Coherence and Cohesion

Cohesion and Coherence are products of one another. The primary goal of cohesion and
coherence is to achieve well-arranged ideas in a paragraph.

Coherence
It is achieved when the ideas in a paragraph are arranged logically.

Logical Orders
 Order of Importance- This order is classified into two: descending order and ascending
order. In the descending order, one lists the most important ideas or the major ideas first
followed by minor ideas. Ascending order, on the other hand, lists the minor ideas first
followed by a major or most important ideas.
 Chronological Order- Ideas are arranged based on a time element.
 Spatial Order- Ideas are arranged based on the description of places and objects.
 Comparison and Contrast Order- Ideas are arranged based on the similarities and
differences.
 Cause and Effect- Ideas are arranged based on the causal relationship.

Cohesion
It is achieved when sentences are connected by certain signals called transitional devices.

Classification of Transitional Devices

 Addition such as also, and, in addition.
 Cause and Effect such as therefore, so, as a result.
 Comparison such as similarly, likewise, in the same way.
 Contrast such as however, but, on the other hand.
 Conclusion such as to conclude, to summarize, on the whole.

Example:
 Example such as for instance, for example, to illustrate
 Insistence such as indeed, in fact, as a matter of fact.
 Location such as in front, at the back, underneath.
 Restatement such as in other words, that is, in simpler terms.
 Time such as currently, next, later.

Example:
Order of Importance:

Learning to write is never an easy thing. Essentially, a budding writer has to learn that writing is a
thing for patient people--that writing usually takes time. On the contrary, other things that concern a
promising writer are just secondary things. For instance, being able to catch the interest of people,
being able to master all the grammar rules, being able to provide a pleasant experience for his or her
readers, in fact, do not make a promising writer any better than a writer who is the most patient.

What makes the ideas in the example paragraph above arranged based on the order of importance?
What particular classification?

Explanation:
The ideas are arranged in 'descending order'; they are arranged starting with the major idea first
followed by the minor ideas.

Example:
Using certain transitional devices:
Learning to write is never an easy thing. Essentially, a budding writer has to learn that writing is a
thing for patient people--that writing usually takes time. On the contrary, other things that concern a
promising writer are just secondary things. For instance, being able to catch the interest of people,
being able to master all the grammar rules, being able to provide a pleasant experience for his or her
readers, in fact, do not make a promising writer any better than a writer who is the most patient."

Explanation:
The bold words are transitional devices that connect and make the sentences and the whole text
achieve cohesion and coherence.

Key Points
Cohesion and Coherence are products of one another.

Coherence is achieved when the ideas in a paragraph are arranged logically.

Logical Orders:

 Order of Importance
 Chronological Order
 Spatial Order
 Comparison and Contrast Order
 Cause and Effect

Cohesion is achieved when sentences are connected by certain signals called 'transitional
devices'

Classifications of Transitional Devices

 Addition
 Cause and Effect
 Comparison
 Contrast
 Conclusion
 Example
 Insistence
 Location
 Restatement
 Time