Transitional words give structure to a text, and clarify the reasons the author gives. These words indicate the connections in a text and clear them up. If you are aware of these words, you’ll have an easier time identifying the structure of the text, which will help you understand the logic.
There are different categories:
- Summary: and, also, including, further, hence
- Equal: as, at the same time, equally important
- Options: or, neither, on the one hand
- Repetition: again, back to, in other words, which is, this means, repeats
- Opposition / change: but, moreover, on the other hand, instead of, anyway, the other way around
- Cause / effect: then, because, follows, for that reason, that is, thus, therefore
- Assumption: on the assumption, if, taking into account that, supposing, assuming
- Weight: important, more so, even
- Order: first, last, followed, and then, as last, previous, next, before, after, finally
- Conclusion: therefore, summary, i.e.
Once you have practiced this learning strategy, you will more easily recognize the structure of texts, which helps understanding the content.
You can try it on the opening paragraph of this document perhaps?