How to transition from introduction to first paragraph

Table of Contents Show

Topic Sentences
Transition Sentences
Definitions
Key Example
Transitioning between paragraphs
Placement of transition sentences
Transitioning to a new section
Transitions within a paragraph
The known-new contract
Transition words and phrases
Grouping similar information
What is a good transition to start a first paragraph?
How do you transition an introduction to a paragraph?
How do I start my 1st body paragraph?
What is a good transition sentence?

Strong body paragraphs are the foundation of a strong essay. The introduction and conclusion paragraphs of an essay mostly exist for style and organization purposes; they do not develop substantive material. Body paragraphs deliver the real meat and potatoes: arguments, evidence and supporting details. The first body paragraph is especially important, since it usually contains the strongest argument in the paper. There are many good ways of starting of the first body paragraph; all aim to strengthen the key argument in the paper.

Topic Sentences

A topic sentence is one of the most popular ways of opening the first body paragraph. Typically, the topic sentence corresponds to one of the points in the thesis statement. For example, if your thesis statement reads, "Because of reason X, Y and Z, alternative medicine is fundamentally flawed," your first body paragraph could read, "Reason X is a big part of why alternative medicine will prove unsuccessful."

Transition Sentences

A transition sentence is a great way to open the first body paragraph in a paper. Transition sentences establish logical links between different ideas. For example, if your introduction ended with a thesis statement about how the author establishes setting, you could start the first body paragraph with a sentence like, "The first way the author establishes setting is through..." This phrasing creates a transition between the first body paragraph and the intro, because it flows naturally from the last sentence in the thesis statement.

Definitions

The first body paragraph is also a good place to define key terms in the paper. In a traditional five paragraph essay, this can be hard to do, because every body paragraph is supposed to do the same thing for a different argument. However, in more advanced papers, which do not demand such a symmetrical style, it is possible to use the first body paragraph primarily to define key terms. For example, if your paper deals with a technical topic like economics, you can open the first body paragraph by saying, "Before we can speak of economics, we must define supply and demand."

Key Example

If you are writing a paper based on a case study, it is a good idea to use the first paragraph to summarize the case in question. For example, if your paper is based on a crime report, you would use the first paragraph to summarize the facts of the case. If you are using the first body paragraph in this way, it is good to open the paragraph by describing the nature of the facts. For example, if the facts in question are contradictory, you could open by saying, "The facts in the John Doe murder case paint a complex and paradoxical picture."

Published on June 9, 2020 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on December 6, 2021.

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 was unreliable.

However, evidence from a more recent study points to a different conclusion. …

Transitioning between paragraphs

When you start a new paragraph, the first sentence should clearly express:

What this paragraph will discuss
How it relates to the previous paragraph

The examples below show some examples of transition sentences between paragraphs and what they express.

Transition sentence	This paragraph…
Further evidence in support of this hypothesis is provided by Smith (2019).	…complements the previous one, providing more support for the same idea.
However, Patel’s arguments are not the final word on the matter.	…contradicts the previous one by presenting new evidence related to the previous discussion.
Having established the relationship between these factors, we are in a position to draw conclusions about the broader process.	…treats the preceding point as a base on which to build up more general arguments.

Placement of transition sentences

The beginning of a new paragraph is generally the right place for a transition sentence. Each paragraph should focus on one topic, so avoid spending time at the end of a paragraph explaining the theme of the next one.

Incorrect: Transition at the end of a paragraph… The consensus view is clear from these quotations. The following paragraph discusses some scholars who dissent from this consensus.

The first dissenter to consider is …

Correct: Transition at the start of a paragraph… The consensus view is clear from these quotations.

However, several scholars dissent from this consensus. The first one to consider is …

Transitioning to a new section

While transitions between paragraphs are generally a single sentence, when you start a new section in a longer text, you may need an entire transition paragraph. Transitioning to a new section involves summarizing the content of the previous section and expressing how the new one will build upon or depart from it.

For example, the following sentences might be an effective transition for a new section in a literary analysis essay.

Example of a transition paragraph

Having established that the subjective experience of time is one of Mann’s key concerns in The Magic Mountain, it is now possible to explore how this theme facilitates the novel’s connection with World War I. The war itself is not narrated in the book, but rather hinted at as something awaiting Castorp beyond the final pages. In this way, Mann links his protagonist’s subjective experience of time to more than just his illness; it is also used to explore the period leading up to the outbreak of war.

As in academic writing generally, aim to be as concise as you can while maintaining clarity: If you can transition to a new section clearly with a single sentence, do so, but use more when necessary.

Transitions within a paragraph

It’s also important to use effective transitions within each paragraph you write, leading the reader through your arguments efficiently and avoiding ambiguity.

The known-new contract

The order of information within each of your sentences is important to the cohesion of your text. The known-new contract, a useful writing concept, states that a new sentence should generally begin with some reference to information from the previous sentence, and then go on to connect it to new information.

In the following example, the second sentence doesn’t follow very clearly from the first. The connection only becomes clear when we reach the end.

The industrial revolution had various effects on the population. Urbanization, involving the concentration of formerly rural populations in the new industrial towns, was one major effect of industrialization.

By reordering the information in the second sentence so that it begins with a reference to the first, we can help the reader follow our argument more smoothly.

The industrial revolution had various effects on the population. One major effect was urbanization, which involved the concentration of formerly rural populations in the new industrial towns.

Note that the known-new contract is just a general guideline. Not every sentence needs to be structured this way, but it’s a useful technique if you’re struggling to make your sentences cohere.

Transition words and phrases

Using appropriate transition words helps show your reader connections within and between sentences. Transition words and phrases come in four main types:

Additive transitions, which introduce new information or examples
Adversative transitions, which signal a contrast or departure from the previous text
Causal transitions, which are used to describe cause and effect
Sequential transitions, which indicate a sequence

The table below gives a few examples for each type:

Type	Example sentence	Transition words and phrases
Additive	We found that the mixture was effective. Moreover, it appeared to have additional effects we had not predicted.	furthermore, moreover, for example, in regard to x, similarly, in other words
Adversative	The novel does deal with the theme of family. However, its central theme is more broadly political …	however, although, nevertheless, regardless, above all, (or) at least
Causal	Because Hitler failed to respond to the British ultimatum, France and the UK declared war on Germany.	because, therefore, consequently, if, provided that, so that, to
Sequential	This has historically had several consequences: First, the conflict is not given the weight of other conflicts in historical narratives. Second, its causes are inadequately understood. Third, …	first, second, third, initially, subsequently, finally, lastly, to return/returning to x, as previously mentioned, in conclusion

Grouping similar information

While transition words and phrases are essential, and every essay will contain at least some of them, it’s also important to avoid overusing them. One way to do this is by grouping similar information together so that fewer transitions are needed.

For example, the following text uses three transition words and jumps back and forth between ideas. This makes it repetitive and difficult to follow.

Example of overused transition wordsSmith (2019) argues for the former hypothesis. However, Jones (2017) argues for the latter, while Davies (2015) agrees with Smith. Moreover, Baldwin (2018) also argues for the former hypothesis.

Rewriting it to group similar information allows us to use just one transition, making the text more concise and readable.

Grouping similar informationSmith (2019), Davies (2015), and Baldwin (2018) all argue for the former hypothesis, whereas Jones (2017) argues for the latter.

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Caulfield, J. (2021, December 06). Transition Sentences | Tips & Examples for Clear Writing. Scribbr. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/transition-sentences/

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What is a good transition to start a first paragraph?

Paragraph opening without transitional cues.

How do you transition an introduction to a paragraph?

Linking words and conjunctive adverbs are often used in paragraph transitions because they help establish the relationship between two separate ideas. Words like “therefore,” “nevertheless,” “although,” and “namely” quickly sum up how one idea relates to the next.

How do I start my 1st body paragraph?

Often the hardest sentence to write, the first sentence of your body paragraph should act as the topic sentence, introducing the main point of the entire paragraph. Also known as the “paragraph leader,” the topic sentence opens the discussion with an underlying claim (or sometimes a question).

What is a good transition sentence?

What are the components of good transition sentences? They make an explicit connection between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. Good transitions use specific words. Try to avoid using pronouns like “this” to refer to an entire idea because it is not always clear who or what “this” refers to.