Using Transitions

 

Transitions are verbal connections designed to move listeners between parts of the speech. They tie major ideas together, focus attention, keep audiences from getting lost. Effective speeches are characterized as much by skillful use of transitions as they are by strong arguments or emotional appeals.

To use transitions successfully, you will need a variety of techniques and strategies. Otherwise, you risk over-working one transitional method and wearing out effectiveness. "My next idea is" may work once, but if used two or three times, will put listeners to sleep.

Transitions can be reinforced by nonverbal communication, such as movement, pointing, countingon the fingers, and gesturing.

 

Types of transitions:

Bridges

In crossing a bridge, a person goes from one piece of land to another. In giving a speech, the speaker can build bridges to tell the listeners of the terrain they are leaving behind and the terrain they are about to enter. It is a way of saying, "I've finished Thought A; now I'm going to thought B."

 

Signpost

Another way to alert listeners to an important point you are about to introduce is through signposts. A signpost is a unit of speech that announces or points to some new or important idea. Sometimes, a signpost is merely a number. At other times, it takes the form of a direct question, or it may highlight a key idea. Here are some examples of each type:

Hold onto this idea.

The thing to remember is. . .

The first major objection. . .

The third and final problem. . .

How can we best manage this crisis?

In a speech with three major points, you might say, for example, "The first reason we should be interested in ozone depletion is. . . " As the speech progresses, you could introduce the next points by saying: "The second problem associated with ozone loss is. . . " and "Third, and finally, ozone loss affects us because. . . " This approach announces the introduction of new ideas and keeps audience members aware of the idea sequence. Signposts make speeches easier to follow and help listeners to identify and remember major ideas.

Spotlights

Spotlights are transitional devices that alert the listeners that something important will soon appear. Here are some examples:

Now we come to the most important thing for you to remember.

This next point is especially important.

What I'm going to explain next will help you understand the rest of what I have to say to you this morning.

If you remember only one thing from my remarks today, it should be this . . .