Achieving Coherence T C Norris Spring 2013 Definitions

Achieving Coherence T. C. Norris Spring 2013

Definitions �Coherence = to stick together �The logical connections that readers or listeners perceive in a written or oral text. �The quality of being logically integrated, consistent, and intelligible; congruity: “His story lacked coherence. ” �Continuity = to continue � An uninterrupted succession or flow; a coherent whole. �A continuous flow, series, or succession; unbroken.

Principle Coherence and continuity work together to strengthen your essay, but they are not the same thing. �Coherence relates to the organization of ideas �The right points �The right order �Continuity clarifies that organization �Transitional devices

Coherence at the Essay Level

Where to Start �Prewriting �Generate ideas �Choose appropriate information �Distinguish main points from supporting points �Begin to put ideas in order (outline) �Thesis �Focus on what you will say in the essay

Example For an essay whose general topic is the size of classes in school, thesis might contain this information: �Topic: Large Classes (narrowed through prewriting) �Opinion: Not good �Outline (reasons, for this essay): �Lack of opportunity to participate in the class �Inefficient teacher-student ratio �too much work for the teacher

Example, con’t. Those three elements could be combined into the following thesis statement: Large classes in school (topic) are not good (opinion) because they result in a lack of opportunity for class participation, an inefficient teacher-student ratio, and too much work for the teacher (outline).

To Ensure Coherence Take each main point in your outline and write it in its own sentence, adding a transition that indicates which point it is. . .

To Ensure Coherence, Con’t. . For the sample thesis on the size of classes, those sentences might be like this: 1. One reason that large classes are not good is that they don’t allow for participating in class. 2. Another reason large classes are not good is that they produce an inefficient teacher-student ratio. 3. Finally, large classes are not good because they create too much work for the teacher.

Strengthening Essay Level Coherence The sentences that you just wrote will be the topic sentences for your body paragraphs, and will hold your essay together by �tying the body paragraphs to thesis �reinforcing the order of discussion �furthering the discussion

Coherence at the Paragraph Level

Building Coherent Paragraphs Functions of a body paragraph: �Focus on one of the main points in thesis �Explain in detail why/how that point supports thesis. To do its job effectively, a paragraph has to contain certain information.

Building a Body Paragraph

Building a Body Paragraph, Con’t Sentence Sequence Topic Sentence Major Support Specific Example Summary Topic Sentence = Focus (point of the paragraph) - Major Supports = Aspects of the topic that show it supports thesis. Specific Examples = Real-life situations that illustrate the major supports. Summary = One sentence that emphasizes the overall significance of the paragraph as it supports thesis. i. e. what do the major supports have in common as they support the topic? Or, what do you want the reader to remember from the paragraph?

Using Transitional Devices Begin each kind of sentence with a word or phrase that shows how it relates to the sentences around it. Examples of typical transitional devices: MEANING Addition Contrast COORDINATING and but, yet KINDS OF TRANSITIONAL DEVICES CONJUNCTIONS CORRELATIVE ADVERBIAL SUBORDINATING also, besides, not only. . . but indeed, likewise, also moreover TRANSITIONS again, also, as well as, further, furthermore, in addition, too anyhow, however, though, although, instead, otherwise, while, despite nevertheless conversely, even so, on the other hand, on the contrary as a result, for that reason, resulting, as a consequence of Result so accordingly, hence, thus, consequently, otherwiuse, therefore Reason for because, since, why for this reason Choice or either. . . or Exclusion nor neither. . . nor except

Sample Paragraph Another of my possessions that wears out is my car. One part of it that wears out is the tires. For example, it seems that I put new tires on it just last year, and they have already worn to the point of being unsafe. Another part of my car that wears out is the windshield wipers. For instance, here in the desert, the sun destroys them so that they need to be replaced even before they are used for the rain. The ones I just replaced didn’t last more than six months. The last part of my car that wears out is the battery. Again, the desert heat, combined with the heat under the hood, makes batteries wear out fast. They are supposed to last five years, but mine never make it past two. It seems that the things that go wrong with a car most often are things one depends on the most.

Building a Conclusion Main Idea sentence = Focus (overall point of the essay, but not thesis) Summary sentence from the first body paragraph Summary sentence from the second body paragraph Summary sentence from the third body paragraph “Clincher” sentence = Your personal perspective on or reaction to the point of the essay

Summary �“Coherence” relates to how the essay is organized and the ideas are connected �“Continuity” shows the organization through transitional devices �Coherence is achieved by having �a clear thesis statement �topic sentences that are based on thesis �transitions in the topic sentences that tie them to thesis �transitions in the supporting sentences in the paragraphs to tie them to the topic sentences