Transitions
"From Pong to Today"
This transitions rap song uses the history of video games--from Pong to today--to demonstrate how to use transition words. Have you ever played Pong, Space Invaders, Final Fantasy or Angry Birds? Then you’re not alone. Here at Flocabulary we’ve played them all and more. Using transition words like “nonetheless,” “simultaneously,” “beyond,” “similarly” and “finally,” we’re ready to tell you all about them. And we promise: the transitions will be smooth.
Listen, ok,
Way before games were what we all played,
You could find me on a Rampage in the arcade.
First, it started with Pong,
A table-tennis game but it wasn't too strong.
For instance, it was only black and white.
Nonetheless, kids would play it every night.
Next came Space Invaders,
Where you shoot aliens with little lasers.
Kids wanted to play. Consequently,
Machines appeared all over the place,
Indeed Atari fulfilled lots of orders,
And made 2 billion dollars in quarters.
Meanwhile, you have to know,
Pac-Man was the captain at eating ghosts.
And then the 80's craze,
The industry experienced a golden age.
PCs and home consoles came,
You didn't need to drop quarters to play games.
Equally important, games were sick,
Legend of Zelda in '86.
Simultaneously, Super Mario Bros,
On Nintendo came in to a lot of our homes.
Immediately, it became a hit,
You ran through mushrooms to get big.
Beyond sales, there's a story,
These games had our imaginations soaring.
Of course, we were just in a chair,
But on the screens, we'd fly through the air.
We had a need for speed - honest,
So we rolled with a hedgehog we called Sonic.
Then the 90s, games were ill,
Such as SimCity, where we learned to build.
Similarly, the game that sold the most,
On the PC was The Sims, so you know.
3D chips had us Quaking and Doomed,
First person shooters came with a boom.
Despite the appeal to the youth, um,
Some saw the violence as too gruesome.
Accordingly, ratings were introduced,
To make all these games easier to choose.
Playstation had hits like MLB,
Specifically Final Fantasy.
Truly Xbox CDs had graphics,
And the cartridges couldn't catch it.
Moreover, CDs were cheaper to make,
On the other hand, CDs were cheaper to take,
Cheaper to copy and to steal,
But in 2006 that's when things got real.
Wii finally made games appeal,
To the whole family, and they played for real.
And on mobile phones, we can all be nerds,
When we shoot down pigs with our Angry Birds.
In sum, in summary, to sum up, too,
On the whole, in the end, to conclude,
The transition from Pong to today,
Has given us amazing games along the way.
Pong
First things first, "first" is a transition word that indicates sequence or order. You can use other numbered transitions, too.
First, I went to the grocery store. Second, I went to the pharmacy.
I've had terrible experiences at every ice cream shop I've ever been to. For instance, the last time I got an ice cream cone, the scoop of ice cream fell on the floor.
I warned Miranda that there were bears in the woods. Nonetheless, she went for a hike.
Space Invaders
"Next" is a transition that shows sequence. It tells you that something is coming after something else.
I purchased meat, buns and cheese. Next, I grilled up some cheeseburgers.
I ate seven cheeseburgers. Consequently, I had a terrible stomach ache.
Rashad is extremely strong, but a little careless. Indeed, he was crazy enough to wrestle a lion.
Pac-Man's lady friend, Ms. Pac-Man
The transition "meanwhile" can be used literally to show that something was happening at the same time as something else. It can also be used figuratively, to indicate two conflicting ideas.
Literal: I sat home all alone with the flu on Saturday night. Meanwhile, my sister was having a great time at the school dance.
Figurative: Republicans generally believe in a smaller, hands-off government; meanwhile, Democrats generally support a larger, more active government.
I'm going to visit my grandmother after school. Then, I'll return home. But if my grandmother is feeling sick, then I'll go straight home after school.
The Legend of Zelda
The transition "equally important" means that you're about to give more evidence or supporting details that are as convincing as the last detail you gave.
Zach is the best candidate for class president. He single-handedly organized the prom last spring, and equally important, everyone agreed that it was the best prom the school had seen in years.
Nintendo 64
The word "simultaneously" means that two things are happening at exactly the same time.
The football team won the league championship on a Sunday afternoon to roaring applause. Simultaneously, the debate team won a major tournament upstate, but nobody noticed.
The speaker announced that I had just won a trip to Tokyo. Immediately, I started screaming with joy.
Literal: The hiking trail appeared safe, but beyond, a broken bridge waited.
Figurative: Beyond my plan to become the first Mars astronaut, I have no other career ideas.
Emphasis: Clowns saved Jenna's life when she was a baby. Of course Jenna loved clowns!
Exception: We should throw Mario a clown-themed surprise party. Of course, Mario is afraid of clowns, so that might be a bad idea.
Sonic the Hedgehog
"So" is a transition that indicates cause and effect. It is attached to the effect sentence. "So" is also a conjunction.
Alien invaders kidnapped my dog, so I had to travel to outer space to find him.
SimCity
When you say "such as," it means you're about to give an example of an idea you just mentioned.
Quinn is a big fan of heavy metal bands such as Metallica, Iron Maiden and Rammstein.
The Sims
"Similarly" is a transition that means that you're about to give an example that is very much like the first example.
Rick made Dean's List at Virginia Tech last semester. Similarly, his younger sister Rebecca made honor roll at her high school.
Despite the fact that everyone told me that the new Adam Sandler movie was terrible, I still decided to see it.
My parents were having a serious discussion, and it seemed like they wanted to talk in private. Accordingly, my brother and I went to play in my room.
I would like a classic car for my birthday. Specifically, I'd love to get a 1964 Mustang.
I couldn't stop coughing and sneezy. I truly had a terrible cold.
Mom, we should get a cat because I have finally proven that I can be responsible. Moreover, I took care of Joey's cat for three weeks while he was on vacation and everything went well.
I was craving sushi for lunch. On the other hand, I didn't feel like spending so much money.
Nintendo Wii
"Finally" is a transition that shows time. You can use it when you've reach the last item in a list, or to show that something happened after waiting for a long time.
I practiced my tuba solo for hours. Finally, it sounded right.
Angry Birds
When you finally reach the end, you can tell people your story or essay (or song) is almost over by using one of these concluding time transitions. But just pick one!
I wrote an essay. To conclude, I wrote a conclusion.
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