Essay TransitionsEssay Transitions

JL Ilsley High SchoolJL Ilsley High School

The TempestThe Tempest– Essay Writing– Essay Writing

Why include transitions?Why include transitions? Transition words and phrases help Transition words and phrases help

establish clear connections between establish clear connections between ideas and ensure that sentences and ideas and ensure that sentences and paragraphs flow together smoothly, paragraphs flow together smoothly, making them easier to read. making them easier to read.

Transitions between paragraphs can Transitions between paragraphs can be tricky to write; they may need to be tricky to write; they may need to be inserted after the first draft has be inserted after the first draft has been completed.been completed.

Example – Transition from Example – Transition from Thesis to BodyThesis to Body

……Prospero grows from magician to Prospero grows from magician to man by the end of Shakespeare’s man by the end of Shakespeare’s The TempestThe Tempest..

Our first impression of Prospero is Our first impression of Prospero is one of powerful but cruel magician one of powerful but cruel magician who revels in his control of his who revels in his control of his island, his slaves, and even his island, his slaves, and even his daughter…daughter…

Example – Transition between Example – Transition between ParagraphsParagraphs

……England was the beginning and England was the beginning and ending point of the triangular trade ending point of the triangular trade that characterized slavery in the that characterized slavery in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds.fifteen and sixteen hundreds.

In In The Tempest, The Tempest, the theme of slavery the theme of slavery is reflected through the characters of is reflected through the characters of Ariel and Caliban. Ariel had been Ariel and Caliban. Ariel had been freed from one captor, the evil witch freed from one captor, the evil witch Sycorax, only to be enslaved again by Sycorax, only to be enslaved again by Prospero…Prospero…

Example – Paragraph Example – Paragraph TransitionTransition

……It is now perfectly clear that Prospero intends It is now perfectly clear that Prospero intends to gain back his Dukedom of Milan, and get to gain back his Dukedom of Milan, and get his daughter a royal husband in the process.his daughter a royal husband in the process.

Prospero’s daughter, Miranda has had very Prospero’s daughter, Miranda has had very little experience of men in her life, having only little experience of men in her life, having only met her father and the slave Caliban. When met her father and the slave Caliban. When Ferdinand is stranded upon the shores of Ferdinand is stranded upon the shores of Prospero’s island, Miranda is certain that she Prospero’s island, Miranda is certain that she has never laid eyes on such a beautiful has never laid eyes on such a beautiful creature. In that sense, both Shakespeare creature. In that sense, both Shakespeare and Prospero have caused “love at first sight.”and Prospero have caused “love at first sight.”

Transition to QuotationsTransition to Quotations

It is also important that you It is also important that you transition into the quotations in your transition into the quotations in your essay. If you just “parachute” essay. If you just “parachute” quotations into your writing, it can be quotations into your writing, it can be jarring and confusing for your reader.jarring and confusing for your reader.

Generally speaking, quotes should be Generally speaking, quotes should be set up, and then explained.set up, and then explained.

ExampleExample

Evidence that Ariel craves his freedom Evidence that Ariel craves his freedom can be seen in the following lines: can be seen in the following lines: “Remember I have done thee worthy “Remember I have done thee worthy service/ Told thee no lies, made thee service/ Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served/ Without no mistakings, served/ Without grudge or grumblings. Thou did grudge or grumblings. Thou did promise/ to bate me a full year.” I, ii, promise/ to bate me a full year.” I, ii, 247-249) This request comes to 247-249) This request comes to nothing early in the play, because nothing early in the play, because Prospero still has great need of his Prospero still has great need of his magical slave.magical slave.

Example – Transitioning between QuotationsExample – Transitioning between Quotations

In Act Five Prospero discusses his great In Act Five Prospero discusses his great magical ability: “I have bedimmed/ The magical ability: “I have bedimmed/ The noontide sun, called for the noontide sun, called for the multitudinous winds/ And twixt the green multitudinous winds/ And twixt the green sea and the azured vault/ set roaring sea and the azured vault/ set roaring war…” (V, i, 41-44) However, Prospero war…” (V, i, 41-44) However, Prospero also recognizes that he will have to also recognizes that he will have to relinquish this power if he is to return to relinquish this power if he is to return to his Dukedom in Milan: “I’ll break my his Dukedom in Milan: “I’ll break my staff/ Bury it certain fathoms in the earth/ staff/ Bury it certain fathoms in the earth/ And deeper than did ever plummet And deeper than did ever plummet sound/ I’ll drown my book.” (V, i, 54-57)sound/ I’ll drown my book.” (V, i, 54-57)

Transitional Words and Transitional Words and PhrasesPhrases

The JL Ilsley Literacy Handbook has a The JL Ilsley Literacy Handbook has a page of transitional words and page of transitional words and phrases that might be of use to you.phrases that might be of use to you.

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