MEETING 7

Coherence and Cohesion

Dosen Pengampu: Eka Arinda Purnamasari, S.Pd., M.Hum.

A. INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
A good paragraph is structured like a miniature essay. It should have a
clear beginning, middle and end. Strong paragraphs combine focus and
attention to detail to develop a single idea thoroughly, and they help
the reader transition from one idea to the next. This section aims to
provide an in-depth understanding of the forth elements of good
paragraph. The discussion will cover two main topics, namely:
1. Coherence
2. Cohesion

B. MATERIAL DESCRIPTION
Instructional Goal 7.1:
Coherence

Cohesion and coherence refer to the connection and development of

ideas in you writing. With cohesive and coherent writing, you can
guide your reader smoothly through your sentences, paragraphs, and
paper as a whole.

1. Coherence
Coherence refers to the overall sense of unity in a passage, including
both the main point of sentences and the main point of each
paragraph.
Coherence focuses the reader’s attention on the specific people, things,
and events you are writing about

TIPS FOR ACHIEVING COHERENCE

1. Create an outline before writing your paper.

● Your outline should include a clear thesis and paragraphs that
support your thesis.
2. Organize your paragraphs in a logical order.
● Each paragraph should flow logically into the next.
3. Keep one idea to one paragraph.
● All the sentences in one paragraph should relate to the main idea of
that paragraph.

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4. Create a reverse outline after writing your paper. See our “How to
Create a Reverse Outline
Resource” for further information.
● After you finish your paper, open a blank document. Write your
thesis statement and a one-sentence summary of each paragraph in
the document.
● If you struggle to summarize the main idea of a paragraph, you
may have too many ideas in that paragraph. Try splitting the
paragraph into two or more paragraphs.
● If a topic sentence differs vastly from your one-sentence summary
of the paragraph’s main
idea, you may need to revise that topic sentence.
● Once your reverse outline is complete, make sure that your
paragraphs support your thesis and flow in a logical order.

TO BUILD COHERENCE PARAGRAPHS

Coherence is established in two ways:

1. Topics of individual sentences are clear

2. Topics of paragraphs are clear

A paragraph is much more than a group of sentences set off by an

indentation. If you can’t quickly and succinctly say what a paragraph’s
main point is, it lacks coherence.

Here’s an example passage:

As a reminder, please promptly return the lecture notes you borrowed.

Slide the notes under my door if I am not there. I may become agitated
if you are late, much like my Uncle Chester after several eggnogs on
Christmas Eve. Most Christmases I liked to stay up and open my
stockings after midnight. Staying up late was exciting and would be
repeated a week later at New Year’s. So would Uncle Chester’s
disgraceful behavior.

The passage is cohesive.

Each sentence connects with the next and the previous. Sentences
begin with familiar information.
Sentences end with new information.

But the passage is not coherent.

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The topic of each sentence is different from the previous. Thus, the
paragraph lacks focus.

Instructional Goal 7.2:

Cohesion

2. Cohesion
Sense of sentence-by-sentence flow by which the reader moves through
a passage, with each sentence connecting to the previous one and the
one that follows the beginning of a sentence is its topic: it’s what the
sentence is about The end of a sentence is its stress: it’s what the
sentence delivers, what’s most important about it.

TIPS FOR ACHIEVING COHESION

1. Start your paragraph with a topic sentence. A topic sentence sums

up the main point of your
paragraph.

2. Organize your sentences in a logical order. You can logically

organize your sentence using three methods:

a. Begin sentences with familiar information and end sentences with

new information.
Readers get familiar information from sentences they just read or from
general knowledge. They prefer to see familiar, easy information before
unfamiliar, complex information.

Ex. In 2019, astronomers made history by photographing a black

hole. They discovered the
black hole at the center of a giant galaxy called Messier 87.*

● These sentences begin with familiar information that the reader

would have from previous
sentences or general knowledge. The sentences also end with new
information that the reader would find unfamiliar or complex.

b. Use transition words. Transition words add ideas together, indicate

cause and effect, contrast ideas, emphasize ideas, and organize ideas

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● Additive Words: additionally, also, furthermore, in addition,
moreover, not only
Ex. Texting while driving is against the law. Additionally, it is very
dangerous.
● Cause and Effect Words: as a result, because, consequently, hence,
therefore, thus, since
Ex. Colin finished work early. As a result, he could join his brother for
dinner.
● Contrasting Words: although, but, despite, even though, however,
in contrast, nevertheless, on the contrary, unless, whereas, yet
Ex. Although it was raining outside, I decided to go jogging.
● Emphasizing Words: for example, for instance, in fact, in other
words, specifically Ex. Elephants experience many human-like
emotions. For example, they can feel compassion and grief.
● Organizing Words: afterward, finally, firstly, lastly, previously,
since, subsequently, then
Ex. Margot stayed up late to watch the hockey game. Afterward, she
went to bed.
c. Repeat key terms and phrases. Reuse terms and phrases
throughout sentences and paragraphs, especially if the reader is
unfamiliar with those terms and phrases.

Ex. All coffee drinkers should try a cortado. A cortado is a Spanish

beverage consisting of
espresso topped with steamed milk. The combination of bitter
espresso with creamy
milk provides a delicious alternative to regular coffee.**

● These sentences repeat key terms such as coffee, cortado, espresso,

and milk.

3. End your paragraph with a concluding sentence. Your concluding

sentence restates the main
idea of the paragraph. It can also act as a lead-in for the main idea of
the next paragraph, which creates a smooth transition between
paragraphs.

To Build Cohesion Paragraphs

For Cohesion in Sentence Beginnings . . . Put the OLD FIRST Begin

your sentences with information familiar to your readers Don’t begin a
sentence with a bit of new information
Don’t begin a sentence with a bit of technical information

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Use your openings to refer back to previous material or gently
introduce a new topic

For Cohesion in Sentence Endings . . . Put the NEW LAST

End your sentences with new information your readers cannot
anticipate
Don’t end a sentence with old information
Put the new, technical, and difficult information at the end of the
sentence
Use transitions to convey the connections between the ideas in your
sentences

What Readers Remember From Sentences

First: the sentence ending

Second: the sentence beginning
Last: the sentence middle

Why Are Cohesion and Coherence Important?

Cohesion is important because it allows us to make multiple references

to people, things, and events without reintroducing them at each turn.
If we had to repeat these every time we wanted to refer to them, the
text would be very tedious to read.

A coherent passage focuses the reader’s attention on the main ideas

and the specific people, things, and events you are writing about.