Helpful Hints

Helpful Hints

On this page, the ESL / Writing Center staff plans to include information indicative of what we use when working with students.

Currently, we have material on the basic steps in writing a research paper and on using transitions.

Some Basic Steps to Writing a Research Paper

Choose a topic
Do general research
Narrow your topic and formulate a working thesis
Make a temporary outline
Research more, start reference list
Take notes
Revise outline and, possibly, thesis
Do more research, take more notes
Write a rough draft
Write introduction and conclusion, and a title
Revise draft, and revise again
Polish/Proofread, put paper into final form
Turn paper in!

Transitions

Transitions are essential for a smooth composition. They move your paper from one topic to another. If you've ever had a professor say your paper doesn't "flow", you probably have transition problems.

Transitional words and expressions are helpful in connecting sentences and paragraphs. Remember--you want your reader to follow your train of thought.

Here's a list of transitional words and phrases.
To Add or Show Sequence:

again last also moreover further besides

finally too first and next furthermore

second equally important in addition still

To Compare:

also likewise similarly in the same way

To Contrast:

although however still despite in contrast regardless

but though even though even so in spite of yet

notwithstanding on the contrary similarly

To Give Examples or Intensify:

even in fact truly after all of course an illustration of

indeed that is for example specifically for instance to illustrate

in other words

To Indicate Place:

above here there adjacent to near to the east

below nearby to the left elsewhere opposite to on the other side

farther on

To Indicate Time:

before at last lately now so far until

afterward at length in the past presently subsequently until now

earlier formerly later shortly soon when

as long as immediately meanwhile since then after a while

as soon as at that time simultaneously thereafter

To Repeat, Summarize, or Conclude:

in brief in particular that is all in all in short therefore

altogether in summary to summarize in conclusion on the whole

To Show Cause or Effect:

because accordingly since thus consequently hence

to this end then as a result otherwise for this purpose therefore

If you want additional information, please e-mail to: pratt@setonhill.edu

again	last	also	moreover	further	besides
finally	too	first	and	next	furthermore
second	equally important		in addition		still
To Compare:
also	likewise	similarly	in the same way
To Contrast:
although	however	still	despite	in contrast	regardless
but	though	even though	even so	in spite of	yet
notwithstanding		on the contrary		similarly
To Give Examples or Intensify:
even	in fact	truly	after all	of course	an illustration of
indeed	that is	for example	specifically	for instance	to illustrate
in other words
To Indicate Place:
above	here	there	adjacent	to near	to the east
below	nearby	to the left	elsewhere	opposite to	on the other side
farther on
To Indicate Time:
before	at last	lately	now	so far	until
afterward	at length	in the past	presently	subsequently	until now
earlier	formerly	later	shortly	soon	when
as long as	immediately	meanwhile	since	then	after a while
as soon as	at that time	simultaneously	thereafter
To Repeat, Summarize, or Conclude:
in brief	in particular	that is	all in all	in short	therefore
altogether	in summary	to summarize	in conclusion	on the whole
To Show Cause or Effect:
because	accordingly	since	thus	consequently	hence
to this end	then	as a result	otherwise	for this purpose	therefore