Paragraph Unity &

Coherence
English for Engineering I
Paragraph Unity
1. A paragraph has to focus on only ONE main idea.
2. Stick to your topic sentence: Every sentence in a paragraph should
directly relate to (explain or prove) the main idea in the TS.
3. Avoid irrelevant sentences (IR) or off-topic ideas.
E.g. a paragraph on the advantages of a particular computer program
must not include this program’s disadvantages or any reference to
other programs.
 Paragraph Unity
• Underline the topic sentence in the following paragraph.
• Does this paragraph achieve unity? Are there irrelevant sentences?
Adventure travel is a major trend in the tourism industry.
Ordinary people are no longer content to spend their two
weeks away from the office resting on a sunny beach in
Florida. More and more often, they are choosing to spend
their vacations rafting down wild rivers, climbing the world's
highest mountains, or crossing slippery glaciers. People of all
ages are choosing educational study tours for their vacations.
 Paragraph Unity
Adventure travel is a major trend in the tourism industry.
Ordinary people are no longer content to spend their two
weeks away from the office resting on a sunny beach in
Florida. More and more often, they are choosing to spend
their vacations rafting down wild rivers, climbing the world's
highest mountains, or crossing slippery glaciers. People of all
ages are choosing educational study tours for their vacations
(IR).
 Paragraph Coherence
• Coherence guides the reader and ensures a smooth and
logical connection or transition between the
ideas/sentences in your paragraph.
• You can achieve Coherence in your paragraph
through:
1. Repeating key nouns
2. Using consistent pronouns to replace key nouns
3. Using transition signals (linking words or phrases) to link
ideas
 Paragraph Coherence
Decide whether coherence is achieved in the following paragraphs. Justify your opinion.

Gold, a precious metal, is Gold, a precious metal, is prized for

prized for two important two important characteristics. First,
characteristics. It has a lustrous gold has a lustrous beauty that is
beauty that is resistant to resistant to corrosion. It never
needs to be polished and will
corrosion. It never needs to be remain beautiful forever. Another
polished and will remain important characteristic of gold is
beautiful forever. It is useful in its usefulness in industry and
industry and science. Its most science. Its most recent use is in
recent use is in astronauts' suits. astronauts' suits. ln conclusion,
It is treasured not only for its gold is treasured not only for its
beauty but also for its utility. beauty but also for its utility.
1. Repeating key nouns
• There is no fixed rule about how often to repeat key nouns or when to
substitute pronouns.
• You may notice a key noun comes often in TS, MA, and CS.
• You should repeat a key noun instead of using a pronoun when the
meaning is not clear.
 Practice P. 28
• Replace the pronoun it with the key noun English wherever you
think doing so would make the paragraph more coherent.
English has almost become an international language. Except for
Chinese, more people speak it than any other language. Spanish is the
official language of more countries in the world, but more countries
have it as their official or unofficial second language. More than 70
percent of the world's mail is written in it. It is the primary language on
the Internet. In international business, it is used more than any other
language, and it is the language of airline pilots and air traffic
controllers all over the world. Moreover, although French used to be
the language of diplomacy, it has displaced it throughout the world.
Therefore, it is a useful language to know.
 Practice P. 28
English has almost become an international language.
Except for Chinese, more people speak it English than any other
language. Spanish is the official language of more countries in the
world, but more countries have it English as their official or
unofficial second language. More than 70 percent of the world's
mail is written in it English. It is the primary language on the
Internet. In international business, it English is used more than
any other language, and it is the language of airline pilots and air
traffic controllers all over the world. Moreover, although French
used to be the language of diplomacy, it English has displaced it
throughout the world. Therefore, it English is a useful language to
know.
2. Using consistent pronouns
• When you use pronouns, make sure that you use the same
person and number throughout your paragraph.
• Don't change from you to he or she (change of person) or
from he to they (change of number).
 2. Using consistent pronouns
Practice: Notice the changes the writer made for consistency
 2. Using consistent pronouns
Practice P. 30
• In the following paragraph, the pronouns are not consistent. Correct
them to make this paragraph more coherent.
Olympic athletes must be strong both physically and mentally. First of
all, if you hope to compete in an Olympic sport, you must be physically
strong. Furthermore, those who want to compete in the Olympics must train
for many years. For the most demanding sports, they train several hours a
day, five or six days a week, for ten or more years. In addition to being
physically strong, athletes must also be mentally tough. This means that you
have to be totally dedicated to your sport, often giving up a normal school,
family, and social life. Being mentally strong also means that he or she must
be able to withstand the intense pressure of international competition with
its accompanying media coverage. Finally, not everyone can win a medal, so
Olympians must possess the inner strength to live with defeat.
 2. Using consistent pronouns
Practice P. 30
Olympic athletes must be strong both physically and mentally. First of
all, if you they hope to compete in an Olympic sport, you they must be
physically strong. Furthermore, those who want to compete in the Olympics
must train for many years. For the most demanding sports, they train several
hours a day, five or six days a week, for ten or more years. In addition to
being physically strong, athletes must also be mentally tough. This means
that you they have to be totally dedicated to your their sport, often giving up
a normal school, family, and social life. Being mentally strong also means
that he or she they must be able to withstand the intense pressure of
international competition with its accompanying media coverage. Finally, not
everyone can win a medal, so Olympians must possess the inner strength to
live with defeat.
3. Using transition signals
• Transition signals give a paragraph coherence because they
guide your reader from one idea to the next.
• They are like traffic signs; they tell your reader when you are
giving:
• a similar idea (similarly, and, in addition),
• an opposite idea (on the other hand, but, in contrast),
• an example (for example),
• a result (therefore, as a result),
• or a conclusion (in conclusion).
 3. Using transition signals
• Compare these two paragraphs. Which one achieves coherence? P. 31

One difference among the world’s seas and oceans is that the salinity varies in different climate
zones. For example, the Baltic sea in Northern Europe is only one-fourth as saline as the Red
Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climate zones, water
evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land
is dry; consequently, it does not contribute much freshwater to dilute the salty seawater. In cold
climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by
melting snow adds a considerable amount of freshwater to dilute the saline seawater.
3. Using transition signals P. 33
3. Using transition signals P. 33
 Practice P. 37
• Choose the transition signal that best shows the relationship
between the sentences in each group. Add punctuation and change
capital letters to small letters if necessary.
1. A recent article in Era magazine suggested ways to reduce inflation.
The article suggested that the president reduce the federal budget ;
furthermore , it suggested that the government reduce federal, state,
and local taxes. (however, in contrast, furthermore)
2. The same article said that the causes of inflation were easy to find
______________ the cure for inflation was not so easy to prescribe.
(however, for example, therefore)
3. Era also suggested that rising wages were one of the primary causes
of inflation ____________ the government should take action to control
wages. (however; therefore, for example)
 Practice P. 37
• Choose the transition signal that best shows the relationship
between the sentences in each group. Add punctuation and change
capital letters to small letters if necessary.
1. A recent article in Era magazine suggested ways to reduce inflation.
The article suggested that the president reduce the federal budget;
furthermore, it suggested that the government reduce federal, state,
and local taxes.
2. 2. The same article said that the causes of inflation were easy to find;
however, the cure for inflation was not so easy to prescribe.
3. Era also suggested that rising wages were one of the primary causes
of inflation; therefore, the government should take action to control
wages.
 Practice P. 37
4. In physics, the weight of an object is the gravitational force with which
Earth attracts it; ______________, if a man weighs 150 pounds, this means
that Earth pulls him down with a force of 150 pounds. (moreover,
therefore, for example)
5. The farther away from Earth a person is, the less the gravitational force
of Earth. _____________ a man weighs less when he is 50,000 miles from
Earth than when he is only 5,000 miles away. (in conclusion, therefore,
however)
6. A tsunami is a tidal wave produced by an earthquake on the ocean floor.
The waves are very long and low in open water, but when they get close to
land, they encounter friction because the water is shallow ___________
the waves increase in height and can cause considerable damage when
they finally reach land. (on the other hand, as a result, for example)
 Practice P. 37
4. In physics, the weight of an object is the gravitational force with which
Earth attracts it; for example, if a man weighs 150 pounds, this means that
Earth pulls him down with a force of 150 pounds.
5. The farther away from Earth a person is, the less the gravitational force
of Earth. Therefore, a man weighs less when he is 50,000 miles from Earth
than when he is only 5,000 miles away.
6. A tsunami is a tidal wave produced by an earthquake on the ocean floor.
The waves are very long and low in open water, but when they get close to
land, they encounter friction because the water is shallow; as a result, the
waves increase in height and can cause considerable damage when they
finally reach land.
Practice P. 36
• Fill in with an appropriate transition signal. Add punctuation if necessary. P. 38
[also – for example – in fact – similarly – final and most convincing – indeed – second –
third]
One stereotype about Americans says that they are overly concerned with
time. One of the first thigs you notice is that for Americans, time seems as
valuable as money. (1) ______ they even have a saying, "Time is money.“ (2)
______ have you noticed how many verbs can be followed by both time and
money? (3) ______ you can spend time, save time, lose time, find time, make
time, waste time, and run out of time. (4) ______ you can spend, save, lose,
find, make, waste, and run out of money. (5) ______ Americans seem to
regard time as a "thing" that one can own. You can have time, buy time, and
take time. (One wonders how much it costs and where it is taken.) A (6)
_______ piece of evidence that Americans are obsessed with time is their
obsession with being on time. (7) ______ people who are habitually late risk
punishment ranging from frowning disapproval to losing their jobs. The (8)
______ proof is that these poor people sometimes take courses in time
management! That is really overdoing it, don't you agree?
 Practice P. 38
One stereotype about Americans says that they are overly concerned with
time. One of the first thigs you notice is that for Americans, time seems as
valuable as money. In fact, they even have a saying, "Time is money.“ Also,
have you noticed how many verbs can be followed by both time and money?
For example, you can spend time, save time, lose time, find time, make time,
waste time, and run out of time. Similarly, you can spend, save, lose, find,
make, waste, and run out of money. Second, Americans seem to regard time
as a "thing" that one can own. You can have time, buy time, and take time.
(One wonders how much it costs and where it is taken.) A third piece of
evidence that Americans are obsessed with time is their obsession with
being on time. Indeed, people who are habitually late risk punishment
ranging from frowning disapproval to losing their jobs. The final and most
convincing proof is that these poor people sometimes take courses in time
management! That is really overdoing it, don't you agree?