Transitional Sentences Reading Comprehension Lesson

Body Paragraphs and the I-FREE-C Format

In a standard five-paragraph essay, there are three body paragraphs. Each body paragraph develops a different point in support of the essay’s main idea. While the introductory paragraph introduces the topic, and the conclusion paragraph wraps it up, the body paragraphs are where most of the actual information lives.

One useful outline format for body paragraphs is called I-FREE-C: Introductory sentence, Fact, Reason, Example, Elaboration, and Concluding sentence. This format gives each paragraph a clear structure. The introductory sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about. The fact, reason, example, and elaboration provide the supporting details. The concluding sentence closes the paragraph’s idea.

When you use this format for the first time, every sentence has a job. The introductory sentence hooks the reader into the paragraph’s topic. The fact gives the reader a concrete piece of information. The reason explains why the fact matters. The example shows the fact or reason in action. And the elaboration expands on the example to make it fully clear.

Writing a Transitional Sentence

When writing body paragraphs 1 and 2 in a five-paragraph essay, there is a special addition to the I-FREE-C format: the transitional sentence. The transitional sentence replaces or follows the regular concluding sentence at the end of body paragraph 1 and body paragraph 2. Its job is to bridge from the current paragraph’s topic to the next paragraph’s topic.

A good transitional sentence does two things at once: it wraps up the idea in the current paragraph and hints at what is coming in the next paragraph. Without a transitional sentence, an essay can feel choppy and disconnected. With one, the reader flows naturally from one idea to the next without needing to stop and reorient themselves.

Body paragraph 3 — the last body paragraph — does not need a transitional sentence. Instead, it uses the standard I-FREE-C concluding sentence, because the next section is the conclusion paragraph, not another body paragraph. If your essay has more than three body paragraphs, add a transitional sentence to every body paragraph except the last one. Practice writing transitional sentences is one of the fastest ways to improve your essay-writing skills.

Download the Worksheet

Full Members can download the printable PDF worksheet and answer key.

Looking for more reading comprehension worksheets? Browse all reading lessons or become a Full Member to access every printable PDF.