Coherence: It does a BODY good!

Coherence: It does a BODY good!

All sentences fit the main ideaSupporting sentences MUST work together and STAY on topic

Unity

ALL sentences relate to main idea/thesis/claimALL sentences relate to a sequence of events

UnityWhen a paragraph has COHERENCE, the ideas are arranged in a LOGICAL PROGRESSION ORAn order that makes sense so that the reader moves easily from on idea to another

Essentially, the paragraph flows

Coherence

Create coherence by focusing on:the order you use to arrange ideasthe connections you make between ideas to show readers HOW they are relatedCoherence

Building Coherence: Types of OrderOrderWhen to UseHow it WorksChronologicalto tell a story or relate an eventto explain a processto show cause and effectpresents events in the order they happenshows how things change over timeSpatialto describe individual featuresto create a complex visual picturearrange details by location in space top to bottom, left to right, clockwise, near to far, center to edge, and so onHow to Create CoherenceOrderWhen to UseHow it WorksOrder of Importanceto informto persuadearranges ideas and details from most important to least, or vice versaplaces emphasis where the writer thinks it most effectiveLogicalTo inform or to persuade, often by classifying: defining, dividing a subject into parts, or comparing and contrastinggroup ideas or details together in ways that illustrate the relationships between them7Can overlap or can be used in combinationWhen describing a person, you can move from head to toe, but you could also start with an impressive featureTo explain an event, you might move chronologically from its causesTechniques

8Direct Referencesrefer to a noun or pronoun used earlier in the paragraph

repeat a word used earlier

substitute synonym for words used earlierBuilding Coherence: Connecting IdeasTwo ways to connect ideas throughout the body of your paper:Ms. Arango was thrilled to win American Idol. She will performing at a sold-out concert later this month. The show helped catapult Ms. Arango to super-stardom and allowed her to meet her boyfriend, Chris Hemsworth, while performing in Australia. 9When you read, notice that the use of direct references keeps writing from being monotonous

Using synonyms and pronouns helps the writer avoid repeating key words over and over and over and over (can you say sentence fluency??)Note:

compare ideas (also, and, another, in the same way, just like, likewise, moreover, similarly, too)contrast ideas (although, but, however, in spite of instead, nevertheless, on the other hand, still, yet)show cause and effect (accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for, since, so, so that, therefore)indicate time (after, before, at last, early, eventually, first later, next, then, thereafter, until, when, while)show place ( above, across, adjacent, behind, beside, beyond, down, here, in, near, over, there)show importance (first, last, less significant, mainly, more important, to begin with)Transitional Phrases11In order to be coherent and unified, paragraphs need adequate content, or elaboration the branches that fill out the bare trunk of a main idea

To elaborate is to refine, to develop, or to support an idea

the paragraphs supporting sentences must do their job FULLY support the main idea/point/claim/thesis

Always ask, Have I said enough? Did I include enough relevant detail?Elaboration

Dont you hate it when . . .To prove the main point of your topic sentence/claim/thesis by providing specific examples and illustrating the connection between the examples and the main point.

Show, dont tell!

Why elaborate?

Provide at least 2 examples that support your main point.

Explain the relationship between each example and the topic sentence. So, for each example you must have elaboration explain, explain, explain.

Use a fact or statistic to help support and elaborate on your idea. Remember, facts are those things we can prove to be true. Follow your fact by elaborating on how it proves your point. How does a writer elaborate?Bart Simpson is disrespectful to all adults. (PROVE IT! I DONT BELIEVE YOU!) One of the most alarming figures of Barts poor attitude is the number of times he has told adults to Eat [his] shorts. Bart has uttered these words more the 500 times to adults, including his parents (FACT). (ELABORATE SO WHAT???!!) Eat my shorts, meaning buzz off or kiss my tooshie, is not a phrase kids should say to adults they respect and value. In fact, this phrase suggests Bart feels superior to those who raise and teach him, further emphasizing his inability to show the thoughtfulness of a disciplined child. For example:

Another way to help elaborate on your idea(s) is to use an anecdote to help illustrate what youre saying.

For example:Bart Simpson does not always delight in the torment of others.

Other ways to elaborate:

(PROVE IT! I DONT BELIEVE YOU!) Although Bart makes regular prank phone calls to Moes tavern and fools Moe in many ways, Bart can be supportive and even thoughtful. (ANECDOTE) For instance, Bart shows sympathy in the episode where Lisa and he are sent to military school. Even though all of the students pick on Lisa for being the only female, Bart risks his acceptance among the boys to help his sister. He slips her a note to inform her that meatballs are about to fly in her direction, and more importantly, he cheers her on to success as she nearly gave up on pulling herself across the rope. Ties back to the main idea about Bart not being naughty all the time.Specific short story, or anecdote, to elaborateWhy does this matter? How does it illustrate your point?(ELABORATE SO WHAT????!) Helping his sister instead of delighting and participating in her torment proves Bart considerate. In addition, Bart also proved selfless by putting aside his own need for acceptance.Remember to keep asking yourself if youve said enough.Write like a reader if you read what youve written, would you be clear about your claim/thesis/main idea?Prove yourself think about what someone who doesnt know about your topic would say, or who disagrees about your topic would say. SHOW, DONT TELL!Use all techniques weve learned thus far to make your writing AMAZING. Knock your readers socks off!Final Ideas: