Review the different kinds of sentence and paragraph relationships that can exist, and the corresponding transition words that you can use to establish them. It helps to have handy a comprehensive listing of transitional expressions while you write. You will note that for any given purpose, you have many choices of transitional expressions that you can use. For example, to add an idea, you may use "furthermore" or "moreover;" to compare or contrast, consider using "however" or "similarly;" and to show a cause-and-effect relationship, use "therefore" or "accordingly." Select the most appropriate transition word or phrase for your purpose.
Compose your essay's introduction. Grab your reader's interest with the first several sentences and then state your thesis and supporting facts. Use transition words in your introduction to connect your lead-in to your thesis, your thesis to your supporting facts and your supporting facts to each other, as needed. Your choice of transition words will depend on their relationship. For example, write "For the average American to have healthcare security, he must (a). In addition, he must (b). Even so, health security is not guaranteed. Clearly, something is broken. Therefore, I propose (your thesis). Doing so will remedy the situation in three key areas: (x), (y) and (z)."
Develop the body of your essay, assigning one paragraph apiece to your supporting facts. Use transition words and phrases to link sentences within each paragraph as illustrated in Step 2, and then link your paragraphs to each other. At a minimum, your first paragraph should link to your second paragraph, which should link to your third paragraph. Achieve these linkages with transitional words and phrases that reflect the relationship of your three supporting facts. For the example in Step 2, you could begin each supporting paragraph with "first," "second" and "third," or with "first, "furthermore" and "finally." Arrange your paragraphs logically, so that the content of a paragraph leads naturally to the next.
Begin your conclusion with a transitional word or phrase that signals the end of your essay to your readers. Use an expression such as "to summarize," "in brief," or "in conclusion," followed by a restatement of your thesis and a summary of your three supporting facts. Then transition to a sentence or two that highlights the significance of your thesis to your reader; for example, "Admittedly, the road ahead will not be easy. Nevertheless, when one considers the peace of mind that 300 million Americans will find at the end of it, it is a road worth taking."