33 Transition Words and Phrases
Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.
Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .
as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY
The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.
in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE
The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.
at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER
Afterward, she got a promotion.
even though : ALTHOUGH
She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.
in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made
They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.
in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE
I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.
as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY
The words are often confused and are consequently misused.
in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility
Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.
used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said
These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.
used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"
I'm planning to go even though it may rain.
in addition : MOREOVER
I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.
in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement
These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.
because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE
He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.
from this point on : starting now
She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.
in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement
I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.
as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement
The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.
all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement
He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.
for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension
He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.
in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement
She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.
at or during the same time : in the meantime
You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.
BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement
It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.
in spite of that : HOWEVER
It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.
in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS
The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.
without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true
Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.
if not : or else
Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.
more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said
We can take the car, or rather, the van.
in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true
I tried again and still I failed.
by that : by that means
He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.
for that reason : because of that
This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.
immediately after that
The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.
because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY
This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.
while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different
Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.
NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way
It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.
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Transitions
What this handout is about.
In this crazy, mixed-up world of ours, transitions glue our ideas and our essays together. This handout will introduce you to some useful transitional expressions and help you employ them effectively.
The function and importance of transitions
In both academic writing and professional writing, your goal is to convey information clearly and concisely, if not to convert the reader to your way of thinking. Transitions help you to achieve these goals by establishing logical connections between sentences, paragraphs, and sections of your papers. In other words, transitions tell readers what to do with the information you present to them. Whether single words, quick phrases, or full sentences, they function as signs that tell readers how to think about, organize, and react to old and new ideas as they read through what you have written.
Transitions signal relationships between ideas—relationships such as: “Another example coming up—stay alert!” or “Here’s an exception to my previous statement” or “Although this idea appears to be true, here’s the real story.” Basically, transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument. Transitions are not just verbal decorations that embellish your paper by making it sound or read better. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader to think and react in a particular way to your ideas. In providing the reader with these important cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your ideas fit together.
Signs that you might need to work on your transitions
How can you tell whether you need to work on your transitions? Here are some possible clues:
- Your instructor has written comments like “choppy,” “jumpy,” “abrupt,” “flow,” “need signposts,” or “how is this related?” on your papers.
- Your readers (instructors, friends, or classmates) tell you that they had trouble following your organization or train of thought.
- You tend to write the way you think—and your brain often jumps from one idea to another pretty quickly.
- You wrote your paper in several discrete “chunks” and then pasted them together.
- You are working on a group paper; the draft you are working on was created by pasting pieces of several people’s writing together.
Organization
Since the clarity and effectiveness of your transitions will depend greatly on how well you have organized your paper, you may want to evaluate your paper’s organization before you work on transitions. In the margins of your draft, summarize in a word or short phrase what each paragraph is about or how it fits into your analysis as a whole. This exercise should help you to see the order of and connection between your ideas more clearly.
If after doing this exercise you find that you still have difficulty linking your ideas together in a coherent fashion, your problem may not be with transitions but with organization. For help in this area (and a more thorough explanation of the “reverse outlining” technique described in the previous paragraph), please see the Writing Center’s handout on organization .
How transitions work
The organization of your written work includes two elements: (1) the order in which you have chosen to present the different parts of your discussion or argument, and (2) the relationships you construct between these parts. Transitions cannot substitute for good organization, but they can make your organization clearer and easier to follow. Take a look at the following example:
El Pais , a Latin American country, has a new democratic government after having been a dictatorship for many years. Assume that you want to argue that El Pais is not as democratic as the conventional view would have us believe.
One way to effectively organize your argument would be to present the conventional view and then to provide the reader with your critical response to this view. So, in Paragraph A you would enumerate all the reasons that someone might consider El Pais highly democratic, while in Paragraph B you would refute these points. The transition that would establish the logical connection between these two key elements of your argument would indicate to the reader that the information in paragraph B contradicts the information in paragraph A. As a result, you might organize your argument, including the transition that links paragraph A with paragraph B, in the following manner:
Paragraph A: points that support the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.
Transition: Despite the previous arguments, there are many reasons to think that El Pais’s new government is not as democratic as typically believed.
Paragraph B: points that contradict the view that El Pais’s new government is very democratic.
In this case, the transition words “Despite the previous arguments,” suggest that the reader should not believe paragraph A and instead should consider the writer’s reasons for viewing El Pais’s democracy as suspect.
As the example suggests, transitions can help reinforce the underlying logic of your paper’s organization by providing the reader with essential information regarding the relationship between your ideas. In this way, transitions act as the glue that binds the components of your argument or discussion into a unified, coherent, and persuasive whole.
Types of transitions
Now that you have a general idea of how to go about developing effective transitions in your writing, let us briefly discuss the types of transitions your writing will use.
The types of transitions available to you are as diverse as the circumstances in which you need to use them. A transition can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire paragraph. In each case, it functions the same way: First, the transition either directly summarizes the content of a preceding sentence, paragraph, or section or implies such a summary (by reminding the reader of what has come before). Then, it helps the reader anticipate or comprehend the new information that you wish to present.
- Transitions between sections: Particularly in longer works, it may be necessary to include transitional paragraphs that summarize for the reader the information just covered and specify the relevance of this information to the discussion in the following section.
- Transitions between paragraphs: If you have done a good job of arranging paragraphs so that the content of one leads logically to the next, the transition will highlight a relationship that already exists by summarizing the previous paragraph and suggesting something of the content of the paragraph that follows. A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two (however, for example, similarly), a phrase, or a sentence. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places.
- Transitions within paragraphs: As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act as cues by helping readers to anticipate what is coming before they read it. Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or short phrases.
Transitional expressions
Effectively constructing each transition often depends upon your ability to identify words or phrases that will indicate for the reader the kind of logical relationships you want to convey. The table below should make it easier for you to find these words or phrases. Whenever you have trouble finding a word, phrase, or sentence to serve as an effective transition, refer to the information in the table for assistance. Look in the left column of the table for the kind of logical relationship you are trying to express. Then look in the right column of the table for examples of words or phrases that express this logical relationship.
Keep in mind that each of these words or phrases may have a slightly different meaning. Consult a dictionary or writer’s handbook if you are unsure of the exact meaning of a word or phrase.
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Transitional Words and Phrases
One of your primary goals as a writer is to present ideas in a clear and understandable way. To help readers move through your complex ideas, you want to be intentional about how you structure your paper as a whole as well as how you form the individual paragraphs that comprise it. In order to think through the challenges of presenting your ideas articulately, logically, and in ways that seem natural to your readers, check out some of these resources: Developing a Thesis Statement , Paragraphing , and Developing Strategic Transitions: Writing that Establishes Relationships and Connections Between Ideas.
While clear writing is mostly achieved through the deliberate sequencing of your ideas across your entire paper, you can guide readers through the connections you’re making by using transitional words in individual sentences. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between your ideas and can help your reader understand your paper’s logic.
In what follows, we’ve included a list of frequently used transitional words and phrases that can help you establish how your various ideas relate to each other. We’ve divided these words and phrases into categories based on the common kinds of relationships writers establish between ideas.
Two recommendations: Use these transitions strategically by making sure that the word or phrase you’re choosing matches the logic of the relationship you’re emphasizing or the connection you’re making. All of these words and phrases have different meanings, nuances, and connotations, so before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely, and be sure that it’s the right match for your paper’s logic. Use these transitional words and phrases sparingly because if you use too many of them, your readers might feel like you are overexplaining connections that are already clear.
Categories of Transition Words and Phrases
Causation Chronology Combinations Contrast Example
Importance Location Similarity Clarification Concession
Conclusion Intensification Purpose Summary
Transitions to help establish some of the most common kinds of relationships
Causation– Connecting instigator(s) to consequence(s).
accordingly as a result and so because
consequently for that reason hence on account of
since therefore thus
Chronology– Connecting what issues in regard to when they occur.
after afterwards always at length during earlier following immediately in the meantime
later never next now once simultaneously so far sometimes
soon subsequently then this time until now when whenever while
Combinations Lists– Connecting numerous events. Part/Whole– Connecting numerous elements that make up something bigger.
additionally again also and, or, not as a result besides even more
finally first, firstly further furthermore in addition in the first place in the second place
last, lastly moreover next second, secondly, etc. too
Contrast– Connecting two things by focusing on their differences.
after all although and yet at the same time but
despite however in contrast nevertheless nonetheless notwithstanding
on the contrary on the other hand otherwise though yet
Example– Connecting a general idea to a particular instance of this idea.
as an illustration e.g., (from a Latin abbreviation for “for example”)
for example for instance specifically that is
to demonstrate to illustrate
Importance– Connecting what is critical to what is more inconsequential.
chiefly critically
foundationally most importantly
of less importance primarily
Location– Connecting elements according to where they are placed in relationship to each other.
above adjacent to below beyond
centrally here nearby neighboring on
opposite to peripherally there wherever
Similarity– Connecting to things by suggesting that they are in some way alike.
by the same token in like manner
in similar fashion here in the same way
likewise wherever
Other kinds of transitional words and phrases Clarification
i.e., (from a Latin abbreviation for “that is”) in other words
that is that is to say to clarify to explain
to put it another way to rephrase it
granted it is true
naturally of course
finally lastly
in conclusion in the end
to conclude
Intensification
in fact indeed no
of course surely to repeat
undoubtedly without doubt yes
for this purpose in order that
so that to that end
to this end
in brief in sum
in summary in short
to sum up to summarize
Improving Your Writing Style
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Clear, Concise Sentences
Use the active voice
Put the action in the verb
Tidy up wordy phrases
Reduce wordy verbs
Reduce prepositional phrases
Reduce expletive constructions
Avoid using vague nouns
Avoid unneccessarily inflated words
Avoid noun strings
Connecting Ideas Through Transitions
Using Transitional Words and Phrases
Writing Studio
Common transition words and phrases.
In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Transitions Return to Writing Studio Handouts
Transitions clarify the logic of your argument by orienting your reader as you develop ideas between sentences and paragraphs. These tools should alert readers to shifts in your argument while and also maintain the smoothness and clarity of your prose. Below, you’ll find some of the most commonly used transition categories and examples of each. Depending on the example, these suggestions may be within sentences or at the beginning of sentences.
Transitions by Category
1. addition.
Use when presenting multiple ideas that flow in the same direction, under the same heading/ idea also, another, finally, first, first of all, for one thing, furthermore, in addition, last of all, likewise, moreover, next, and, second, the third reason
2. Sequence/ Order
Use to suggest a temporal relationship between ideas; places evidence in sequence first, second (etc.), next, last, finally, first of all, concurrently, immediately, prior to, then, at that time, at this point, previously, subsequently, and then, at this time, thereafter, previously, soon, before, after, followed by, after that, next, before, after, meanwhile, formerly, finally, during
3. Contrast
Use to demonstrate differences between ideas or change in argument direction but, however, in contrast, on the other hand, on the contrary, yet, differ, difference, balanced against, differing from, variation, still, on the contrary, unlike, conversely, otherwise, on the other hand, however
4. Exception
Use to introduce an opposing idea however, whereas, on the other hand, while, instead, in spite of, yet, despite, still, nevertheless, even though, in contrast, but, but one could also say…
5. Comparison
Use to demonstrate similarities between ideas that may not be under the same subject heading or within the same paragraph like, likewise, just, in a different way / sense, whereas, like, equally, in like manner, by comparison, similar to, in the same way, alike, similarity, similarly, just as, as in a similar fashion, conversely
6. Illustration
Use to develop or clarify an idea, to introduce examples, or to show that the second idea is subordinate to the first for example, to illustrate, on this occasion, this can be seen, in this case, specifically, once, to illustrate, when/where, for instance, such as, to demonstrate, take the case of, in this case
7. Location
Use to show spatial relations next to, above, below, beneath, left, right, behind, in front, on top, within
8. Cause and Effect
Use to show that one idea causes, or results from, the idea that follows or precedes it because, therefore, so that, cause, reason, effect, thus, consequently, since, as a result, if…then, result in
9. Emphasis
Use to suggest that an idea is particularly important to your argument important to note, most of all, a significant factor, a primary concern, a key feature, remember that, pay particular attention to, a central issue, the most substantial issue, the main value, a major event, the chief factor, a distinctive quality, especially valuable, the chief outcome, a vital force, especially relevant, most noteworthy, the principal item, above all, should be noted
10. Summary or Conclusion
Use to signal that what follows is summarizing or concluding the previous ideas; in humanities papers, use these phrases sparingly. to summarize, in short, in brief, in sum, in summary, to sum up, in conclusion, to conclude, finally
Some material adapted from Cal Poly Pomona College Reading Skills Program and “ Power Tools for Technical Communication .”
Writing Effective Sentence Transitions (Advanced)
Transitions are the rhetorical tools that clarify the logic of your argument by orienting your reader as you develop ideas between sentences and paragraphs. The ability to integrate sentence transitions into your prose, rather than simply throwing in overt transition signals like “in addition,” indicates your mastery of the material. (Note: The visibility of transitions may vary by discipline; consult with your professor to get a better sense of discipline or assignment specific expectations.)
Transition Signals
Transition signals are words or phrases that indicate the logic connecting sets of information or ideas. Signals like therefore, on the other hand, for example, because, then, and afterwards can be good transition tools at the sentence and paragraph level. When using these signals, be conscious of the real meaning of these terms; they should reflect the actual relationship between ideas.
Review Words
Review words are transition tools that link groups of sentences or whole paragraphs. They condense preceding discussion into a brief word or phrase. For example: You’ve just completed a detailed discussion about the greenhouse effect. To transition to the next topic, you could use review words like “this heat-trapping process” to refer back to the green house effect discussion. The relative ability to determine a cogent set of review words might signal your own understanding of your work; think of review words as super-short summaries of key ideas.
Preview words
Preview words condense an upcoming discussion into a brief word or phrase. For example: You’ve just explained how heat is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. Transitioning to the theory that humans are adding to that effect, you could use preview words like “sources of additional CO2 in the atmosphere include” to point forward to that discussion.
Transition Sentences
The strongest and most sophisticated tools, transition sentences indicate the connection between the preceding and upcoming pieces of your argument. They often contain one or more of the above transition tools. For example: You’ve just discussed how much CO2 humans have added to the atmosphere. You need to transition to a discussion of the effects. A strong set of transition sentences between the two sections might sound like this:
“These large amounts of CO2 added to the atmosphere may lead to a number of disastrous consequences for residents of planet earth. The rise in global temperature that accompanies the extra CO2 can yield effects as varied as glacial melting and species extinction.”
In the first sentence, the review words are “These large amounts of CO2 added to the atmosphere”; the preview words are “number of disastrous consequences”; the transition signals are “may lead to.” The topic sentence of the next paragraph indicates the specific “disastrous consequences” you will discuss.
If you don’t see a way to write a logical, effective transition between sentences, ideas or paragraphs, this might indicate organizational problems in your essay; you might consider revising your work.
Some material adapted from Cal Poly Pomona College Reading Skills Program and “ Power Tools for Technical Communication .”
Last revised: 07/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 05/2021
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Effective Transition Words for Research Papers
What are transition words in academic writing?
A transition is a change from one idea to another idea in writing or speaking and can be achieved using transition terms or phrases. These transitions are usually placed at the beginning of sentences, independent clauses, and paragraphs and thus establish a specific relationship between ideas or groups of ideas. Transitions are used to enhance cohesion in your paper and make its logical development clearer to readers.
Types of Transition Words
Transitions accomplish many different objectives. We can divide all transitions into four basic categories:
- Additive transitions signal to the reader that you are adding or referencing information
- Adversative transitions indicate conflict or disagreement between pieces of information
- Causal transitions point to consequences and show cause-and-effect relationships
- Sequential transitions clarify the order and sequence of information and the overall structure of the paper
Additive Transitions
These terms signal that new information is being added (between both sentences and paragraphs), introduce or highlight information, refer to something that was just mentioned, add a similar situation, or identify certain information as important.
Adversative Transitions
These terms and phrases distinguish facts, arguments, and other information, whether by contrasting and showing differences; by conceding points or making counterarguments; by dismissing the importance of a fact or argument; or replacing and suggesting alternatives.
Causal Transitions
These terms and phrases signal the reasons, conditions, purposes, circumstances, and cause-and-effect relationships. These transitions often come after an important point in the research paper has been established or to explore hypothetical relationships or circumstances.
Sequential Transitions
These transition terms and phrases organize your paper by numerical sequence; by showing continuation in thought or action; by referring to previously-mentioned information; by indicating digressions; and, finally, by concluding and summing up your paper. Sequential transitions are essential to creating structure and helping the reader understand the logical development through your paper’s methods, results, and analysis.
How to Choose Transitions in Academic Writing
Transitions are commonplace elements in writing, but they are also powerful tools that can be abused or misapplied if one isn’t careful. Here are some ways to ensure you are using transitions effectively.
- Check for overused, awkward, or absent transitions during the paper editing process. Don’t spend too much time trying to find the “perfect” transition while writing the paper.
- When you find a suitable place where a transition could connect ideas, establish relationships, and make it easier for the reader to understand your point, use the list to find a suitable transition term or phrase.
- Similarly, if you have repeated some terms again and again, find a substitute transition from the list and use that instead. This will help vary your writing and enhance the communication of ideas.
- Read the beginning of each paragraph. Did you include a transition? If not, look at the information in that paragraph and the preceding paragraph and ask yourself: “How does this information connect?” Then locate the best transition from the list.
- Check the structure of your paper—are your ideas clearly laid out in order? You should be able to locate sequence terms such as “first,” “second,” “following this,” “another,” “in addition,” “finally,” “in conclusion,” etc. These terms will help outline your paper for the reader.
For more helpful information on academic writing and the journal publication process, visit Wordvice’s Academic Resources Page. And be sure to check out Wordvice’s professional English editing services if you are looking for paper editing and proofreading after composing your academic document.
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- MSU Writing Center. Transition Words.
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Transition Word Examples and How to Use Them Effectively
Table of contents
Meredith Sell
Have you ever gotten stuck writing, with no idea how to get from point A to point B?
Figuring out transitions could be your answer.
In this guide, we'll give you practical tips to using transitions better, like finding the right words to connect separate paragraphs:
Why are transitions so important for writers?
Transition sentences connect two points together. This connection is not always intuitive for writers.
Every time we write something, we have to figure out how to hop from one car on the train of thought to the next. From dialogue to description, showing to telling, explanation to argument.
If the train cars are paragraphs, transitions are the links and pins that connect the cars to each other 🚂. Skip a transition and you’re asking your readers to hurdle a gap between unconnected cars as the main train keeps plowing down the tracks.
Transitions are hard , but when done well, they’re also kind of magical. You can smoothly guide your reader from one type of discourse to another, drawing connections along the way that wouldn’t be drawn if you divided everything with section headings (like this blog 😬).
Get help with transition words from AI > Get help with transition words from AI >
How do you write a good transition?
A lot of websites harp on transition words (we’ll join them in a moment), but honestly, good transitions have more to do with shaping your actual content to guide the reader in a particular direction. You use your knowledge of the subject and your writerly skills to order your content in a way that leads to natural transitions — sometimes with transition words, sometimes without.
Transition words have a utility, but if you don’t shape your content, slapping a “however” or “therefore” or “similarly” onto your next sentence won’t accomplish much.
Still, transition words deserve a look:
Transition words and phrases: examples to get you started
Transition words concisely describe the relationship between concepts or ideas. With a single word, you can point out that what you’re about to say supports, is similar to, or contradicts what you just wrote .
A transition word may pivot the flow of thought — changing the direction of what you’re writing — or simply push the thought forward, continuing to build on what you’ve already said.
Here are a few examples:
There are serial transition words:
Then, next, thirdly
And concluding transition words:
In summary, in conclusion, overall
Some transition words set up causes and effects :
Since, while, consequently, thus
While others limit previous claims :
On the other hand, nevertheless, conversely
Transition words tend to be found toward the beginning or end of paragraphs, at the head or tail of sentences. They’re generally setting up what’s about to come — either establishing the tone of a new paragraph or launching the reader from this paragraph’s idea to the next.
What you need a transition word to do depends on the type of segue you’re crafting.
How to use transition words
As I mentioned earlier, writing a good transition involves much more than choosing a transition word. You need to tap into the logic of whatever you’re writing — story, essay, research paper — and shape your writing to guide the reader from your train’s locomotive engine all the way to the caboose.
In any given piece, you may need to segue between ideas, subjects, or even time-based events. Here’s how those different transitions may look:
1. Time/events ⏰
If you’re writing a story or a research paper for a history class, you’ll need to craft transitions that bridge points in time. Maybe you jump from the Renaissance to the Victorian era, or from spring to summer, or from evening to morning. As you craft your transition, tune into what you’re aiming to accomplish through this section of your writing.
- Are you drawing comparisons between the Renaissance and the Victorian era’s conceptions of manhood?
- Is the passing of the seasons meant to illustrate a bigger point? Perhaps how quickly or how slowly things change?
- Is your character conscious of the shift from evening to morning or does the new sunrise catch her off-guard?
One way to craft time-based transitions is to identify something that is either the same or different between the two points in time. This, of course, should relate to your project’s overarching theme.
- Was education highly valued for men in both the Renaissance and the Victorian era?
- How does the lack of water over springtime affect the appearance of the plain in the summer?
- Is your character still sitting at her desk, lost in thought, when the sun comes back up?
Depending on what you’re writing, a rich description highlighting either what remains constant across time or what changes may work well to transition your reader.
Writing an argument? You probably have several points to make, some obviously related and others that stand out like a zebra in a herd of horses.
How do you smoothly transition from one point (or idea) to the next?
First, identify how your points relate to each other.
Make a list of your points and arrange them in the most logical order.
- Do any of your points set up or build upon other points? Put the set-up points first.
- Do any of your points raise questions that are answered by other points? Put the question-raising points before the question-answering points.
Look for ways that the zebra points are similar to the others. Maybe they touch on a similar aspect of your topic — or maybe they’re the only point that addresses a particular counterargument.
Once you know the best way to order your points, use that ordering to shape your transitions.
- Points that build on previous parts of your argument may use a simple transition word like “additionally” to show how they relate.
- Points that answer a question or counterargument raised by the previous point can start by simply launching into that answer.
This, of course, raises the question of how farmers could better plan for droughts. ❡ If a farm that has exclusively raised water-intensive crops can no longer count on enough rainfall or groundwater to support those crops, the farmers may need to start planting a wider range of crops — or shift entirely to drought-resistant crops.
- Zebra points that don’t obviously connect to the others, but are important to your argument, can be introduced by mentioning the outstanding problem or counterargument they address after the rest of the points have been made.
One problem remains: The overall food system in the U.S. depends on ample production of corn. If farms stop producing corn at current levels, the cost of food products nationwide could rise dramatically. These increased costs will most significantly impact people at or below the poverty level, who already struggle to keep food on the table. However, the impacts could be alleviated by taking federal funds that historically subsidized corn production and rechanneling them into food programs like SNAP.
3. Subjects 📚
In a research paper or explanatory essay, you’ll need to move from one subject to another within your overall topic. For example, if you’re writing about the evolution of the automobile, you may write about the engine, fueling, and tires. How do you leap from one of these topics to the next?
Use a similar method to what we described in the Ideas section: list the different subjects and identify ways they connect or relate to each other. Order them according to those connections.
Look for ways that one subject can “jump off” into part of another subject.
With our automobile example, the type of fuel may directly influence the engine, so maybe you talk about those two subjects together. Or maybe you describe the different types of fuel and then move on to cover how changing the fuel led to changing the engine design.
If you want to include an explanation of how the combustion engine works, that explanation could easily tie the two topic sections together — and even set you up to describe the exhaust system, which could lead into writing about vehicle pollution, catalytic converters, and electric cars.
4. Mixed transitions
Most pieces of writing will require you to transition between the previous three types — from writing about an event to explaining an idea, or covering an idea to exploring a specific subject.
As with the other transitions, crafting mixed transitions requires intention in your writing. You probably can’t put things in the first order that comes to mind, and you may find that some elements are too unrelated. (In fact, going through this process can help you identify pieces that aren’t central to what you’re writing and could be left out.)
The same principles discussed in the other sections apply here:
- Look for similarities or differences. What does your time period have in common with your ideas or your subject? What is completely different?
- Identify ways that some elements set up others. What ideas gained momentum in the Victorian era?
- Pinpoint how different elements raise questions answered by the others. How has the development of car technology been shaped by environmental concerns (or the lack thereof)?
The idea is to find how the different pieces connect and then write your transitions to make those connections clear.
Mistakes to avoid when writing transitions
1. slapping a transition word onto a sentence with no extra thought..
Transition words only work if you make sure the surrounding sentences fit that word — if you’ve shaped the content to lead readers into the transition. Before you choose your favorite transition word to change the subject or move onto your next point, ask yourself these questions:
- Have I crafted the preceding sentence to set up my transition?
- Does it naturally lead to my next sentence?
If the answer to both is “yes”, you’re free to choose your transition word.
2. Overly relying on adverbs (see what I did there?).
As a reminder: adverbs are words that describe actions, and they often end in “ly”.
A few examples: relatedly, admittedly, firstly, lastly.
A lot of adverbs are also transition words. Because there are so many of them and they sound kind of formal, it can be easy to find yourself using them for every transition you write. But if you use “ly” adverbs for every transition, you’re bound to annoy your readers or accidentally pick up a sing-songy tone that undercuts your message.
How do you avoid this?
Once you’re done writing, run a document search for “ly”. If you’re overusing these words, cut or replace them with other transition words or phrases.
3. Using “so,” “next,” “then,” and other run-of-the-mill transition words every time you need to move on.
Another frequent offender is “but” (at the beginning of sentences) or its more formal cousin “however”.
It’s okay to use these words some of the time . But using them all of the time looks lazy and lacks creativity.
Just like you did with the “ly” adverbs, run a quick document search when you’re done with your draft. If you’ve used any individual transition word three or more times in a span of five pages, revise those transitional sentences (Wordtune can help!). You may need to mix up your sentence structures to set up for a better transition word.
Note: More unique transition words (e.g., despite, consequently) shouldn’t be used more than once in a shorter work.
A lot of writing is drawing connections between different ideas, time periods, and subjects — which means transitions carry a lot of weight. Put in the extra effort to craft your content with these connections in mind, and you’ll be well on your way writing to seamless transitions your readers don’t think twice about.
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54 Best Transition Words for Paragraphs
Good transition words for starting a paragraph include addition phrases like ‘furthermore’, cause and effect words like ‘consequently’, and contradiction words like ‘however’. Scroll down for a full table of transition words.
Using transition words in your writing can help you improve the readability and flow of your paragraph to the next.
These words help your text flow seamlessly into the next idea, which shows your readers the relationship between paragraphs and phrases.
List of Transition Words for Starting a Paragraph
Transition words can fall into more than one category based on what type of transition in your paragraph you’re planning to make.
For example, you’d want a different transition word if your second paragraph contradicts your first than if it supports it. Take the following examples:
Here is a list of transition words and what category they fall under.
- Addition – A transition that combines two or more ideas and shows their relationship. Examples include, what’s more, equally important, again, also, and, furthermore, moreover, besides .
- Cause and Effect – When one idea triggers another. This lets the reader know that they are directly connected. Examples include, consequently, hence, therefore, thus, next, as a result .
- Clarification – This is to rephrase what was said to clarify a statement and provide emphasis. Examples include, in other words, that is to say, to clarify.
- Compare and Contrast – This shows a relationship between two ideas that are compared based on differences or similarities. Examples are, after all, although this may be true, in contrast, likewise, on the contrary, similarly, whereas, yet.
- Emphasis (Boosting) – This shows certainty. Examples include, emphatically, in fact, surprisingly, undeniably, in any case, indeed, never, without a doubt.
- Providing examples : For example, for instance, as illustrated by, take the following case in point.
- Exception or Contradiction – This happens when an action with a pre-conceived notion ends with a different action. Examples are, however, nevertheless, in spite of, of course, once in a while, despite.
- Summarize or conclude – This signals the reader that they are at the end of the paragraph. Examples are, as this essay has shown, as a result, In conclusion, therefore, thus, hence, in short, in brief.
- Sequential – This expresses a numerical sequence, conclusion, continuation, resumption, or summation. Examples are to change the topic, to conclude with, afterward, incidentally, by the way, initially.
List of Transition Words for New Paragraphs
Transition words to avoid.
I recommend avoiding the following transition words:
Examples in Sentences
The best way to understand transition words is to provide examples. Let’s look at this sentence:
“Amy did not study for her test. Therefore, she did not get a good result.”
When you see the word ‘therefore,’ the reader knows that this is a cause and effect. What happened in the first sentence caused a resulting action.
The transition word provided a seamless flow into the next sentence that describes this effect.
Using the transitional word, ‘therefore,’ shows that the two sentences are part of one idea/process. Even with skimming, the reader can guess what’s the resulting action. This is how transition words hold your ideas together. Without them, it’s like your piece is just a jumble of coherent words.
Transition words don’t have to be placed at the start of a sentence. Let’s look at this sentence:
“Many people came to the event. Cristine, Emily, and David, for instance.”
In this sentence, ‘for instance’ is at the end of the sentence. However, it still gives the reader the necessary information to see how the two sentences are linked.
What are Transition Words?
Transition words for beginning paragraphs help writers to introduce a shift, opposition, contrast, agreement, emphasis, purpose, result, or conclusion from what was previously written. They are essential in argumentative essays.
Transition words are like bridges between the different paragraphs in your pieces. They serve as the cues that help your reader understand your ideas. They carry your ideas from one sentence to the next and one paragraph to the next.
Transitional words and phrases link an idea from a sentence to the following paragraph, so your work is read smoothly without abrupt jumps or sudden breaks between concepts.
Why use Transition Words
Proper communication of your ideas through paragraphs is important in writing. In order for your reader to read your piece with a thorough understanding of each idea and point conveyed in the piece, you have to use transition words and phrases.
With the examples provided, you would see that transitions string together your ideas by establishing a clear connection between the sentences and paragraphs.
Without transition words, your work may seem daunting and stressful to read, and the reader will not understand the idea you’re trying to convey.
Transitional phrases are especially important when writing an essay or thesis statement , as each paragraph has to connect ideas effortlessly.
Therefore, when a paragraph ends, the next idea must have some link to the previous one, which is why transition words play an important role.
Where Else to use Transition Words in an Essay
Transition words are important English devices for essays and papers. They enhance the transitions and connections between the sentences and paragraphs, giving your essay a flowing structure and logical thought.
Transition terms may seem easy to remember; however, placing them in the incorrect manner can cause your essay to fall flat.
Here are some places where essays transition words may fit:
- To show a connection between evidence and the ending
- To flow into the next paragraph, use your closing statement at the conclusion of each one
- At the start of the first body paragraph
- At the start of the second body paragraph
- In some of the starting sections of your summary or introductory paragraphs
- In an overview of your opinions/solutions in the conclusion
When adding your transition words and phrases in your essay, make sure not to accidentally form an incomplete or fragmented sentence. This is common with transitions, such as, if, although, and since .
While transition words are important in any writing piece, you have to make sure that the word or phrase you choose matches the logic of the paragraph or point you’re making. Use these words and phrases in moderation, as too much of them can also heavily bring the quality of your work down.
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Essay Writing Guide
Transition Words For Essays
Transition Words For Essays - The Ultimate List
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Do you find it challenging to make your essays flow smoothly and hold your readers' attention from start to finish? Are your paragraphs disjointed, leaving your writing feeling unpolished?
It can be frustrating when your ideas don't connect seamlessly. You might wonder how to make your writing shine and ensure it leaves a lasting impression on your professors.
Don't worry; we've got you covered!
In this guide, we'll introduce you to transition words for essays. These words are your secret weapon for crafting well-structured, compelling essays that will impress your teachers and elevate your writing game. Let's get started!
- 1. What are Good Transition Words for Essays?
- 2. Examples of Different Types of Transition Words
- 3. Transition Words for Argumentative Essays
- 4. Transition Words for Persuasive Essays
- 5. Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays
- 6. Transition Words for Informative Essays
- 7. Transition Words for Expository Essays
- 8. Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays
- 9. Transition Words for Synthesis Essays
- 10. Transition Words for Analysis Essays
- 11. Conclusion Transition Words for Essays
- 12. Beginning Transition Words for Essays
- 13. Paragraph Transition Words for Essays
- 14. Transition Words for Quotes in Essays
- 15. Transition Words for Essays Middle School
- 16. Transition Words for Essays High School
- 17. Transition Words for Essays College
- 18. Do’s and Don’ts of Using Transition Words
What are Good Transition Words for Essays?
Transition words are essential tools in essay writing , providing a clear path for your readers to follow. They serve the crucial purpose of connecting words, phrases, sentences, or even entire paragraphs.
By using these transitions effectively, you can effortlessly convey your ideas and thoughts in a coherent and easily understandable manner.
However, it's crucial to exercise moderation when using transition words. Overusing them can clutter your essay, making it confusing and difficult to read.
On the other hand, omitting them entirely can result in a piece that lacks flow and direction. Striking the right balance ensures that your essay is both engaging and comprehensible.
Purpose of Transition Words
Let’s take a look at the purpose of using transitions in essays:
- Enhance Readability: Transition words improve the overall flow and coherence of your writing.
- Clarify Relationships: They signal connections between ideas, whether it's adding, contrasting, or summarizing.
- Improve Comprehension: Readers can follow your argument or narrative more easily.
- Smooth Transitions: They act as bridges, seamlessly guiding your audience from one point to the next.
- Manage Change: They prepare the reader for shifts in topic or perspective.
- Enhance Engagement: Well-placed transitions keep readers interested and invested in your content.
- Encourage Flow: They maintain a logical progression, aiding in the overall structure of your work.
Examples of Different Types of Transition Words
Here are some common types of transitions for essays that can be used in almost any situation.
Addition Transitions
- Furthermore
- Additionally
- In addition
- Not only...but also
Comparison Transitions
- In the same way
- Comparable to
- Correspondingly
- In comparison
- By the same token
Contrast Transitions
- On the other hand
- In contrast
- Nevertheless
- Nonetheless
- Even though
Cause and Effect Transitions
- Consequently
- As a result
- For this reason
- Accordingly
Time Transitions
- Simultaneously
- In the meantime
- Subsequently
- At the same time
Illustration Transitions
- For example
- For instance
- Specifically
- To illustrate
- In particular
- In this case
- As an illustration
Emphasis Transitions
- Undoubtedly
- Without a doubt
Summary Transitions
- To summarize
- To conclude
Sequence Transitions
Example transitions.
- As an example
- To demonstrate
- For one thing
- As evidence
- As an instance
For Showing Exception
- At The Same Time
- Nevertheless
- On The Other Hand
- But At The Same Time
- Conversely
For Proving
- For This Reason
- Certainly
- To Demonstrate
- In Fact
- Clearly
- As A Result
This transition words for essays list will make it easier for you to understand what words to use in which kind of essay or for which purpose.
Transition Words for Argumentative Essays
- To begin with
- By contrast
- One alternative is
- To put more simply
- On the contrary
- With this in mind
- All things considered
- Generally speaking
- That is to say
- Yet another
Transition Words for Persuasive Essays
- furthermore
- Moreover
- Because
- Besides that
- Pursuing this further
Transition Words for Essays PDF
Transition Words for Compare and Contrast Essays
- Althoughyhtjyjum,u
- Notwithstanding
Transition Words for Informative Essays
- After all
- As can be expected
- Obviously
Transition Words for Expository Essays
- Equally important
- Another reason
- Not long after that
- Looking back
Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essays
- In order to
- Provided that
- Because of this
Transition Words for Synthesis Essays
- As noted earlier
- Consequently
- Whereas
- This leads to
- Another factor
- This lead to
- The underlying concept
- In this respect
Transition Words for Analysis Essays
- (once) again
- Primarily
- Due to
- Accordingly
- That is to say
- Subsequently
- To demonstrate
- However
Conclusion Transition Words for Essays
- In any event
- As mentioned
- In other words
- As you can see
Beginning Transition Words for Essays
These are some introduction transition words for essays to start writing:
- In the first place
- First of all
- For the most part
- On one hand
- As a rule
Paragraph Transition Words for Essays
- To put it differently
- Once and for all
Transition Words for Essay’s First Body Paragraph
- To start with
- First and foremost
- In the beginning
Transition Words for Essay’s Second Body Paragraph
- In addition to this
- Furthermore
Transition Words for Essay’s Last Body Paragraph
- In conclusion
- Finally
- Last but not least
- To sum up
- Altogether
Transition Words for Quotes in Essays
- Acknowledges
Transition Words for Essays Middle School
- In conclusion
- For instance
Transition Words for Essays High School
- Today
- In addition
- To summarize
- On the other hand
- As well as
- Although
Transition Words for Essays College
Here are some college level transition words for essay:
- Pursuing this
- Similarly
- What’s more
- As much as
- In a like manner
- In the same fashion
Do’s and Don’ts of Using Transition Words
So, now you have some strong transition words for essays at hand. But how do you use these transition words?
Here are the basic dos and don’ts of using transition words for essays.
- Understand that these terms are an important part of any type of essay or paper, adding to its overall flow and readability.
- Use these words when you are presenting a new idea. For example, start a new paragraph with these phrases, followed by a comma.
- Do not overuse transition words. It is one of the most common essay writing problems that students end up with. It is important to only use those words required to convey your message clearly. It is good to sound smart by using these words but don’t overdo it.
- Avoid using these words at the start and in the middle. Always try to use transition words only a few times where it is necessary to make it easy for the readers to follow the ideas.
So, now you have an extensive list of transition words. These are some of the best transition words for essays that you can add to your essays.
If your essay seems redundant because you used similar transition words, you can always have a look at this list to find some good replacements.
So, whenever you’re writing an essay, refer back to this list and let your words flow!
If you still feel that your essay is not properly conveying your ideas, turn to our expert essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com.
If you have some write-up, our write my essay service will make it flow without changing the entire content. Or, if you wish to write an essay from scratch, we will write a paper for you!
Simply contact us and place your order now. Our writers will take care of everything to help you ace your assignment.
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100 Best Political Science Research Topics
June 3, 2024
Political science is an incredibly broad and variated discipline, containing numerous subfields that attract immense amounts of research. Researchers in the field can utilize diverse empirical or theoretical methodologies, sometimes in combination. There are specialized fields based on geographic areas, time periods, political forms and institutions, and bodies of thought. Researchers might aim to impact policy, inspire advocacy, or produce knowledge about the nature of political ideas, systems, and processes. There are even sub-disciplines that focus separately on either relations or comparisons between nation-states (international relations and comparative politics, respectively). Given this expansiveness, it can be challenging to quickly pick out compelling political science research topics.
This article provides a broad sample of political science topics. Most of the topics are already the subject of intensive research, which is ultimately something to look for when identifying a topic. Understanding the themes and subfields that already structure study in the field can ultimately help toward locating a unique research interest. From there, it’s a matter of refining interests into specific topics and, eventually, questions that drive research.
Picking Political Science Research Topics
Finding political science topics usually involves doing two things, sometimes simultaneously. The first requires understanding what prominent topics already exist in the field(s). After all, this discipline has been around for many decades, with incredible amounts of published research each year. It’s best to not try to wholly reinvent the wheel in this case, or risk selecting a topic for which there is no available research. The second entails reflecting on what feels important to research. A topic could be significant because it is remarkably timely or because there is some pragmatic outcome in mind. The researcher might even have a personal connection with the topic on top of these other kinds of factors. Pursuing research that feels important is an evergreen recommendation – otherwise, research can be produced without any clear purpose or benefit in mind.
So, when picking political science research topics, consider these processes and resources:
1) Start with what interests you. Take inventory of your personal and intellectual experiences and how they might intersect with what you know about political research. How would you map your experiences geographically or historically? What themes in the political sphere grab your attention? In what ways have you and others around you interacted with formal politics? Understanding what you are motivated to learn about makes the process of selecting among political science topics more organic.
Picking Political Science Research Topics (Cont.)
2) Consider what feels urgent. Political science has a good deal of overlap with the discipline of history. But perhaps even more than historians, political scientists are committed to understanding and improving politics in the present. A great deal of tremendous scholarship is sparked from this presentist impulse. What news items are persistently interesting or seem to revolve around intractably complex problems? A topic connected to widely recognized issues in the present will almost immediately justify the resulting research.
3) Survey field categories and literature. Usually, topics that are timely will already be drawing attention from other researchers. It’s also possible to spark curiosity through understanding how others have framed topics and questions. However, the most important reason for this step is to ensure that a research topic will have enough published writing around it to warrant attention. There are many ways to complete a survey within or across political science fields. To start, fields like comparative politics have field-specific journals and anthologies with useful descriptions and citations. There is the Journal of Comparative Politics , a journal called Comparative Political Studies , and a big anthology called Comparative Politics: A Practical Guide . Another extremely helpful resource is the research database known as Oxford Bibliographies . There, political science scholars compile bibliographic entries that define subfields and provide key citations.
Again, these are not strictly sequential steps. Often, it’s necessary to engage existing topics and research questions and use them to inspire reflection on what feels significant. Or it’s likely that specific interests will help delimit subfields, making it easier to comb through topics.
It’s important to narrow topics so that a researcher could reasonably become an expert on. In Oxford Bibliographies, many times they break very broad topics into multiple subtopics, each with its own body of literature. But it can also be useful to think about the research question that might stem from the broad topic. What specifically is it that needs to be known about this topic? What causes and effects are involved in phenomena we can see and describe but have not yet analyzed? Or what can be critiqued, evaluated, improved or replaced? Finding how a broad topic can lead to descriptive, analytical, or evaluative research questions is the most effective way to identify compelling and specific topics.
The List – Political Science Research Topics (1-30)
African politics.
1) African Ethnic, Linguistic, and Religious Minority Political Representation
2) Authoritarianism in the Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
3) Comparative Political Structures of African Urban Governments
4) Democratization Policies and Political Movements in Africa
5) Ethnic and Religious Plurality in the Politics of Nigeria
6) National and Transnational LGBTQ Political Movements in Africa
7) Political Organization Around Climate Crises in Africa
8) Public Opinion on International NGOs in Africa
9) South Africa’s Governmental Policies for COVID Vaccination
10) Women in African Politics
Asian Politics
11) Competing Claims to Sovereignty in the South China Sea
12) Economic and Cultural Effects of China’s One-Child Policy
13) Labor Politics in China
14) Media Politics and Expression in Asian Countries
15) Nationalism and Religious Minorities in India
16) Philippine Politics and the Illicit Drug Economy
17) Social Movements in East Asia
18) South Korean Policies Addressing Demographic Decline
19) Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong
20) Youth Protest Movements in Taiwan
Comparative Politics
21) Authoritarian Populism in Brazil, Hungary, and India
22) Countries that Host Foreign-Owned Nuclear Weapons
23) Diasporas and National Politics in South and East Asian Countries
24) Differences in Environmental Politics Between the Global North and Global South
25) Elections in Sierra Leone and Their Differences from Other Countries
26) Governmental Responses to Gang Violence in Different Latin American Countries
27) Income Inequality in Advanced Democracies
28) Indigenous Rights and Politics in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
29) Laws Surrounding Abortion in the U.S. and the U.K.
30) State Legitimacy and Authority in Botswana and Somalia
Political Science Topics (31-60)
European politics.
31) Authoritarianism and Media Politics in Turkey
32) Austerity, White Identity Politics, and Brexit
33) Ethnic and Religious Minority Representation in the European Union
34) European Public Opinion on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
35) Far-Right Political Mobilization in Europe
36) France’s Political Opposition to Multicultural Pluralism
37) Immigration, Islamophobia, and European Union Political Campaigns
38) Political Challenges and Opportunities for European Integration
39) Regime Transitions in Post-Communist Eastern Europe
40) Welfare State Development in Western Europe
International Relations
41) Border Security Politics, Immigration, and International Relations
42) Efficacy of International Criminal Justice Bodies
43) Energy Politics of International Relations
44) Global Economy of Illicit Drugs
45) Global Politics of Intellectual Property
46) International Conflict Management
47) International NGOs and Their Effects on National Politics
48) Political Responses to Transboundary Pollution
49) Preferential Trade Agreements and Tariff Wars
50) Regulation of International Private Corporations
Latin American Politics
51) Authoritarianism and Democratization in Brazil’s Political History
52) Christian Transnational Political Mobilization in Latin America
53) Electoral Volatility and Suppression in Venezuela
54) Government Responses to Organized Crime in Mexico and Central America
55) Guerilla Insurgencies in Latin America
56) Neoliberalism and Democracy in Latin America
57) Military Government in Latin America, 1959-1990
58) Populism’s Role in Shaping Latin American Politics
59) Poverty, Inequality, and Development in Latin America
60) Regional Economic, Political, and Cultural Integration in Latin America
Political Science Research Topics (61-90)
Methodology.
61) Accuracy and Reliability of Models Predicting Election Outcomes
62) Applying Game Theory to Understand Political Strategies
63) Development of Survey Methods and Research
64) Ethical Problems Surrounding the Use of Experiments in Political Research
65) Experimental Methods for Promoting Voter Turnout
66) Impact of Survey Design and Sampling Techniques on Validity in Public Opinion Polls
67) Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Political Research
68) Machine Learning Techniques and Political Science
69) Researching Politics Through Big Data
70) Using Ethnography to Study Political Behavior and Institutions
Middle Eastern Politics
71) Comparative Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
72) Democracy, Statehood, and the Israel-Palestine Peace Process
73) Immigrant Labor Politics in Oil-Rich Middle East Countries
74) Mobilization and Oppression Through Media Control in the Arab Spring
75) Oil Wealth, Political Stability, and Economic Development in the Middle East
76) Political Islam, National, and International Politics in the Middle East
77) Postcolonialism and the Political Development of Iran
78) S. Foreign Policy and Its Effects on Stability and Governance in the Middle East
79) Women’s Political Participation in the Middle East and North Africa
80) Water Politics and Their Impact on Middle Easter International Relations and Security
Political Theory
81) Critical Political Theory and the Frankfurt School
82) Development of Political Thought in Ancient China
83) Effects of New Media (i.e., TVs, CDs, social messaging platforms) in Politics
84) Feminist Interventions in Political Thought
85) Hegelian and Counter-Hegelian Political Thought
86) Intersectionality in Political Theory
87) Nationalist and Cosmopolitan Political Thought
88) Religion in Classical and Contemporary Political Thought
89) Political Representation and Policy Responsiveness to Public Opinion
90) Postcolonial and Decolonial Political Theory
Political Science Topics (91-100)
U.s. politics.
91) Age and Generational Differences in U.S. Politics
92) Asian American Politics and Political Movements
93) Campaign Advertising in U.S. Elections
94) Celebrity Influence on Political Campaigns in the U.S.
95) Interest Groups and Modern U.S. Conservativism
96) Litigation Strategies in Political Contests Over Abortion
97) Politics of Electoral Redistricting in the U.S.
98) Politics of U.S. Healthcare System and Reform
99) S. Politics and Policies of Mass Incarceration
100) Voter Opinion on Women Political Candidates
Final Thoughts on Political Science Research Topics
Political science topics are rarely one-size-fits-all. Like many humanistic and other modes of research, topics typically suit the specific interests and motivations of the researcher. Do you want to improve a method or practical process? Are you interested in the politics of a specific region, or motivated to learn about something especially urgent? Where is the conversation within or across fields, and where might you have the most to contribute? Combining careful self-assessment and knowledge of research fields is the best way to effectively carve out your own chunk of the gigantic discipline that is political science.
Political Science Research Topics – Additional Resources
- Good Persuasive Speech Topics
- Debate Topics
- Argumentative Essay Topics
- Social Issues Topics
- Easy Science Experiments for Kids
- 62 Research Opportunities for High School Students
- 150 Journal Prompts for Kids, Middle, and High School Students
- 141 Fun, Weird, and Interesting Facts
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Tyler Talbott
Tyler holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri and two Master of Arts degrees in English, one from the University of Maryland and another from Northwestern University. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in English at Northwestern University, where he also works as a graduate writing fellow.
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33 Transition Words and Phrases. 'Besides,' 'furthermore,' 'although,' and other words to help you jump from one idea to the next. Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one. Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that ...
A transition between paragraphs can be a word or two (however, for example, similarly), a phrase, or a sentence. Transitions can be at the end of the first paragraph, at the beginning of the second paragraph, or in both places. Transitions within paragraphs: As with transitions between sections and paragraphs, transitions within paragraphs act ...
2) Comparative Transitions (Similarity) These transition words draw a parallel or bring out a similarity between images or ideas. They can be used not only in a straightforward sense but also to establish relations of similarity between objects or ideas that might appear to be dissonant. Similarly. Likewise.
Using a paraphrasing tool for clear writing. With the use of certain tools, you can make your writing clear. One of these tools is a paraphrasing tool. One thing the tool does is help your sentences make more sense. It has different modes where it checks how your text can be improved. For example, automatically adding transition words where needed.
Transitions. Transitions help your readers move between ideas within a paragraph, between paragraphs, or between sections of your argument. When you are deciding how to transition from one idea to the next, your goal should be to help readers see how your ideas are connected—and how those ideas connect to the big picture.
Clear transitions are crucial to clear writing: They show the reader how different parts of your essay, paper, or thesis are connected. Transition sentences can be used to structure your text and link together paragraphs or sections. Example of a transition sentence for a new paragraph. In this case, the researchers concluded that the method ...
Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper. However, these words all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure…
The broken record. "Exercise can improve your cardiovascular function. In addition, it can increase your self-esteem. Additionally, exercise can be a great way to meet new people. Plus, exercise can extend your life and make you feel younger.". Some transition words will be used more than others, and that's fine.
Common Transition Words and Phrases. ... 9. Emphasis. Use to suggest that an idea is particularly important to your argument important to note, most of all, a significant factor, a primary concern, a key feature, remember that, pay particular attention to, a central issue, the most substantial issue, the main value, a major event, the chief factor, a distinctive quality, especially valuable ...
A transition is a change from one idea to another idea in writing or speaking and can be achieved using transition terms or phrases. These transitions are usually placed at the beginning of sentences, independent clauses, and paragraphs and thus establish a specific relationship between ideas or groups of ideas.
Transitions Quick Guide. There are two kinds of transitions: (a) transitional words and phrases that are used at the start of a sentence to show how the sentence connects with the previous sentence and (b) transitional sentences that are used at the start of a paragraph to show how the paragraph logically connects with the previous paragraph.
Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read. Transition words are useful for all types of writers. Whether you're attempting academic writing, blogging, speech writing, or writing fiction, transition words can help refine your text and create a narrative flow. Transition words are useful for all types of writers.
4. Mixed transitions. Most pieces of writing will require you to transition between the previous three types — from writing about an event to explaining an idea, or covering an idea to exploring a specific subject. ⏰ → 💡 → 📚. As with the other transitions, crafting mixed transitions requires intention in your writing.
Good transition words for starting a paragraph include addition phrases like 'furthermore', cause and effect words like 'consequently', and contradiction words like 'however'. Scroll down for a full table of transition words. Using transition words in your writing can help you improve the readability and flow of your paragraph to the next.
In argumentative essays, the effective use of transition words is essential for presenting a well-structured and coherent argument. To begin with. To show. By contrast. One alternative is. Chiefly. Mainly. To put it more simply. At the same time.
Good transitions can connect paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Instead of treating paragraphs as separate ideas, transitions can help readers understand how paragraphs work together, reference one another, and build to a larger point. The key to producing good transitions is highlighting connections between ...
What are Good Transition Words for Essays? 2. Examples of Different Types of Transition Words; 3. Transition Words for Argumentative Essays; 4. Transition Words for Persuasive Essays ... Here are the basic dos and don'ts of using transition words for essays. Do: Understand that these terms are an important part of any type of essay or paper ...
Clear transitions are crucial to clear writing: they connect different parts of your essay and structure your text. This video will walk you through the use ...
Transitional words that signal explanation or elaboration include in other words, for example, for instance, in particular, that is, to illustrate, moreover. • drawing conclusions You can use transitions to signal to readers that you are moving from the body of your argument to your conclusions. Before you use transitional words to signal
Nevertheless. On the contrary. Example: Still, it would be a terrible waste of tomatoes, so we won't pelt the politicians. Along with the argument for or against something, is the expansion of an idea. These transitions help lay the foundation for taking an idea or thought, then adding more to it.
The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out ...
The best essays have clear, coherent language and are free of errors. The story is clearly and specifically told. After drafting, take the time to revise and polish your writing. Seek feedback ...
Political science is an incredibly broad and variated discipline, containing numerous subfields that attract immense amounts of research. Researchers in the field can utilize diverse empirical or theoretical methodologies, sometimes in combination. There are specialized fields based on geographic areas, time periods, political forms and institutions, and bodies of thought. Researchers might ...