Making an Argument

Understanding Relations and Making Transitions

Transitions are a way to show the relationships between different parts of your paper. Here are some common relationships between ideas, along with words that might be helpful for showing those relationships.


ADDITION

The capital of China is Beijing, and the capital of India is New Delhi.

and, also, both…and, furthermore, too, equally important, further, next, what’s more, in addition, as well as, moreover


CAUSE AND EFFECT

Because China’s population is so large, the Chinese government has reduced the country’s birth rate.

because, so that, resulting in, therefore, since, due to, at last, consequently, accordingly, hence, thus, in response to


SIMILARITY (COMPARISON)

Like China, India has a population of over one billion people.

like, likewise, similarly, in like manner, analogous to, just as


DIFFERENCE (CONTRAST)

China has reduced the country’s birth rate, but India has not been able to slow its population growth.

but, whereas, in contrast, unlike, instead, differently, however, yet, by comparison, on the other hand


QUALIFICATION OR CONCESSION

Although China has the world’s largest population now, India’s population will be the largest by 2013.

although, nonetheless, still, though, yet, despite, sometimes, in part


ILLUSTRATION OR EXAMPLE

China’s geography is highly varied, including frozen mountain ranges and tropical beaches.

including, for example, after all, consider, specifically, such as


PROOF

The success of the China’s policy demonstrates that a government can influence population size.

demonstrates, proves, evidently, indeed, shows, in fact


CHRONOLOGY (THE ORDER OF EVENTS IN TIME)

China enacted the one-child policy after deciding that the population was expanding unsustainably. after, first, second, third, following, afterward, before, formerly,

simultaneously, subsequently, concurrently, now, in the meantime


CONCLUSION OR SUMMARY

In the end, we can see that governments do influence the size of their country’s population.

in the end, on the whole, in short, in closing, to summarize, finally

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