Unity and CoherenceUnity and Coherence

• A good paragraph has the elements of A good paragraph has the elements of unity and coherence: unity and coherence:

UnityUnity:: You discuss only one idea in the paragraph which is You discuss only one idea in the paragraph which is stated in the topic sentence, and then each and every stated in the topic sentence, and then each and every supporting sentence develops that idea. supporting sentence develops that idea.

(The paragraph should not end with another idea or wander (The paragraph should not end with another idea or wander within different ideas- it should have a single focus!)within different ideas- it should have a single focus!)

CoherenceCoherence:: The paragraph should be easy to read and The paragraph should be easy to read and understand. For this you can: understand. For this you can:

- Keep your sentences in a logical order &Keep your sentences in a logical order &- Connect your ideas by the use of appropriate transition Connect your ideas by the use of appropriate transition

signals: ex. (first of all, however, for example, etc.signals: ex. (first of all, however, for example, etc.

CoherenceCoherence

• Key nounsKey nouns

• PronounsPronouns

• Transitional Signals. Transitional Signals.

• Logical Order. Logical Order.

Key nounsKey nouns

• EnglishEnglish has almost become an international has almost become an international language. Except for it’s Chinese, more people language. Except for it’s Chinese, more people speak it than any other language. Spanish is the speak it than any other language. Spanish is the official language of more countries in the world, but official language of more countries in the world, but more countries have it as their official or unofficial more countries have it as their official or unofficial second language. More than seventy per cent of the second language. More than seventy per cent of the world’s mail is written in it. In international business, world’s mail is written in it. In international business, itit is used more than any other language, and it is the is used more than any other language, and it is the language of airline pilots and air traffic controllers all language of airline pilots and air traffic controllers all over the world. Moreover, although French used to over the world. Moreover, although French used to be the language of diplomacy, be the language of diplomacy, itit has displaced it has displaced it throughout the world. Therefore unless you plan to throughout the world. Therefore unless you plan to spend your life alone on a desert island in the middle spend your life alone on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, of the Pacific Ocean, itit is a useful language to know. is a useful language to know.

Consistent PronounsConsistent Pronouns

• Ex. Ex.

An Olympic athlete must be strong An Olympic athlete must be strong both physically and mentally. First of both physically and mentally. First of all, if you hope to complete in an all, if you hope to complete in an Olympic sort, Olympic sort, youyou must…………… In must…………… In addition to being physically strong, addition to being physically strong, he/she he/she must also be mentally tough. must also be mentally tough.

Transition Signals, Transition Signals, See See (Writing Academic Englsih, p. 43)(Writing Academic Englsih, p. 43)

• P. 48 (Write a paragraph that P. 48 (Write a paragraph that develops the following topic sentence. develops the following topic sentence. Use the transitional signals below: Use the transitional signals below:

• Some people enjoy solitudeSome people enjoy solitude-For instance-For instance-Moreover-Moreover-On the other hand-On the other hand-Therefore-Therefore

Logical OrderLogical Order

• To achieve coherence , you can arrange your To achieve coherence , you can arrange your sentences in some kind of logical order. sentences in some kind of logical order. There are different ways to organize the ideas There are different ways to organize the ideas and sentences in a paragraph. Choosing one and sentences in a paragraph. Choosing one depends on depends on your topicyour topic and on and on your purposeyour purpose. .

• Some kinds of logical order are: Some kinds of logical order are:

(Chronological order, logical divisions of ideas, (Chronological order, logical divisions of ideas, comparison and contrast, and cause and comparison and contrast, and cause and effect. effect.

For logical orderFor logical order

• Each kind of order has its own special words and Each kind of order has its own special words and phrases to show the relationships among the phrases to show the relationships among the ideas. For example: ideas. For example:

• Chronological OrderChronological Order: first, next after 1950, then, : first, next after 1950, then, in …, while working on the project, etc.in …, while working on the project, etc.

• Differences:Differences: The most noticeable difference The most noticeable difference (contrast, larger than, unlike, on the other hand, (contrast, larger than, unlike, on the other hand, in contrast, differ from in contrast, differ from

• SimilaritiesSimilarities (comparison): Similarly, as expensive (comparison): Similarly, as expensive as, just as, just like, compare with, in comparisonas, just as, just like, compare with, in comparison

• Logical division of ideas: Logical division of ideas: first, second, third,.etc.first, second, third,.etc.

Logical Divisions of IdeasLogical Divisions of Ideas

• Logical division is one of the most Logical division is one of the most common ways to organize ideas in English. common ways to organize ideas in English. In everyday life, things are divided into In everyday life, things are divided into groups. Grocery stores separate items groups. Grocery stores separate items into groups: There is usually more than into groups: There is usually more than one way to divide things: by ageone way to divide things: by age

by gender, by level, etc. by gender, by level, etc.

- Order of importance. - Order of importance.

Concrete SupportConcrete Support• When writing a paragraph you should When writing a paragraph you should

support your topic sentence by using support your topic sentence by using specific and factual details. specific and factual details.

• Facts Versus Opinions:Facts Versus Opinions: Ex. 1. At sea level, water boils at 100 degrees Ex. 1. At sea level, water boils at 100 degrees

Celsius………………(fact!)Celsius………………(fact!)Ex. 2. Men are better drivers than women.Ex. 2. Men are better drivers than women.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- In formal writing, it is good to express your opinion, - In formal writing, it is good to express your opinion, but but

you need to support it with factual details. you need to support it with factual details. - In formal writing, even some statements that are - In formal writing, even some statements that are

considered facts need further support (by considered facts need further support (by mentioning some specific supporting details in mentioning some specific supporting details in Order to be completely convincingOrder to be completely convincing))

Concrete SupportConcrete Support

• Example: Example: Fact:Fact: Smoking cause lung cancerSmoking cause lung cancer

C. S. : C. S. : The U.S Surgeon General’s 1964 report on smoking The U.S Surgeon General’s 1964 report on smoking states…..states…..

Fact Versus Opinion Fact Versus Opinion (Ex. P. 66)(Ex. P. 66)

1. Decide whether each of the following statements is a fact 1. Decide whether each of the following statements is a fact or an opinion. Write (F) for fact, O for opinion. or an opinion. Write (F) for fact, O for opinion.

2. Decide if the facts need additional supporting details. 2. Decide if the facts need additional supporting details. Write NFS (needs further details) next to those that do.Write NFS (needs further details) next to those that do.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.1. Smoking is relaxing. Smoking is relaxing. 2.2. Smoking is unhealthy.Smoking is unhealthy.3.3. Some people enjoy smoking because it relaxes them. Some people enjoy smoking because it relaxes them. 4.4. Dr. Kathleen Parker, a well-known cancer specialist, recently Dr. Kathleen Parker, a well-known cancer specialist, recently

admitted an interview, ‘’Although I see harmful effects of admitted an interview, ‘’Although I see harmful effects of smoking nearly every day in my work, I still enjoy relaxing with a smoking nearly every day in my work, I still enjoy relaxing with a cigarette after dinner’.cigarette after dinner’.

5.5. Cigarette smoke causes chemical changes in your lung cells Cigarette smoke causes chemical changes in your lung cells which can lead to cancer. which can lead to cancer.

6.6. Young men between the ages of 16 and 30 are reckless drivers. Young men between the ages of 16 and 30 are reckless drivers. 7.7. Young men between the ages of 16 and 30 have 2.7 times as Young men between the ages of 16 and 30 have 2.7 times as

many accidents as young women in the same age group do. many accidents as young women in the same age group do. 8.8. Young men between the ages of 16 and 30 should be required to Young men between the ages of 16 and 30 should be required to

take a driver’s training class, which emphasizes safety and take a driver’s training class, which emphasizes safety and responsibility. responsibility.

9.9. Young men who take such a class will become safer drivers. Young men who take such a class will become safer drivers.

Concrete Support DetailsConcrete Support Details• There are several kinds of concrete supporting details. Among the There are several kinds of concrete supporting details. Among the

most common are: examples, illustrative incidents, statistics, most common are: examples, illustrative incidents, statistics, quotations, references, etc. quotations, references, etc.

• Tips for Using Examples and Illustrative IncidentsTips for Using Examples and Illustrative Incidents:: - Examples and illustrative incidents are perhaps the easiest Examples and illustrative incidents are perhaps the easiest

kind of supporting details to use. You can often take them kind of supporting details to use. You can often take them from your own knowledge and personal experiences. from your own knowledge and personal experiences.

- Illustrative incidents are usually interesting and make your Illustrative incidents are usually interesting and make your writing interesting. writing interesting.

But,But, - In formal writings, examples and illustrative incidents are In formal writings, examples and illustrative incidents are

considered the weakest form of support- so do not use considered the weakest form of support- so do not use them so often. them so often.

- You should make sure that they prove your point. You should make sure that they prove your point. - When using them, introduce them with appropriate When using them, introduce them with appropriate

transitional signals: for example, for instance, e.g. (exempli transitional signals: for example, for instance, e.g. (exempli gratia). gratia).

Writing practice!Writing practice!• Choose one of the topics below and write one paragraph Choose one of the topics below and write one paragraph

about it. Focus on making your paragraph coherent.about it. Focus on making your paragraph coherent.• ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.1. Narrow the topic and brainstorm to develop ideas by Narrow the topic and brainstorm to develop ideas by

listing, freewriting, or clusteringlisting, freewriting, or clustering2.2. Develop an outline, including a topic sentence and a Develop an outline, including a topic sentence and a

concluding sentence. concluding sentence. 3.3. Decide what transition signals would be appropriate and Decide what transition signals would be appropriate and

write them in the margin of your outlinewrite them in the margin of your outline4.4. Write a rough draft, and check it Write a rough draft, and check it 5.5. Write a second draft and check it for grammar and Write a second draft and check it for grammar and

mechanics.mechanics.6.6. Write your final copy and hand it in: Write your final copy and hand it in: - CheatingCheating- DrugsDrugs- MarriageMarriage

Paragraph ChecklistParagraph Checklist• FormForm - Did you indent the first line- Did you indent the first line - Did you write on every other line?- Did you write on every other line?

• Topic sentenceTopic sentence - Does your topic sentence contains a controlling idea?- Does your topic sentence contains a controlling idea?

• Supporting sentencesSupporting sentences

• Unity Unity - Do all of your sentences support your topic sentence- Do all of your sentences support your topic sentence

• CoherenceCoherence - Do you repeat key nouns frequently and use pronouns appropriately?- Do you repeat key nouns frequently and use pronouns appropriately? - Do you use transition signals at appropriate places to make your sentences flow - Do you use transition signals at appropriate places to make your sentences flow

smoothly?smoothly?

• Concrete supportConcrete support - Does your paragraph contain enough specific supporting details to prove your main - Does your paragraph contain enough specific supporting details to prove your main

points?points?

• Concluding SentenceConcluding Sentence - Does your paragraph have a concluding sentence- Does your paragraph have a concluding sentence

( See Course Main reference book, p. 73)( See Course Main reference book, p. 73)

Suggested Time limits: Suggested Time limits:

1.1. Brainstorm for ideas 5 min.Brainstorm for ideas 5 min.

2.2. Develop a rough outline 3 minDevelop a rough outline 3 min

3.3. Write your paragraph 10 minWrite your paragraph 10 min

4.4. Check your paragraph 2 minCheck your paragraph 2 min

------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------

20 min. 20 min.