Lesson Plan on Transitions

Brenna Crawford
October 23, 2015
Context:
Course name: 12th grade Standard English
Grade level: 12th
Length of lesson: Approximately 25 minutes
The students have been working on writing TEAR format essays in preparation for
re-taking the SOL writing test. This lesson should give examples of transitional
words and phrases, and provide an exercise that works on using transitions to
increase the structure and readability of an essay.
Virginia SOL(s):
12.6 The student will develop expository and informational, analyses, and
persuasive/argumentative writings.
g) Revise writing for clarity of content, depth of information and technique of
presentation.
12.7 The student will write, revise, and edit writing.
a) Edit, proofread, and prepare writing for intended audience and purpose.
Common Core State Standard(s):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting,
or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a
specific purpose and audience.
Objectives (KUD format):
K1: Students will know examples of commonly used transitional words and phrases.
K2: Students will know the appropriate ways of using a transitional word in their
essays (ie: at the beginning of a sentence to introduce an idea, or when
transitioning to a new topic or step)
U1: Students will understand that transitional words and phrases assist with the
structural flow and readability of an essay. They encourage coherent connections
from one idea to the next.

D1: Students will be able to recognize transitional words and phrases in an Virginia
Department of Education (VDOE) anchor text sample from a previous years version
of the SOL writing test.
D2: Students will be able to rewrite sentences from the anchor example with
different transitional words or phrases.
Assessments: Methods for evaluating each of the specific objectives listed
above.
Diagnostic: Students will demonstrate what they already know by
Students will answer (as a class) an oral question about what
transitional phrases they are familiar with, and which ones they have used
recently in their writing.
Formative: Students will show their progress toward today's objectives by
Students will complete the transitional phrase handout and
participating in the class discussion.
Summative: Students will ultimately be assessed (today or in a future lesson) on
these standards by
Students will most likely need to use transitional words or phrases in
their SOL writing test in order to demonstrate the coherent style of writing
that will earn a passing grade.
Materials Needed:
20 handouts of the anchor essay comparison sheet
Projector
Digital document of anchor essay comparison sheet
Instructional Steps (Procedures): Detail student and teacher behavior.
Beginning Room Arrangement:
Students will be sitting in their regular desk arrangement style of five rows.
I. Welcome/greeting/announcements (2 minutes)
Hi everyone, like Mrs. Orme just said, I am Ms. Crawford. I am a student at UVa and
I am from Richmond, VA. Along with studying English teaching, I am also a sculpture
major. So, if any of you are interested in art or metal welding and design, you should
definitely talk to me about it sometime. Ms. Pugh and I will be in this classroom for
the rest of the year, and we would like to get to know you. Feel free to ask me
questions about art or college or my dog Atlas (I adore talking about Atlas).
II. Hook/ bridge/ opening to lesson (3 minutes)
Today I am going to walk us through an activity about transitional words and
phrases.

Have you ever read an essay that you would describe as choppy? Did it feel like
BAM, one idea, BAM, next idea, BAM next idea, BAM, end of essay. This feeling
sometimes happens when we dont use transitional words in our writing. When we
dont use transitions flow of the essay feels turbulent, and the reader can become
lost. Transitions provide the guide rails for the essay. They help readers find their
way through your thoughts and ideas.
III. Instructional steps (18 minutes)
On the sheet in front of you, you will see an anchor SOL essay. I will read it aloud.
While I am doing so, see if you can spot the transitional words or phrases in the
essay. Circle them as you find them.
{I will then ask students to come up and circle them on the board. If they do not
respond to this, I will circle them myself}
Are there any other transitional words or phrases that you know or use?
Do you think the essay would make as much sense with the transitions removed?
Flip to the other side of the sheet. What do you make of this essay without the
transitions?
Below the sample prompt, list three things you notice about an essay without
transitions.
Now, fill in the blanks with transitions we have talked about, or the ones provided
in the word boxes.
How does the essay sound now? Did you change the meaning of the essay with
any of your words?
Did anyone have a particular transition that they enjoyed using? If so, what was it?
My favorite transition to use is Furthermore. I like the idea of cementing my
argument with one last well placed written punch.
If you would like to take a few minutes, you can do the optional creative writing
activity on the final sheet.
IV. Closing (1 minutes)
Thank you all for working with me, I hope that was helpful. Please ask me or Mrs.
Orme any questions that you have.

Technology Use: Detail specific technology being used in the lesson with
explanation for why it is being used.

A projector was used to project an image of the handout onto the board, so that we
could look at the passages together.

Materials Appendix:

Name:

Please Circle the Transitional Words or Phrases

Let's be honest, teenage accident rates and mortality rates have increased dramatically
over the years. No matter how much they try, parents and law enforcers cannot protect teens
all the time, especially from themselves. As a result, the legislature has proposed an
increased driving age from sixteen to eighteen to try to alleviate these issues. I believe
increasing the minimum driving age will help protect our citizens by better preparing drivers,
increasing safety for motorists, and setting a higher level of maturity on the road.
Although it may seem cruel to teens, raising the minimum driving age will allow drivers
to become better prepared. In school drivers education classes are wonderful, but I do not
believe it should just be crammed into one semester. By exposing teens to drivers education
classes from the age of fifteen to eighteen, they will retain more of the information. For
example, a student that as skimmed by in drivers education for one semester may encounter
an unfamiliar road sign or may not pay attention to posted road aids, which can result in a
fatal crash. On the other hand, a student who has been familiarized with different road signs
and their meanings over several years will be more likely to be ready to follow their specific
instructions.
Increased safety is another major concern that can be addressed with an increased
minimum driving age. The older teens become the more they realize that they are not going to
live forever. A younger driver is more likely to take risks that endanger, not only their own life,
but the lives of their passengers. Whereas an older driver will understand and appreciate life
more and not risk the emotional, physical, and legal ramifications of a reckless accident. A
younger driver just does not understand how precious life is; they can hurt or kill someone
else.

Most importantly, increasing the minimum driving age will ensure more maturity on the
road. It is undeniable that an eighteen year old is much more mature than a sixteen year old.
Therefore, the older driver will be ready to handle any situation that could happen while
driving. For example, if a sixteen year old driver was in a minor accident, first, they would
overreact and it would take time for the police officer to calm them down. Secondly, if the
officer did not call the driver's parents, the teen is likely to lie about the situation to prevent
being in trouble. However, an older driver in the same scenario would remain calm and be
responsible about the accident. They would tell the truth to their parents, knowing that honesty
really is the best policy.
There is no disputing that safety on the roads needs to be a priority. Our young citizens
are hurting and killing themselves on the road. I support our legislatures consideration of an
increased driving age. I truly believe that it would allow drivers to be better prepared, increase
motorists' safety, and set a higher maturity level on the road. We have to try to protect the
future of America, even if it is from themselves.

MOREOVER

CONSEQUENTLY

HOWEVER

THEREFORE

FURTHERMORE

FOR EXAMPLE

TO ILLUSTRATE

IN OTHER
WORDS

NEVERTHELESS

IT IS
NOTICEABLE
THAT

FOR THAT
REASON

MOST
SIGNIFICANTLY

ON THE OTHER
HAND

TO CLARIFY

TO
DEMONSTRATE

Please Insert a Transitional Word or Phrase into

the blanks (try to use a new one from above)
__________________ teenage accident rates and mortality rates have increased
dramatically over the years. No matter how much they try, parents and law enforcers cannot
protect teens all the time, especially from themselves._______________, the legislature has
proposed an increased driving age from sixteen to eighteen to try to alleviate these issues. I
believe increasing the minimum driving age will help protect our citizens by better preparing
drivers, increasing safety for motorists, and setting a higher level of maturity on the road.
__________ it may seem cruel to teens, raising the minimum driving age will allow
drivers to become better prepared. In school drivers education classes are wonderful, but I do
not believe it should just be crammed into one semester. By exposing teens to drivers
education classes from the age of fifteen to eighteen, they will retain more of the
information.____________, a student that as skimmed by in drivers education for one
semester may encounter an unfamiliar road sign or may not pay attention to posted road aids,
which can result in a fatal crash._____________, a student who has been familiarized with
different road signs and their meanings over several years will be more likely to be ready to
follow their specific instructions.
Increased safety is another major concern that can be addressed with an increased
minimum driving age. The older teens become the more they realize that they are not going to
live forever. A younger driver is more likely to take risks that endanger, not only their own life,
but the lives of their passengers. ___________ an older driver will understand and appreciate

life more and not risk the emotional, physical, and legal ramifications of a reckless accident. A
younger driver just does not understand how precious life is; they can hurt or kill someone
else.
______________, increasing the minimum driving age will ensure more maturity on the
road. It is undeniable that an eighteen year old is much more mature than a sixteen year old.
Therefore, the older driver will be ready to handle any situation that could happen while
driving.______________, if a sixteen year old driver was in a minor accident, first, they would
overreact and it would take time for the police officer to calm them down. Secondly, if the
officer did not call the driver's parents, the teen is likely to lie about the situation to prevent
being in trouble._____________, an older driver in the same scenario would remain calm and
be responsible about the accident. They would tell the truth to their parents, knowing that
honesty really is the best policy.

Creative Writing: write three sentences using

transitional phrases in a story about monsters.
Example with transitions: Contrary to popular
belief, Shelly was not actually a monster. Although
both of her parents were Vampires, Shelly was born
without the V chromosomal pair that distinguishes the
Vampiric community. Yet, Shelly dreamed of being just
like her parents.

Your Creation:

Things to think about: When working on your

essay today, include some strong transitions
into your writing.