PROPERTIES OF A WELL-

WRITTEN TEXT: UNITY,

COHERENCE, COHESION,
AND MECHANICS
WEEK 7
 UNITY
The paragraph is about ONLY ONE main topic: the topic sentence, the
supporting details, and the concluding sentence should focus on only one idea.

Tips to remember:
• The topic sentence should identify the main idea and point of the paragraph. To choose an
appropriate topic sentence, read the paragraph and think about its main idea and point.
• The supporting details in the paragraph (the sentences other than the topic sentence) will
develop or explain the topic sentence. Read all the supporting details in the paragraph and
think about the ideas they discuss.
• The topic sentence should not be too general or too specific. When considering the options,
look for a topic sentence that is general enough to show the paragraph’s main idea instead of
just one of its details. The answer should be specific enough that the reader understands the
main idea of the paragraph.
Examples
Example of a paragraph showing WEAK UNITY:
Example of a paragraph showing STRONG UNITY:

When I first brought my cat home from

the humane society she was a mangy, pitiful When I first brought my cat home from
the Humane Society she was a mangy, pitiful
animal. It cost a lot to adopt her: forty dollars. And
animal. She was so thin that you could count her
then I had to buy litter, a litter box, food, and vertebrae just by looking at her. Apparently she
dishes for her to eat out of. Two days after she was declawed by her previous owners, then
came home with me she got taken to the pound abandoned or lost. Since she couldn't hunt, she
by the animal warden. There's a leash law for cats nearly starved. Not only that, but she had an
in Fort Collins. If they're not in your yard they have abscess on one hip. The vets at the Humane
to be on a leash. Anyway, my cat is my best friend. Society had drained it, but it was still scabby and
I'm glad I got her. She sleeps under the covers with without fur. She had a terrible cold, too. She was
me when it's cold. Sometimes she meows a lot in sneezing and sniffling and her meow was just a
the middle of the night and wakes me up, though. hoarse squeak. And she'd lost half her tail
somewhere. Instead of tapering gracefully, it had
a bony knob at the end.
HOW TO ACHIEVE SENTENCE
UNITY?
The writer should be…
• Consistent in the use of tenses (Present tense, Past tense, and Future tense)
• Consistent in point of view (First, Second, and Third person point of view)
• Consistent use of persons of pronouns (I-me, my, mine; he-him, his; she-her, hers)
• Consistent use of subject (the topic of the essay)
• Consistent use of Voice (Active or Passive voice)
• Consistent use of mood (Indicative and Subjunctive Moods)
• Consistent use of Language (e.g. English, Filipino, etc.)
 COHERENCE
 all the ideas in the paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next sentence.

Example of a paragraph without coherence: Example of a paragraph with coherence:

The hotel is famous. It is one of the The hotel, which is one of the most
most well-known hotels in the country. The well-known hotels in this region, wanted to
latest international dancing competition was promote its image around the world by
held at the hotel. The hotel spent a lot of hosting the latest international dancing
money to advertise the event. Because the competition. Although the event was widely
hotel wanted to gain international reputation. advertised, not many people participated in
But not many people attended the event. the competition.
(The connection of ideas is not clear.) (The connection of ideas is better than in the
first example.)
HOW TO ACHIEVE COHERENCE IN THE SENTENCE?

 Avoid misplaced and dangling modifiers.

 A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of a research paper or essay.
o Thesis statements establish both the relationship between the ideas and the order in which the material will be presented.
o The thesis statement serves as a guide in developing a coherent argument.
o In the thesis statement you are not simply describing or recapitulating the material; you are taking a specific position that you
need to defend. A well-written thesis is a tool for both the writer and reader, reminding the writer of the direction of the text
and acting as a "road sign" that lets the reader know what to expect.
 Take note of the paragraph development pattern.
o Narrative Paragraphs
→ tell a story
→ Chronological Order - events must be ordered according to time
o Descriptive Paragraphs
→ tell what something looks like physically
→ Spatial Ordering
o Expository Paragraphs
→ explain something
→ Logical ordering – supporting sentences follow a logical pattern
 COHESION
 the connection of the ideas at the sentence level

• All the supporting sentences connect to each other and to the topic sentence.
• Transitional words and phrases connect sentences and paragraphs to each other. Paragraph
transitions suggest a particular relationship between one idea and the next.

Cohesive
Device

 It is sometimes called linking words, linkers, connectors, discourse markers, or transitional

words.
 It shows the relationship between paragraphs or sections of a text or speech.
Cohesive Devices
Addition Comparison Contrast
again in addition (to...) compared with besides that on the other hand
also indeed in comparison with but certainly regardless
and in fact similarly however naturally granted
and then moreover likewise in contrast nevertheless like
equally too again instead of course still
further(more) what is more also conversely on the contrary whereas
it may be the case yet while
it is true that although
not withstanding despite

Examples:
Addition: Manuel is talented in sports and dancing. In addition, he is performing well in school.
Comparison: The Philippines’ current president is Rodrigo Duterte. Likewise, Malaysia has a president and
his name is Joko Widodo.
Contrast: In many countries, research shows that men have shorter life expectancy of 80 years. On the other
hand, women live longer averaging on 85 years.
Cohesive Devices
Enumeration Concession Exemplification
first(ly), secondly, etc. although it is true that as (evidence of...)
finally it may appear for example
in the (first) place regardless for instance
last certainly thus
to (begin) with granted that such as
more important naturally to show what (I mean)
on top of (that) it is true that specifically
next I admit that let us (take the case of...)
then of course
it may be the case that

Examples:
Enumeration: To enumerate the parts of short story plot in order, the first is exposition, second is rising action, third is
climax, fourth is falling action and the last is conclusion.
Concession: The Covid-19 cases are still increasing each day. Certainly, health protocols must be strictly imposed.
Exemplification: Many music artists and bands rose to popularity in the 1990s. For instance, MC Hammer in his “U can’t
touch this,” Backstreet boys with their song “Everybody,” and Aerosmith with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”
Cohesive Devices
Inference Summary/Conclusion
if not, ... in all on the whole
in (that) case in brief to sum up
otherwise in summary basically
that implies in short
then in conclusion
therefore

Examples:
Inference: Sarah must practice her song piece otherwise she might perform poorly on the day of the concert.
Summary/conclusion: In short, cohesive devices connects sentences and creates coherence.
Cohesive Devices
Time and Sequence Result Reformulation
after (a while) in the end accordingly if...then... in other words
afterwards meanwhile as a result ...result(s) in ... rather
at first next consequently then Briefly
at last since (then) since therefore that is (to say)
at (the same so far as a consequence of... the ( consequence ) of to put it more (simply)
time) then for that reason that is... basically
before (that time) (up to) (then) hence ...is due to...
finally later thus

Examples:
Time and Sequence: Finally, you prepare the food to be served.
Result: The lockdown scheme in areas of Metro Manila resulted in fewer viral transmissions.
Reformulation: Prices of products are increasing and workers have been displaced from their
jobs. To put it more simply, we are experiencing economic crisis.
Cohesive Devices
Replacement Transition Place/Position
again as far as ... is concerned with (reference) to above near
alternatively as for ... with regard to... beyond there
(better) still incidentally Concerning... in the back below
on the other hand now nearby in front
the alternative is... to turn to... adjacent there
here closer to

Examples:
Replacement: Instead of taking a lot of medicines, an alternative is to drink hot tea and get some rest.
Transition: As explained, word or phrase with hyperlink is called hypertext. As for images or objects with
hyperlink, these are called hypermedia.
Place/position: I think she should know that San Juan City is adjacent to Mandaluyong City.
Cohesive Devices
• Adverbs may be used at the beginning of sentences to show how the sentence which follows
relates to the rest of the text. Many of them reveal the writers attitude to the idea they are
expressing and so can be used as an important tool in evaluative writing.

• Note that transitional words have meaning and are not just used at beginnings of sentences. As
mentioned, they cue readers to relationships between sentences/clauses. If you use the wrong
transitional word, then you confuse your reader.
 MECHANICS
Mechanics refers to the rules of the written language, such as capitalization, punctuation and
spelling

How to improve grammar and mechanics in

writing?
• Keep a list of your most common errors.
• When proofreading the work, refer to the list of frequent errors and carefully read for
correctness in these areas.
• Read the paper out loud. As you listen to your paper, you will likely be able to pick out sections
that "sound right" and sections that don't. Then, go back to the rules of grammar and
mechanics to fix any problem areas.
• READ. READ. READ. This is the basic thing a writer must do to improve his grammar as he is
being exposed into the correct use of it
 MECHANICS
Do’s when writing an academic or formal
composition:
1. Always use Standard English
2. Avoid contractions (e.g. shouldn't)
3. Avoid exclamation marks unless they are part of a direct quotation.
4. Mention the full name of an institution or organization with the abbreviation in
parenthesis, in first mention. Thereafter, use the abbreviation.
5. Numbers from zero to ten should be spelled out while numbers higher than ten
should be written in figures.
6. Generally, citations are used in academic and formal texts. However, they are
sparingly used in business texts.
Example
Text without Mechanics Text with Mechanics
Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in
2006 after the General Assembly of the IAU, 2006 after the General Assembly of the
as it only met 2 out of the association's International Astronomical Union (IAU), as it
three requirements to qualify as a Planet only met two out of the association's three
(Library of Congress). The dispute started requirements to qualify as a planet (Library
when Caltech astronomy prof Mike Brown of Congress). The dispute started when
discovered an Asteroid bigger than Pluto in Mike Brown, a professor of astronomy at
2005 (Cain, 2012). The science community the California Institute of Technology
went wild! Brown's findings sparked a (Caltech), discovered an asteroid bigger
debate on whether this new planet, which than Pluto in 2005 (Cain, 2012). Brown's
he named eris, should be added to the findings sparked a debate on whether this
roster of 9 Planets. The controversy new planet, which he named Eris, should be
prompted the International Astronomical added to the roster of nine planets. The
Union to meet up and delineate what a controversy prompted the IAU to meet up
'planet' is. They came up with three and delineate what a 'planet' is. They came
requirements to classify a celestial body as up with three requirements for classifying
a planet and removed the Planet Status of celestial bodies as planets and removed the
Pluto based on the new definition. planet status of Pluto based on the new
definition.
 Remember…

• Paragraph coherence means that every sentences in the

paragraph sticks, together, linking together in a
continuous line of thought that is establishing unity of
idea.
• When writing a paragraph or essay, just as proper
grammar and spelling are important, paragraph
transitions are also important.