Coherence & Cohesion

Identify properties of a
Learning
well-written text
Competency
1 (coherence and
cohesion) (EN11/12RWS-
IIIgh-4.2).
 Objectives

● define and explain coherence;

● differentiate coherence from cohesion; and
● write a well-supported, cohesive, and coherent
paragraph.
 Essential Question

What is the importance of having organized paragraph?

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What is Coherence?
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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
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Coherence

● refers to the interconnection between and

among ideas in the text. It means all
ideas or expressions in the text are clear.
This also means that all ideas cohere
systematically with each other.
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Tips to achieve Coherence

● If you are writing, it is important to consider
the positive and negative points of a
topic, discuss the positives before the
negative, or vice versa. Do not discuss
with interchanging positive and negative
because this will confuse the readers.
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Tips to achieve Coherence

● Within a paragraph be sure to discuss
only one main point to avoid cluttering
the ideas.
● Stick to one topic and finish it first,
instead of reverting back to it again and
again.
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Tips to achieve Coherence

● In writings that are argumentative in nature,
writers may use either the deductive or
inductive forms of reasoning. Deductive
reasoning starts with general conclusion. In your
paragraph, therefore, you begin with your topic
sentence, and this will be followed by your
supporting sentences.
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Tips to achieve Coherence

● 1. Parallelism
This means that ideas of the same nature must be
expressed in the same grammatical structures. This
consistency of grammatical structure helps you to
present your ideas clearly.
Example:
Parallel: swimming, eating, jogging
Not parallel: to swim, eating, jogging
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Tips to achieve Coherence

● 2. Repetition
There are instances when important ideas in your
paragraph need further highlighting to emphasize
their importance. One way to do this is by repetition of
key words or phrases. These repeated ideas will further
call attention to a coherent statement which the
paragraph talks about
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What is Cohesion?
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Cohesion
● Is the connection of ideas at the sentence
level, it can be readily seen in a text through the
smooth flow of the sentences and the
connection of ideas.

● Cohesion can be applied using three

techniques.
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Cohesion
● 1. The use of pronouns to refrain from
using a specific word repeatedly.
● 2. The use of transitional devices to
connect sentences with linked ideas.
● 3. The employs of repetition of keywords
to tie up the paragraphs subtly
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Cohesive Devices
● 1. Substitution (Pronouns)
● 2. transitional Devices (To connect
sentences)
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Cohesive Devices
● 1. Substitution
The use of pronouns as substitute for key
nouns in your paragraph aids you in
presenting clear flow of ideas. Substituting
nouns with pronouns avoid repetition and
confusion in your paragraph.
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Study the given example:

Text without Coherence and Cohesion
Amelia Earhart was a legendary woman who made her
name in aviation by setting various records. In 1928, she
became famous as the first woman who flew across the
Atlantic Ocean. She was only a passenger, pilot Wilmer
Stults and copilot/mechanic Louis Gordon manning the
controls. In 1932, she flew on her own over the Atlantic.
She flew from Honolulu Hawaii to Oakland California.
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Study the given example:

Text with Coherence and Cohesion
Amelia Earhart was a legendary woman who made her name
in aviation by setting various records. In 1928, she became famous
as the first woman who flew across the Atlantic Ocean. However,
during this trip she was only a passenger with pilot Wilmer Stultz
and co-pilot/mechanic Louis Gordon manning the controls. In 1932,
she finally got to fly on her own over the Atlantic. She set another
record when she flew from Honolulu Hawaii to Oakland California in
1935, thus becoming the first person to fly over both the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans
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Cohesive Devices
2. 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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ACTIVITY: Fill in the blanks with the most suitable transitions from the list. Use each
transition only once unless instructed otherwise.

If you lead a busy life, you are probably not getting enough vitamin C. Given the choice, most of us would
rather relax with a cup of coffee, instead of peeling an orange. 1- __________, the cold and flu season is
not over yet. Especially at this time of the year, vitamin C is not just a necessity, but essential for helping
maintain the immune system. 2- __________ the experts’ acknowledgement that there is no real
substitute for real fruit, our company discovered a new way to maximize the benefits of taking a daily
dose of vitamin C. Red axon makes this possible with a capsule. 3- __________ an orange a day may
give the body a sudden burst of vitamin C, the effects do not last long- no matter how it is consumed.
Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body for a long period of time 4- __________ its solubility in water. So,
how does Red axon SlowRelease Work? Each capsule contains hundreds of coated pellets made up of
Vitamin C. These pellets dissolve safely and gradually into your system; 5- __________, they provide a
continuous and steady source of vitamin C over a period of eight hours. This will help you to maintain the
body’s natural defenses and resistance to infection.
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Chronological Order

● gives a sequence of events

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

and so on
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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.
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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
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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
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Order of Importance

● the details are arranged from the least important

idea to the most important one, or vice versa
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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.
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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
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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.
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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

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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

Answer each of the following prompts in a paragraph.

Works will be graded using the rubric provided.

● How is coherence different from cohesion? How can

you ensure that a paragraph you are writing is
coherent?

Enumerate and explain the five logical patterns one can

use for a coherent paragraph.
 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.
 Values Integration

What aspects of your life would benefit from a better

organization? How so?
 Synthesis

1. Form 10 groups.
2. You will be assigned a random topic with a corresponding
appropriate logical pattern.
3. Each group must come up with a coherent paragraph
based on the assigned topic and using the appropriate
logical pattern.
4. Each group presents their completed paragraph. The rest
of the class critiques and asks questions.
Synthesis

5. After the activity, you may ask the following questions:

● What were the challenges of writing about a topic
using a particular logical pattern?
● How did the activity help demonstrate the value
of coherence?
 Assignment

1. Find a copy of a short story you like in the library or

online.
2. Write a well-supported, cohesive, and coherent
paragraph about it. Use one of the five logical
patterns.
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
main topic.
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.
Score: /20