Coherence in WritingOctober 1st, 2012

liquid honey• it flows• it sticks together

a working definition

Coherence refers to a certain characteristic or aspect of writing. Literally, the word means "to stick together.“

Coherence in writing means that all the ideas in a paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next sentence. With coherence, the reader has an easy time understanding the ideas that you wish to express.

[TOEFL- Prep Writing: Coherence]

co·her·ence – noun logical interconnection;

overall sense or understandability.

Linguistics. the property of unity in a written text that stems from the links among its underlying ideas and from the logical organization and development of its thematic content.

[Dictionary.com - Reference]

Coherent… or not?

For me, the worst thing about waiting tables was the uniform. All the waitresses had to wear this ugly brown striped jumper. The shirts were polyester. Sometimes someone you know comes in. Now I have a job in an office.

For me, the worst thing about waiting tables was the uniform. At the last place I worked, all the waitresses had to wear an ugly brown striped jumper. Underneath it we had to wear an even uglier polyester shirt. Sometimes someone I knew would come in and I'd feel embarrassed by my outfit. Now I have a job in an office, where I can wear my own clothes.

ways to achieve Coherence

ordering principlespronouns combining

sentences transitional words repetition

ordering principles

e.g. chronological order for narrative paragraphs

choose principle that fits your material

use it consistently

narration description process exemplification comparison/contrast definition cause &effect

(paragraph type)

While there were many contributing factors to the French Revolution, a primary cause was a financial crisis brought on by royal extravagance. For years before the revolution finally exploded in 1789, the royal government had been borrowing heavily to cover deficit spending. (Cobb, 1988.) Even though France’s high courts of appeal cautioned against such borrowing, the royal’s extravagance continued, eventually resulting in a financial crisis that required the government to institute a series of taxes. As the press highlighted the government’s spending with cartoons and stories, the peasants, already burdened by high taxes, low wages and poor harvests, began to resent the demands of the royals. Finally, in 1789, the Third Estate- the common people- became so enraged, they demanded a new constitution and refused to compromise with the existing government until it was written. This demand set off the first sparks of revolution.

cause & effect ordering principle

pronouns

Murdoch could hear Seymour’s whoops and Katie’s laughter. He stepped up to the window and, leaning in close, rapped hard… He let himself into the hall, hung up his hat and coat, and opened the door to the parlour. Seymour greeted him with more exuberance than Murdoch had ever seen him express before.

(antecedent!?)

combining sentences

Fred Smith has a problem. He has too many cats. This problem started innocently enough with one female cat. She had kittens. They grew up, and the kittens had kittens. Fred has thirty cats. He spends most of his energy and resources on maintaining them. He is exhausted.

Fred Smith has a problem. He has too many cats. This problem started innocently enough with one female cat, but she had kittens that grew up and had more kittens. Fred now has thirty cats and spends most of his energy and resources on maintaining them. He is exhausted.

transitional words

addition: also / in addition to /

additionally detail or example:

for example / that is / more specifically

logic: therefore / thus / in

conclusion contrast:

yet / nevertheless / on the other hand

similarity: likewise / similarly / in other

words

reinforcement of ideas: also / in other words / in

addition / for example / moreover

change in ideas: instead / on the other hand /

yet / although / however / but / in contrast / nevertheless

conclusion: thus / therefore / in

conclusion / finally / accordingly / so

(linking words)

It’s perhaps not surprising that Marshall McLuhan, the most influential communications expert of the twentieth century, was a Canadian. As a nation , we have been preoccupied with forging communication links among a sparse, widespread population. The old Canadian one-dollar bill, with its line of telephone poles receding to the distant horizon, illustrates this preoccupation. Year after year we strive to maintain a national radio and television broadcasting system in the face of foreign competition. We have been aggressive in entering the international high technology market with our telecommunications equipment.

repetition(optimal

redundancy; deliberate &

judicious)

putting it all together

Throughout most of my school days my eyes failed to focus correctly when reading. Consequently, I saw different symbols every time I read a sentence. As a result, the printed page was a chaotic kaleidoscope of constantly changing letters that made no sense. For example, when reading the last sentence I would see: “ A tters made sense,” or “As le ter that made no ense,” or “Letters mad no sens,” depending on how my eyes focused on a sentence. After my eye problem was corrected, my real problems began because it was assumed that I could now read like everyone else. This was a big mistake that overlooked the psychological effects created by my visual disability. Most importantly, I was left doubting my understanding when reading unfamiliar material while teachers began to give me increasingly complex material to read.

ordering principles

pronouns combinin

g sentences

transitional words

repetition

Test Yourself: Make It Coherent http://www2.athabascau.ca/services/write-sit

e/paragraph-resource/make-it-coherent/quiz/

Athabasca University Write Site

Coherent for you?