Explain what makes the underlined sentences transitional

Question

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Answer 1

Hi Stan!

Great question. Transitional sentences make a connection between the previous sentence, and the sentence following.

In your first example, your initial topic is discussing Chinese Novels. The transitional sentence used there is a quote by Steve Jobs, which allows for the topic to move from discussing the Chinese Novels, to Steve Jobs' biography.

The reason that particular sentence is considered the transitional sentence is because it allows for the topics to change in a fluid motion from one idea to the next, without actually interrupting the flow of what is discussed in the reading itself.

In your second example, the transitional sentence is the "there are challenges of course". The reason that this is a transitional sentence is like before. If we look at the topics that are discussed between the first section and the second, they are independent of each other. However, with that transitional sentence, it allows for the topics to join together into one cohesive discussion or topic.

Does this help?

Answer 2

The transitional sentence in the first paragraph indicates a shift from Chinese to English-language bestsellers. The word "but" signals to the reader that we are changing focus.

The second example shows a more dramatic turn. The writer is transitioning to address and explain a caveat to their preceding point, as is signaled by the phrase "of course."

Both sentences nod to the content of the previous paragraph but orient us to the content of the next one. They also place the two given paragraphs in relationship to each other. In the first example, our range of focus is being broadened; the second paragraph adds to the general point of the first. In the second example, the second paragraph complicates and nuances the point made in the first.