Cohesion in a

Paragraph
Learn about It!

Cohesion

● refers to the unity of ideas in a paragraph

● every detail in a paragraph should support the main

idea
 Learn about It!

Cohesion

● Readers do not only understand sentences individually,

but they also take the meaning of the group of sentences
as a whole into consideration.

● When a paragraph or an entire text lacks cohesion,

readers may find it challenging to determine how the
ideas in it are related to one another.
 Learn about It!

Theater as a Management Tool

Main idea: A theatrical production is helpful and educational as a team-building activity
because it involves a lot of people coming together for a single goal.
Supporting Detail 1: It requires leadership skills to direct and motivate the whole group
towards the objective.
Supporting Detail 2: It also requires managerial skills, because it is crucial to organize
people or teams working on various aspects of the play, such as set design, props, and
costumes.
Supporting Detail 3: In addition, staging a play requires flexibility and improvisation,
because a lot can go wrong in a live performance. And so, people may need to adapt.
Supporting Detail 4: Lastly, it requires social skills, especially for those who will take
center stage. The stars of the show must be able to work in harmony with those behind
 Learn about It!

Achiever’s Curse
Main idea: Someone who is an achiever early in their education may find it difficult
to cope with the difficulties that come with higher education.
Supporting Detail 1: In elementary, I often had the highest grades in class, and so I
was a regular in the honor roll.
Supporting Detail 2: In high school, I made it to the honors class, where I would
continue to perform well in my studies. I would even place in the top ten of the entire
year.
Supporting Detail 3: However, upon entering college, things started going downhill.
Supporting Detail 4: Because I was so used to grasping lessons so easily before, I
would get frustrated and give up when a new lesson seemed too difficult to
 Learn about It!

Achiever’s Curse

Supporting Detail 5: When a task required more time and effort than I was used to
exerting, I would procrastinate or avoid doing it altogether.
Supporting Detail 6: Furthermore, since my self-esteem was so closely tied to people
thinking I was brilliant, I would refuse to even attempt anything where I might fail.
Supporting Detail 7: And so I went from overachiever to underachiever, because
despite my intellect, the notion of failure became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
 Writing Prompts

Write a paragraph on one of the following topics. Make sure

that you have a well-supported main idea and that you
maintain cohesion in the paragraph.

● The holiday with the most significance to you

● An admirable celebrity
● The personal flaw you would want to change the most
● The relevance (or lack thereof) of romantic relationships in
adolescence
● The job you would pursue if money were not a problem
 Writing Prompts

Criteria Beginning Developing Accomplished

(0–1 pt.) (2–3 pts.) (4–5 pts.)
Content/ The main idea is not The main idea can be The main idea is
Substance clear. The supporting determined. clear. Supporting
ideas are illogical or Supporting ideas are ideas are all related
unrelated. sufficient to develop and thoroughly
the topic. expound on the
topic.
Organization The details are poorly Supporting details are The supporting
organized. No logical adequately organized details are well-
flow can be discerned. such that logical flow organized and flow
of ideas is observed. logically from the
 Writing Prompts

Criteria Beginning Developing Accomplished Score

(0–1 pt.) (2–3 pts.) (4–5 pts.)
Unity The sentences do The sentences The sentences
not seem to convey generally convey a clearly convey a
a unified idea. Few unified idea. unified idea.
to no transitions are Transitions were Transitions were
used. sufficiently used. used effectively.
Language The number of There were a few There were
(spelling, errors made the errors, but the almost no errors.
mechanics, paragraph paragraph could still The paragraph
grammar, and impossible to convey its meaning. was easy to
word choice) understand. understand.
Coherence in a
Paragraph
Learn about It!

Coherence

● the quality of being logical and well-organized

● details of a coherent paragraph follow a certain logical

order

● connections between the ideas are reinforced by

transitional devices
 Learn about It!

Transitional Devices

● help connect words

● allow smooth flow between words by linking a thought

from one sentence to another or from one paragraph
to the next
 Learn about It!

Transitional Devices
To Summarize or Conclude:
therefore, in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in
conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, accordingly, thus,
as a result, consequently, on the whole
To Give an Example:
for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this
situation, for example, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate
 Learn about It!

Transitional Devices
To Show Sequence:
next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, first, second,
third, and so forth, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously,
before this, simultaneously, concurrently, next, and then, soon
To Emphasize:
definitely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively,
naturally, surprisingly, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically,
unquestionably, extremely, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, always,
forever
 Learn about It!

Transitional Devices
To Repeat:
in brief, as I have said, as I have noted
To Show Time:
first, second, next, and then, immediately, thereafter, soon, after a
few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly
To Show Exception:
yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once
 Learn about It!

Transitional Devices
To Prove:
because, that is, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore,
moreover, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, besides
To Compare and Contrast:
whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the other hand,
on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced
against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast
To Add:
and, again, and then, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's
 Learn about It!

When the cliche, “beauty and brains” was mentioned, she was the first person
that would come to mind. She was easily the most academically gifted students in
our year, but you would never hear her boast about it. In fact, she would be the
last person to point out how well she always did in class. However, she was aware
enough of her abilities to offer help to a classmate who was struggling with any
subject. Furthermore, she was also physically gifted. One look at her and the
other students would be in awe of her beauty. She was also a regular at sports,
being proficient at volleyball and badminton. Because of this, she would often be
the class muse in school-wide events. And yet, despite her academic and athletic
achievements, she never puts on airs or expected any special treatment. Truly,
 Learn about It!

Chronological Order

● gives a sequence of events

● the writer tells what happened first, second, third,

and so on
 Learn about It!

Rhea had a difficult journey pursuing her dream to become a singer. After
winning singing competitions in her barangay and hometown, she first auditioned
for The Voice of the Philippines. She made it past the preliminaries, but none of
the coaches turned around for her during the blind auditions. Undeterred, she
next tried out for Tawag ng Tanghalan. She passed and became a competitor, but
was defeated by the reigning weekly champion on her first try. Finally, she went
for Idol Philippines, where she impressed the judges during her audition. Here, at
last, she tasted some success, as she finished in the top four and received offers
from record labels. Indeed, Rhea is living proof that resilience and persistence pay
off.
 Learn about It!

Spatial Order

● the details are arranged according to how things fit

together in a physical space

● works well when a writer wishes to create a mental

picture of something that has various parts
distinguished by physical location
 Learn about It!

Construction of our new computer laboratory was completed a week before school
starts. The lab has two doors on either side that open into the same hallway. Through
the left-hand door, a few feet inside is the teacher’s desk, complete with its own
computer. A rolling whiteboard rests against the wall behind the teacher’s desk.
Opposite the board and in front of the teacher’s desk are four long tables arranged in
rows. On each table are five workstations that students may occupy, each with its own
PC. Behind the last row, in front of the right-hand door, is a cabinet filled with supplies
such as paper, lendable flash drives, and extra mice and mouse pads. To the right of
the cabinet and in the far corner of the room is a table with two printers connected via
the internal network. Finally, a router is attached to the wall just above the printers,
with insulated cables running the length of the ceiling connecting it to the printers and
 Learn about It!

Order of Importance

● the details are arranged from the least important

idea to the most important one, or vice versa
 Learn about It!

The Junior-Senior Promenade is just two weeks away, and there

are still many preparations to finish. First, our committee has to
double-check the venue to verify our reservation. Then, we must
contact the caterers to confirm our orders and ensure there will
be enough food for all attendees. Next, we have to hire a DJ and a
sound engineer to provide music for the entrance show, the
cotillion, and the open party. Lastly, we must check on each class
to see how their cotillion rehearsals are going.
 Learn about It!

Compare and Contrast

● the details are arranged according to how two or more

things are similar to and different from one another

● an effective pattern to use when the reader can better

understand a subject when it is described in relation to
another
 Learn about It!

Lancelot and Gallahad were both great knights, but they were as different as night
and day. Lancelot was often garbed in ebony black armor and rode a large black
stallion. In contrast, Gallahad often wore polished silver armor and rode a strong
white mare. When it came to combat, Lancelot favored the lance used for his
expert jousting and used a heavy mace to dispatch armored foes. On the other
hand, Gallahad was a celebrated swordsman and an accomplished archer who
could shoot enemies from afar. Lastly, in dealing with people, Lancelot was more
polite and taciturn. Meanwhile, Gallahad had a cheerful disposition and was
somewhat brazen with his speech. Nevertheless, despite these differences, they
were like brothers in their closeness, and they intimidated all opponents in equal
measure.
 Learn about It!

Topical Order

● most commonly used format

● typically works when the other patterns do not

● the details are arranged according to different

subtopics within a larger topic, or the “types” of things
that fall within a larger category

● each “type” represents a main section of information

 Learn about It!

My therapist taught me some coping mechanisms to help me deal with my

excessive stress and mood swings. These are (1) guided meditation, (2) visualization
of emotions, and (3) productive self-talk. Guided meditation involves breathing
rhythmically and focusing on physical sensations while seated comfortably. This
helps me relax, as well as calm my feelings and thoughts. Next, the visualization of
emotions involves imagination. When strong emotions threaten to overwhelm me, I
imagine them as people whom I can reason with. I then treat them as concerned
but overbearing friends whom I can assure that I will be fine. Lastly, productive
self-talk involves being mindful of what I say to myself in my thoughts. When
negative thoughts lead me to chastise or talk down to myself, I change the direction
of my thoughts and tell myself more positive and constructive things.
 Writing Prompts

Write a paragraph on one of the following topics. Make

sure you have a well-supported main idea, a unity of ideas,
and an appropriate logical organization.

● Cooking your favorite dish

● Time management tips you recommend
● A structure or interior that impressed you
● The pros and cons of two rival apps
● A goal you are working hard to achieve
 Writing Prompts

Criteria Beginning Developing Accomplished

(0–1 pt.) (2–3 pts.) (4–5 pts.)
Content/ The main idea is not The main idea can be The main idea is
Substance clear. The determined. clear. Supporting
supporting ideas are Supporting ideas are ideas are all related
illogical or unrelated. sufficient to develop and thoroughly
the topic. expound on the
topic.
Organization The details are Supporting details are The supporting
poorly organized. No adequately organized details are well-
logical flow can be such that logical flow organized and flow
discerned. of ideas is observed. logically from the
 Writing Prompts

Criteria Beginning Developing Accomplished Score

(0–1 pt.) (2–3 pts.) (4–5 pts.)
Unity The sentences do The sentences The sentences
not seem to convey generally convey a clearly convey a
a unified idea. Few unified idea. unified idea.
to no transitions Transitions were Transitions were
are used. sufficiently used. used effectively.
Language The number of There were a few There were
(spelling, errors made the errors, but the almost no errors.
mechanics, paragraph paragraph could still The paragraph
grammar, and impossible to convey its meaning. was easy to
word choice) understand. understand.