcos is a great swimmer ;furthermore, he’s very good at scuba

diving.
 Connecting Two Sentences
You can use a transition and comma to tell the reader the
logical relationship between two sentences.

In fact,

Marcos is very athletic. he plays three sports at

school.

Marcos is very athletic. In fact, he plays three sports at school.

• For continuing a common line of reasoning:
• Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which
• consequently is arranged chronologically:
clearly, then
furthermore • first... second... third...
additionally generally... furthermore... finally
and in the first place... also... lastly
in addition in the first place... pursuing this further... finally
moreover to be sure... additionally... lastly
because in the first place... just in the same way... finally
besides that basically... similarly... as well
in the same way
following this further •
also
pursuing this further • To signal conclusion:
in the light of the... it is easy to see that
•
• therefore
this
hence
• To change the line of reasoning (contrast): in final analysis
• however in conclusion
on the other hand in final consideration
but
yet indeed
nevertheless •
on the contrary
• • To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more
exacting way:
• For opening a paragraph initially or for general use: • in other words
• admittedly point in fact
assuredly specifically
certainly
granted •
no doubt
nobody denies • Sequence or time
obviously
of course • after
to be sure afterwards
true as soon as
undoubtedly at first
unquestionably at last
generally speaking before
in general before long
at this level finally
in this situation first... second... third
• in the first place
in the meantime
• For the final points of a paragraph or essay later
• (before concluding sentence): meanwhile
• finally next
lastly soon
• then
 Add the transitions
Every child should have a pet. Children
need the companionship that pets provide.
Most pets require love and attention. Having
pets helps children develop a strong sense of
responsibility. Children learn a lot about life
from their animals. Children really need pets.
Pets need homes. Children and pets need
each other.
 Example- Longer Piece of Writing
Transition
connects ideas in
Essay
paragraph 2 to
ideas in paragraph
Introduction
1.

Body Paragraph 1
Transition
connects ideas in
Body Paragraph 2: In addition, paragraph 3 to
ideas in paragraph
2.
Body Paragraph 3: Furthermore,

Conclusion:
 Chronological
• This kind of logical order involves organizing your ideas
in a paragraph in the order of their occurrence in time.
In academic writing, chronological order has many
uses. One common way to use this kind of logical order
is in a historical narrative, for example a biography
• There are two keys to writing a good chronological
paragraph:
• 1. Discuss the events (in a narrative) or the steps (in a
process) in the order in which they occur.
2. Use chronological transition signals to indicate the
sequence of events or steps.
 Practice
• What did you do today ?
• What’s your typical Saturday / Sunday ?
• An important event in your life.
• How do you cook … ?
• How to make someone you know angry or
happy.
• How to flirt.
 Division of Ideas
• This kind of logical order is the most common method
of organizing your written thoughts in English essays.
When you use this method you group related ideas
together and discuss each group, one after the other.
• In everyday life, things are divided into groups.
Supermarkets separate groceries into different groups:
produce, is in one section and milk products are in
another section for example. Therefore remember to
group your ideas into common groups and this will
help your writing coherence.
 Practice
• You can use logical division to organize many kinds of topics, for
example:
• Reason for owning an iPad/blackberry/PDA, for exercising/not
exercising, for learning English, for being a teacher, etc.
• Kinds of teachers/foods /drivers/friends/students/bosses etc.
• Types of books/movies/music/TV program I like/don’t like etc.
• Advantages or disadvantages of living in a small town/big
city/college dormitory, of being the youngest child/twin, etc.
• Quality of a good boss/good employee/good friend/teacher/parent
etc.
 Comparison and Contrast
• Comparison/contrast involves analysing the similarities
and differences between two or more items. As with
other paragraphs the keys to writing a
comparison/contrast paragraph are to put your ideas
into some kind of order and to use appropriate
transition signals.
• The content of a comparison/contrast paragraph can
vary. Some paragraphs emphasize similarities, while
others emphasize differences. You can discuss both
similarities and differences in one paragraph if you do
not have many points to discuss.
 Practice
What are the similarities or differences
between :-
- Men and women.
- Cats and dogs.
- The rich and poor.
- you and your parents / siblings?
• Compare and contrast your parents.
 Providing Evidence (a quick intro minus Footnoting-
Bibliography)

• Some Types:
1. Quotes
2. Paraphrasing (involves putting a passage from source material into your own words.)
/Summarising (involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including
only the main point(s).)

3. Synthesis (combination of a number of texts)

4. Statistics
5. Arguments from Academics
6. Citations
 Topic Sentence

Major Point that relates to Topic Sentence

Evidence that relates to Major Point

Conclusion
 Weak and Strong Evidence
Today, we are too self-centered. Most
families no longer sit down to eat together,
preferring instead to eat on the go while
rushing to the next appointment (Gleick 148).
Everything is about what we want.
 Weak and Strong Evidence
Today, Americans are too self-centered.
Even our families don't matter as much
anymore as they once did. Other people and
activities take precedence. In fact, the evidence
shows that most American families no longer
eat together, preferring instead to eat on the go
while rushing to the next appointment (Gleick
148). Sit-down meals are a time to share and
connect with others; however, that connection
has become less valued, as families begin to
prize individual activities over shared time,
promoting self-centeredness over group
identity.
 Using Quotations: A Special Type of
Evidence
Ineffective Use of Quotation
Today, we are too self-centered. "We are consumers-on-the-run . . . the very
notion of the family meal as a sit-down occasion is vanishing. Adults and children
alike eat . . . on the way to their next activity" (Gleick 148). Everything is about
what we want.
A More Effective Use of Quotation
Today, Americans are too self-centered. Even our families don't matter as
much any more as they once did. Other people and activities take precedence, as
James Gleick says in his book, Faster. "We are consumers-on-the-run . . . the very
notion of the family meal as a sit-down occasion is vanishing. Adults and children
alike eat . . . on the way to their next activity" (148). Sit-down meals are a time to
share and connect with others; however, that connection has become less valued,
as families begin to prize individual activities over shared time, promoting self-
centeredness over group identity.
Evidence appears in essays in the form
of quotations and paraphrasing
• Quoting: According to Source X, "[direct
quotation]" ([date or page #]).
• Paraphrasing: Although Source Z argues that
[his/her point in your own words], a better way
to view the issue is [your own point] ([citation]).
• Summarizing: In her book, Source P's main points
are Q, R, and S [citation].
• Your job during the course of your essay is to
persuade your readers that your claims are
feasible and are the most effective way of
interpreting the evidence.
 Some Quick Examples
According to ______________________________

For example, ___________ shows that ______

As shown in _______________

__________ summarises the argument/situation best with

__________________________

_____________ states that ________________

While _________ argues that ______________________,

however ___________________
 Summarizing and Paraphrasing
(More next week)
When paraphrasing, you need to change the words and the structure but keep the meaning
the same.
It has long been known that Although Cairo has been the world's most
Cairo is the most populous heavily populated city for many years, the
city on earth, but no-one precise population was not known until
knew exactly how populous four weeks ago.
it was until last month.

A summary is a shortened version of a text. It contains the main points in the

text and is written in your own words.
Source Summary
The amphibia, which is the The first animals to leave the sea and live on
animal class to which our dry land were the amphibia.
frogs and toads belong,
were the first animals to
crawl from the sea and
inhabit the earth.
 Here are some ways to work evidence
into your writing:
• Offer evidence that agrees with your stance up to a point, then add to it
with ideas of your own.
• Present evidence that contradicts your stance, and then argue against
(refute) that evidence and therefore strengthen your position.
• Use sources against each other, as if they were experts on a panel
discussing your proposition.
• Use quotations to support your assertion, not merely to state or restate
your claim.
• Weak and Strong Uses of Evidence
• In order to use evidence effectively, you need to integrate it smoothly into
your essay by following this pattern:
• State your claim.
• Give your evidence, remembering to relate it to the claim.
• Comment on the evidence to show how it supports the claim.
 Questions to Ask Yourself When
Revising Your Paper
• Have I offered my reader evidence to substantiate each
assertion I make in my paper?
• Do I thoroughly explain why/how my evidence backs
up my ideas?
• Do I avoid generalizing in my paper by specifically
explaining how my evidence is representative?
• Do I provide evidence that not only confirms but also
qualifies my paper's main claims?
• Do I use evidence to test and evolve my ideas, rather
than to just confirm them?
• Do I cite my sources thoroughly and correctly?
 All together …
In his famous and influential
work The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund
Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to
the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded
imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through
a process known as the "dream-work" (page #).
According to Freud, actual but unacceptable
desires are censored internally and subjected to
coding through layers of condensation and
displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus
puzzle in the dream itself (page #).
 Ref’s
• http://www.carlosignacio.com/twd/index.php
• http://www.garlikov.com/teaching/transitionwords.htm
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/02/
• http://www.uefap.com/writing/report/repfram.htm