UNITY AND COHERENCE

FOR ACADEMIC WRITING

 DEFINITION

• Unity: a paragraph discusses one an only one main idea from

beginning to an end. (Oshima & Hogue pg. 18)

• Coherence: the movement from one sentence to the next

must be logical and smooth. (Oshima & Hogue pg. 21)

• Coherence: make the good flow of writing by arranging ideas

in the way that make the readers easily understand. (Murray
& Hughes pg. 45)
How to achieve unity?

• Discussing only one idea in a paragraph.

• Always staying on the topic in your supporting sentences.
(open pg. 20 of Oshima)
How to achieve a coherence?

1. Repeat key nouns.

2. Use consistent pronouns.
3. Use transition signals.
4. Arrange your ideas in logical orders.
1. Repeat Key Nouns

What should writers do? What should writers avoid?

• Repeat key noun frequently to • Use pronoun to replace key

make clear reference. noun in the wrong moment.
• Use key noun instead of open pg. 22 of Oshima, 2nd ‘Gold’
pronoun when the reference is
not clear.
open pg. 22 of Oshima,1st ‘Gold’
2. Consistent Pronouns

A student who knows a few Latin If students know that prefix

an Greek roots and prefixes has omni means ‘all’, they have a
an advantage than who do not better chance of guessing the
know them. They can often meaning…………
guess the meaning…….
 3. Transitional Signals

Similar idea: Example:

Opposite idea:
Similarly, for example
on the other
and, in hand, but, in
addition) contrast

Function of Transition signals:

They are like traffic signs; they tell the reader
when to go forward (have similar idea), turn
around (have contrast idea) and when to stop Result:
Conclusion: (have a conclusion). They guide the reader to therefore, as a
in conclusion follow the flow well. result
Rules of punctuation in clauses (coordinators)

Coordinators: and, but, so, or, nor, for and yet.

• Use comma when;
They connect two independent clauses (see pg. 28 of Oshima).

• DO NOT use comma when;

They connect two words or phrases (see pg. 28 of Oshima).

• Exception point:
some writers use comma before yet and but for emphasizing the contrast
idea.
Rules of punctuation in clauses
(subordinators)

Subordinators: although, though, even though, whereas, while, if,

unless.
• Use comma when;
The sentence is started with dependent clause.

• Do not use comma when;

The sentence is started with independent clause.
(see pg. 29 of Oshima).
4. Logical Order

1. Chronological order: order by time- a sequence of events or

steps in a process. (eg: procedure text)
2. Logical division of ideas: a topic is divided into parts, and each
part is discussed separately. (eg: descriptive text).
3. Comparison or contrast: the similarities and / or differences
between two or more items are discussed. (eg: comparison &
contrast text).
Key Points Overall Presentation

1. Every goo paragraph has both unity and coherence.

2. Unity can be achieved by:
a. discussing only one idea in a paragraph.
b. always staying on the topic in supporting sentences.
3. Coherence can be achieved by:
a. repeating key noun.
b. using consistent pronoun
c. using transitional signals.
d. arranging ideas with logical order.
4. Punctuations take important role in making a paragraph coherence.