SAT Exam  >  SAT Notes  >  Reading and Writing for SAT  >  Transitions

Transitions | Reading and Writing for SAT PDF Download

How should we think about transitions?

Transitions are the glue that holds ideas together. They connect sentences in ways that tell the reader how those sentences are related. Is there an argument being made? A story being told? The transitions used in the text should reflect that relationship.

The relationships between ideas usually fall into the following categories:

1. Agreement or disagreement
  • Do the sentences express the same underlying idea? If so, we may want to use an agreement transition like "similarly". 
  • Do the sentences identify a disagreement or contrast? If so, we may want to use a disagreement transition like "however". 
2. Sequence and order
Are the events in the sentences being organized by time or by position? If so, we may want to use a sequence transition like "previously". 

3. Addition and exemplification

  • Does the second sentence elaborate on the first? If so, we may want to use an addition transition like "furthermore". 
  • Does the second sentence provide an example? If so, we may want to use an exemplification transition like "for instance". 

4. Cause and effect
Is the second sentence caused by or a consequence of the idea in the first sentence? If so, we may want to use a cause and effect transition like "therefore". 

How to approach transitions questions

Transitions questions ask you to select the "most logical transition". However, these questions are actually as much about how well you understand the text as they are about the transitions themselves. So be sure to read carefully!
To answer a transitions question, follow these three steps:

Step 1: Summarize the text in your own words

  • Don't just skim the passage . Read it closely, and try to summarize the main idea in your own words. This can be tricky since an important transition word is missing. If you're struggling to understand the text, try to translate each sentence into a simple bullet point.

Step 2: Identify the relationship between the passage’s ideas

  • The transition we're asked to select will connect two ideas from the passage. How are those ideas related? Do they disagree? Does one cause the other? We should be able to place the relationship into one of the four categories discussed above.

Step 3: Select the transition that matches the relationship

  • Only one of the choices will offer a transition that matches the relationship we identified. We can select it with confidence!
  • If you find yourself stuck between two choices, try plugging them each into the blank. Which transition creates the clearest meaning when placed in context?

Top tips

  1. Be flexible: There is an enormous variety of transition words and phrases, and the exact transition you expect to see might not be offered in the choices. If you think the sentence needs a disagreement word, but "however" isn't an option, look for a transition with a similar function (like "on the other hand").
  2. Eliminate copycats: If two choices seem to function in a similar or interchangeable way (like "also" and "in addition"), you can safely eliminate them both. They can’t both be right, so they must both be wrong!

The document Transitions | Reading and Writing for SAT is a part of the SAT Course Reading and Writing for SAT.
All you need of SAT at this link: SAT
49 videos|31 docs|28 tests

Up next

FAQs on Transitions - Reading and Writing for SAT

1. How can transitions help improve the flow of a piece of writing?
Ans. Transitions help to connect ideas and smoothly guide the reader from one point to the next, making the writing easier to follow and understand.
2. What are some common transition words and phrases that can be used in writing?
Ans. Examples of transition words and phrases include "however," "in addition," "furthermore," "on the other hand," and "therefore," among others.
3. Why is it important to use transitions in academic writing?
Ans. Using transitions in academic writing helps to show the relationships between ideas, improve coherence and cohesion, and make the writing more organized and structured.
4. How can transitions be used effectively in a compare and contrast essay?
Ans. Transitions can be used to signal similarities, differences, and relationships between ideas in a compare and contrast essay, helping to guide the reader through the comparison process.
5. What are some strategies for effectively incorporating transitions into writing?
Ans. Strategies for incorporating transitions include using transitional words and phrases, repeating key terms, using parallel structure, and varying sentence structure to create smooth transitions between paragraphs and ideas.
49 videos|31 docs|28 tests
Download as PDF

Up next

Explore Courses for SAT exam
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

MCQs

,

Viva Questions

,

Semester Notes

,

pdf

,

practice quizzes

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

Free

,

Extra Questions

,

Transitions | Reading and Writing for SAT

,

Transitions | Reading and Writing for SAT

,

ppt

,

past year papers

,

Important questions

,

study material

,

Summary

,

mock tests for examination

,

Objective type Questions

,

Sample Paper

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

Exam

,

Transitions | Reading and Writing for SAT

,

video lectures

;