Initiate a transition vs "anticipate the subsequent digression"?

Question

What is the different between writing a sentence that serves to initiate a transition and one that does to anticipate the subsequent digression.\n\nCan somebody please give me a example?

Answer 1

A transition establishes the connection between two topics or ideas. A digression breaks from the main subject or narrative.

Say you're writing about the economics of the Roman Empire and you introduce several topics, like agricultural production, manufacturing, trade, and use of slave labor. Midway through your paper, after you've discussed trade relations among various parts of the empire, you want to TRANSITION to a discussion of slave labor. One way to transition would be discussing how slaves were traded through the empire and then get into the types of labor they performed.

To signal a reader that you were going to DIGRESS on the morality of slavery or perhaps how it differed in the Roman era versus the period of the transatlantic slave trade, you would maybe use a short paragraph to explain that you planned to discuss this side topic briefly and why it was important to include although it isn't directly relevant to the economics of the Roman Empire.

Literarydevices dot net has some good resources and examples you may wish to read.

Answer 2

If you are going to digress, it's helpful to set up the digression so the reader won't feel you've gone off half-cocked into strange territory.

Let's say you are writing about how to change a car's oil. In your introduction, you've mentioned "three key factors in doing an oil change: first, get the supplies (oil, filter, oil pan, creeper); second, jack up the car and secure it on jack stands; third, remove the oil pan bolt and drain the oil.

In body paragraph one, you discuss finding the right oil, filter and tools. A transition sentence from paragraph one (supplies and tools) to paragraph two (jacking up the car) would look like this:

"Now that you have the correct filter, enough premium grade oil, and your tools --including a creeper to make your job comfy--you are ready to to get under the car, access the oil pan, remove the bolt, and drain the oil."

An anticipated digression would be sentence one, below. It makes clear that the writer is going to take a little side path away from the main narrative.

"Now that you have your tools and supplies, you are almost ready to go, but before getting into the next step of draining the oil, let's talk about creepers. Some mechanics might say a "creeper" is optional but we highly recommend it because without one you'll spend too much time crawling on the dirty ground getting underneath the car (and back out). Creepers can be found at most aftermarket repair shops for under $75.