Handout: Transitional Devices for Order and Reason
Introduction
Welcome to your guide on transitional devices! These handy tools are essential in writing
because they help connect ideas and clarify relationships between them. Think of them as
bridges that guide your readers smoothly from one thought to the next. In this handout, we’ll
focus on transitional devices that show order and reason, complete with definitions,
examples, and plenty of practice exercises to help you master their use.
Types of Transitional Devices
1. Transitional Devices for Order
These devices help indicate the sequence or order of ideas in your writing. They are
particularly useful when you want to present information logically and clearly.
Common Transitional Words for Order:
- First, Second, Third: These words help you enumerate points clearly.
- Example: "First, we need to gather all the materials."
- Next: This word indicates the following step in a process.
- Example: "Next, we will assemble the project."
- Then: It shows what comes after the current step.
- Example: "Then, we will present our findings."
- Finally: This word indicates the last point in a series.
- Example: "Finally, we will review our work."
- Lastly: Similar to finally; it’s used for the last point.
- Example: "Lastly, we will submit the report."
2. Transitional Devices for Reason
These devices help explain why something happens or provide justification for a statement.
They are crucial for establishing cause-and-effect relationships in your writing.
Common Transitional Words for Reason:
- Because: This word indicates a reason directly.
- Example: "She was late because she missed the bus."
- Since: Similar to because; it provides reasoning based on a condition.
- Example: "Since it was raining, we stayed indoors."
- Therefore: This word shows a conclusion drawn from previous statements.
- Example: "It was snowing heavily; therefore, school was canceled."
- Consequently: It shows a result or effect of an action.
- Example: "He didn’t study; consequently, he failed the exam."
- As a result: Similar to consequently; it indicates an outcome based on prior events.
- Example: "She practiced daily; as a result, she improved her skills."
Examples of Transitional Devices
To Show Order:
1. First, gather your materials.
2. Next, read the instructions carefully.
3. Then, begin assembling the parts.
4. Finally, test your project to ensure it works.
To Show Reason:
1. She decided to leave early because she wanted to avoid traffic.
2. The event was postponed since there were safety concerns.
3. He forgot his umbrella; therefore, he got wet in the rain.
4. The team worked hard; consequently, they won the championship.
Conclusion
Mastering transitional devices is crucial for effective writing and communication in English!
They not only clarify relationships between ideas but also enhance the overall flow of your
writing, making it more engaging and easier for readers to follow your thoughts. With
regular practice using these transitions, you'll be able to express your ideas more clearly and
logically.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Transitional Devices
Complete each sentence with a suitable transitional device from this list (first, next, finally,
because, therefore).
1. ________, we need to analyze our data before making conclusions.
2. The meeting was rescheduled ________ several members could not attend.
3. ________, we should prepare a presentation based on our findings.
4. The project failed ________ we did not follow the guidelines.
5. We need to submit our report by Friday; ________, we must work efficiently.
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Transitional Device
Select an appropriate transitional device to complete each sentence.
1. She loves hiking; ________, she goes every weekend. (because / therefore)
2. He studied hard for the test; ________, he passed with flying colors. (next / consequently)
3. ________ we finish this task, we can take a break. (Once / First)
4. I enjoy reading fiction; ________, I often visit the library. (thus / next)
5. We had to cancel the picnic ________ of the bad weather. (because / first)
Exercise 3: Rewrite Using Transitional Devices
Rewrite each pair of sentences using an appropriate transitional device.
1. She was tired. She went to bed early.
2. It rained heavily last night. The match was canceled.
3. We need to buy groceries today. We can cook dinner tomorrow.
Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences
Write sentences using each of these transitional devices:
1. First
2. Therefore
3. Consequently
4. Next
5. Because
