UNITY AND

COHERENCE
Keep this in mind when writing your paragraph
 What is Unity?
Unity means single idea. In other words, unity in writing is the
connection of all ideas to a single topic.
In a paragraph, all the supporting sentences should relate to
the controlling idea in the topic sentence.
Also the supporting details in a paragraph should relate to the
supporting sentences that precede them in the paragraph.
For example, if your paragraph is about the advantages of
nuclear power, discuss only that. Do not discuss about the
disadvantages, the cost, the dangers or any other idea.

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 Keeping Unity in a Paragraph
One way to keep unity in a paragraph is to elaborate
an outline in which we include only ideas that are
relevant to the controlling idea in the topic sentence.
Also, after you have written the outline, it is helpful
to review the information and look for ideas that do
not relate to the controlling idea in the topic
sentences. These ideas are off the topic sentences
because they may be about the topic, but they do not
support the controlling idea in the topic sentence.
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 Unity in a topic sentence

Water pollution in ABC Town is the

Controlling idea
Topic
worst in the world.
Opinion

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A topic sentence has a topic, an opinion and a controlling idea.

The most notorious similarity between studying English

at ICPNA in site and online is the methodology.

The first difference between studying English at ICPNA

in site and online is the use of technology.

Another difference between studying English at ICPNA

in site and online is the interaction among students and
teachers.

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 What is Coherence?
Coherence is related to unity. Ideas that are arranged
in a clear and logical way are coherent.
Cohere means to unite or to hold together as a unit.
The purpose of coherence is to help readers easily
understand the main points.

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 Topic Supporting Supporting
sentence Sentence 1 detail 1

Supporting Supporting Supporting Supporting

sentence 2 detail 3
detail 2 sentence 3

Supporting Supporting Concluding

sentence 4 detail 4 sentence
 How to Make Our Paragraph Coherent?
When organizing your ideas, think about what type of organization is the best for your paragraph.
Here are some examples of types of writing and good ways to organize them.

Paragraph organization Type of Organization

Chronological order Order by time or order of events/ steps

Descriptive paragraph Order by position, size, and shape of things

Logical division of ideas Group of ideas explained in a logical order

Comparison and Contrast Organize in point-by-point or block style

Argumentation/ persuasion/
Order from least important to most important
cause effect.
 How to Make Our Paragraph Coherent?

Cohesive Devices
Cohesive devices are words and phrases that connect
sentences together creating a smooth flow of ideas. Here
are four kinds of cohesive devices that can be used:
1. transitional signals
2. pronoun references
3. repetition of key nouns
4. Use of consistent pronouns

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 How to Make Our Paragraph Coherent?

Cohesive Devices (Transitional Signals)

Transition signals can be categorized into three groups by
grammatical function. The three groups are:
a. sentence connectors (including transitional phrases and
conjunctive adverbs)
b. clause connectors (including coordinating conjunctions
and subordinating conjunctions)
c. mixed group called others.

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 Cohesive Devices (Transitional Signals)
Clause Connectors
Others (Adjectives, Verbs, and
Meaning/ Function Sentence Connectors
Coordinators Subordinators Prepositions)

To introduce also and   another

besides
similar additional furthermore nor an additional
idea in addition (“and not)
moreover
too
To compare also and as as ... as
like/ alike
things likewise both ... and just as just like
similarly not only ... but also similar to
neither ... nor be alike
too be similar
To introduce an however but despite
in contrast
although
opposite idea, yet in spite of
instead even though compared to/ with
and to contrast in/ by comparison
nevertheless though be different (from)
things nonetheless
whereas be dissimilar
on the other hand
be unlike
on the contrary
still
while differ (from)
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 Cohesive Devices (Transition Signals)
Clause Connectors
Others (Adjectives, Verbs, and
Meaning/ Function Sentence Connectors
Coordinators Subordinators Prepositions)

To introduce an for example     such as

example for instance an example of
To emphasize in fact      

To explain and restate indeed      

that is

To introduce an otherwise if  
or
alternative
unless

To signal first, second, etc.   after the first, the second

chronological order first of all as
the next, the last, the final
then, next as soon as
now, then, soon before before lunch
last finally since after the war
meanwhile until since ....
gradually when
in the year ...
after that while 12
 Cohesive Devices (Transition Signals)
Clause Connectors
Others (Adjectives, Verbs, and
Meaning/ Function Sentence Connectors
Coordinators Subordinators Prepositions)

To indicate order of above all     a more important

first and foremost
importance the most important
more/ most
importantly/
the second most significant
significantly the primaily
primarily
 
To introduce a cause   result from
for because be the result of
or reason
due to
since because of
the effect of
as the consequence of
as a result of
as a consequence of
To introduce an accordingly So   result in
as a result cause
effect or result
as a consequence have an effect on
consequently affect
hence, thus
http://edibrata.wordpress.com
the cause of
therefore the reason for
 How to Make Our Paragraph Coherent?

Cohesive Devices (Transition Signals)

Clause Connectors
Sentence Others (Adjectives, Verbs,
Meaning/ Function
Connectors Coordinators Subordinators and Prepositions)

To conclude all in all,     It is clear that ...

in brief, We can see that ...
in conclusion, The evidence suggets that ...
in short, These examples show that ...
in summary,
indeed,
 How to Make Our Paragraph Coherent?
Cohesive Devices (Pronoun References)

Two sentences can be connected by the use of pronoun. A pronoun (he,

she, it, they, etc.) takes the place of a noun (a person, place, thing, or
idea) or noun phrase (several words that refer to a person, place, thing,
or idea).
Example:
Gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for
jewelry, coins, and ornamental puposes.

The pronoun it refers back to the subject, Gold, and connects the two
sentence together.
 How to Make Our Paragraph Coherent?
Cohesive Devices (Repetition of Key
Noun)
Another way to connect ideas in a paragraph is by repeating
important words and phrases. This will help the reader remember
the main ideas in the text.
Example:
Modern medicine focuses on illness. If a patient with a cough visits a modern
doctor, he/she will give the patient a medicine to stop the cough. If the patient
also has a fever, the doctor may give a different medicine to stop the fever. For
every person with a cough, the doctor will probably recommend the same cough
medicine. The philosophy of modern medicine is to stop problems like coughing
and fever as quickly as possible.
 Paragraph organization

Topic Supporting Supporting

sentence Sentence 1 detail 1
Pronoun references Repetition of key nouns Transitional signal Use of consistent pronouns

Supporting Supporting Supporting Supporting

sentence 2
detail 2 sentence 3 detail 3

Repetition of key nouns Use of consistent pronouns Transitional signal Pronoun references

Supporting Supporting Concluding

sentence 4 detail 4 sentence
Repetition of key nouns Use of consistent pronouns Transitional signal
Key words create unity in a paragraph. Highlight gold and all pronouns that refer to it.
Gold
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First
of all, gold has a lustrous’ beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore,
it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never
needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a
Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted
twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its
usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in
hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in
astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection
outside spaceships. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty
but also for its utility.
 Title Paragraph organization
Gold
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important Topic sentence
characteristics.
First of all, gold has a lustrous’ beauty that is resistant Supporting sentence 1
to corrosion. Transitional signal Repetition of key nouns

Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and Supporting detail 1

ornamental purposes. Transitional signal Pronoun references
Gold never needs to be polished and will remain Supporting sentence 2
beautiful forever. Repetition of key nouns
For example, a Macedonian coin remains as Supporting detail 2
untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three Transitional signal
centuries ago.
Another important characteristic of gold is its Supporting sentence 3
usefulness to industry and science. Transitional signal Repetition of key nouns
For many years, it has been used in hundreds of Supporting detail 3
industrial applications. Use of consistent pronouns
The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Supporting sentence 4
Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection Repetition of key nouns

outside spaceships. Supporting detail 4

In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty Concluding sentence
but also for its utility. Transitional signal Repetition of key nouns Use of consistent pronouns
Remember these guidelines when writing your
paragraph
◦ Use the following key words:
◦ Paragraph connectors
◦ Transitional phrases
◦ Key nouns
◦ Consistent pronouns
◦ Apply some Logical organization
 References:

1. Oshima, Alice and Hogue, Ann. 1998. Writing Academic English. New York:
Longman. (Page: 40-50)
2. Zemach, Dorothy E and Rumisek Lisa A. 2003. Academic Writing form
Paragraph to Essay. Macmillan. (Page: 78-86)
Many of the materials are directly quoted.