Discussion: Revising Your Writing: Structure and Transitions
Structure refers to how you begin and conclude a paragraph, whereas transitions are the subtle ways you guide the reader, compare, and connect ideas. These concepts are represented in the “M” and “L” (main idea and lead-out) sections of the MEAL plan for paragraphs. They are also necessary in scholarly writing to ensure your reader’s engagement and interest.
This week’s Learning Resources provide a useful framework for better understanding ways to use structure and transitions in your writing to create flow between paragraphs and overall cohesion for your essay.
For this Discussion, you will reflect on your own writing in relation to creating structured, well-connected paragraphs. Based on what you have learned from the week’s Resources, you will share your thoughts and experiences on structure and transitions.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the Learning Resources on transitions, paragraph development, and the MEAL plan.
- Reflect on your writing process in relation to structure and transitions.
By Day 3
Post a 1- to 2- paragraph reflection on your skills in using structure and transitions to create a sense of flow in an essay. Include any phrases, words, or sentences that you have used in the past. (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will apply strategies for structure and transitions in this week’s Assignment.)
Read 3–5 of your colleagues’ posts.
By Day 5
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:
- Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posts.
- Offer and support an opinion.
- Validate an idea with your own experience.
- Make a suggestion.
- Ask a probing question.
- Expand on your colleague’s posts.
