Cohesion between Paragraphs How do we use paragraphs

Cohesion between Paragraphs How do we use paragraphs? What does cohesion mean? How can we create cohesion between paragraphs?

Paragraphs - help organise writing. They: • begin on a new line • are usually more than one sentence • are about one topic or idea What do you remember about paragraphs? When a text has cohesion, it flows smoothly from paragraph to paragraph. It is not just a list of random ideas.

Cohesion A cohesive text: • flows smoothly • makes links between paragraphs • makes clear how paragraphs fit together Cohesive devices are like road signs. They keep the text running smoothly, making it clear which direction to follow and how different parts are linked. Adverbials make links between paragraphs. They create cohesion.

Adverbials - modify a verb or a clause Adverbials can be firstly a word, in the hotel a phrase, after Percy lost his temper or a clause, …answering the questions, In what order? Where? When?

Cohesion – Adverbials of place At the camp On the bus In the sea Up the Gateway Arch Inside the Garden Gnome Emporium You might use these adverbials of place to write about the locations of Percy’s adventures. Each paragraph could be about a different place with the adverbials linking the paragraphs smoothly. Where?

Cohesion – Adverbials of place Can you spot the linking adverbials of place? Outside in the diner, Ares waiting for us. He gave me a wicked grin as we approached him. I could tell that he already knew about the trap. In the truck, the smell hit us. It was like the world’s biggest pan of kitty litter. It was dark until I uncapped Riptide. The paragraphs are both about the same evening. The adverbials link the paragraphs smoothly, indicating a change in place. The reader is guided from one paragraph to the next using place adverbials. ANSWERS

Cohesion – Adverbials of number Firstly Secondly Thirdly Lastly You might use these adverbials to sequence events or instructions or to order reasons in an argument. Each paragraph could contain a different step or reason and the adverbials can link the paragraphs smoothly. In what order?

Cohesion – Adverbials of number Can you spot the linking adverbials of number? Firstly, Percy was attacked by a Fury pretending to be a teacher at Yancy Academy. Calling herself Mrs Dodds, she cornered him on a school trip. Secondly, Percy encountered the Minotaur as he travelled to camp. It attacked as they drove to Camp Half-Blood. Lastly, Percy met Medusa who was hiding her snakes under a veil and working in a Garden Gnome Emporium. She was selling her victims as garden statues. ANSWERS The paragraphs are about Percy’s monster encounters. The adverbials link the paragraphs smoothly, indicating the order of events. The reader is guided from one paragraph to the next using number adverbials.

Cohesion – Adverbials of time When Poseidon first met his mother Before long Many years ago Before anyone could do anything Meanwhile You might use these adverbials to sequence events in a story or a report. Each new paragraph introduces a different moment, with the adverbials allowing the reader to follow the passing time more easily. When?

Cohesion – Adverbials of time Can you spot the linking adverbials of time? Every August, the councillors picked out the most important event of the summer, and they painted it on that year’s beads. The pine tree represented Thalia’s sacrifice. Two summer’s ago, Annabeth’s father had sent her his college ring. It reminded him how much Athena had helped him with his studies. This year, Percy wondered what would be added to Annabeth’s necklace. Would he even survive long enough to find out? The paragraphs relay events in a story. ANSWERS The adverbials link the paragraphs smoothly, indicating passing of time. The reader is guided from one paragraph to the next using time adverbials.

Cohesion – Topic Sentences • Paragraphs organise the text into boxes of information. • The first sentence of a paragraph indicates what it will be about, especially in non-fiction; it is sometimes called the topic sentence. This guides the reader. • Adverbials often appear in a topic sentence, creating cohesion. Firstly, Percy was attacked by a Fury pretending to be a teacher at Yancy Academy. Calling herself Mrs Dodds, she cornered him on a school trip. Secondly, Percy encountered the Minotaur as he travelled to camp. It attacked as they drove to Camp Half-Blood. It caused their car to crash and then they had to continue by foot. Lastly, Percy met Medusa who was hiding her snakes under a veil and working in a Garden Gnome Emporium. She was selling her victims as garden statues and hoping to add more to her collection. The topic sentence introduces the paragraph. The adverbials of time, create cohesion.

Cohesion within Paragraphs What does cohesion mean? What is cohesive writing? What type of language helps us write cohesively?

Cohesion A cohesive text: • flows smoothly • makes links between ideas • makes clear how meanings fit together Cohesive devices are like road signs. They keep the text running smoothly, making it clear which direction to follow and how different parts are linked.

Cohesive devices – Pronouns can be used as cohesive devices. They make links to what has already been said. A pronoun can replace a noun or noun phrase. Percy was surprised when he was now viewed as a victim. He had caused a commotion to get away from a kidnapper. It made him feel amused. Which pronouns refer back to Percy? Pronouns also help avoid repetition, so the words flow more smoothly. This repetition is distracting and stops the words flowing smoothly. Percy was surprised when Percy was now viewed as a victim. Percy had caused a commotion to get away from a kidnapper. It made Percy feel amused.

Cohesive devices – Pronouns A pronoun can replace a noun or noun phrase. Which pronouns could replace the nouns and noun phrases? He Percy was asked to repeat his story again for the reporters it them Percy was fed the whole story by the reporters. He his Percy wondered if people would believe the story was. Percy’s. ANSWERS

Cohesive devices – Determiners A determiner specifies a noun (known or unknown) Determiners can be used as cohesive devices. They make links to what has already been said. the chair belonging to Chiron the arms belonging to Chiron this particular chair His chair was covered rips and patches but it was this chair where Chiron his arms on on those patches and looked up up was most comfortable. He rested his knock. when he heard the knock which is important to what comes next Can you spot the determiners? Each determiner makes links to other parts of the text. the specific patches mentioned previously

Cohesive devices – Determiners A determiner specifies a noun (known or unknown) Choose a determiner to show that Percy would be happy to pass any exam. Percy would be happy to pass an exam. a the an Choose a determiner to show that it was Zeus’ bolt. ______ His bolt was instantly recognisable. My Your His Choose a determiner to show that Percy looked carefully at Olympus. every Percy took in ______ detail. some every any

Cohesive devices – Subordinating Conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions can be used as cohesive devices. Subordinating conjunctions join clauses They join clauses and explain how they are joined. They can give meaning to do with… Time when while since as before Place wherever Cause because so as since Condition if unless even if Contrast although whereas while

Cohesive devices – Subordinating Conjunctions Time when while since as before Place wherever Cause because so as since Condition if unless even if Contrast although whereas while Percy’s heart was racing because Poseidon was there. Although Zeus was king of the gods, Poseidon was Percy’s father. He could not remember when he he had last seen him. Can you spot the conjunctions? With conjunctions, clauses are linked so a text has more cohesion. Subordinating conjunctions join clauses

Cohesive devices – Subordinating Conjunctions Time when while since as before Place wherever Cause because so as since Condition if unless even if Contrast although whereas while Subordinating conjunctions join clauses Which conjunction would join these clauses best? Percy waited ______ while he kept his head down. when while before ANSWERS where his throne was placed. Zeus sat _______ Because he was not welcomed, Percy felt sad. if where before because although If

Cohesive devices – Adverbs link sentences – they do not join them. Adverbs explain how words relate to each other. They can give meaning to the links, to do with… Time/Order then soon yesterday now first next finally Lists/Adding firstly secondly furthermore also finally Causes therefore consequently as a result Contrasts however meanwhile nevertheless Manner fast surprisingly luckily eventually

Cohesive devices – Adverbs Time/Order then soon yesterday now first next finally Lists/Adding firstly secondly furthermore also finally Causes therefore consequently as a result Contrasts however meanwhile nevertheless Manner fast surprisingly luckily eventually Adverbs link sentences – they do not join them. ANSWERS Eventually, Percylookedat at. Poseidon. Therewas wasno nosignof ofapproval, however. Now, he he saw that he he was not like aa human father. Therefore, Percydid didnot notfeelso sobad badabouthis absence. First, Percytold. Zeushis hisstory. Meanwhile, the theboltwas washiddenininhis hisbag. Can you spot the linking adverbs?

Challenge: Choose a paragraph of writing from any of the pieces you have done so far. Using what you now know about cohesion, rewrite it, so that it flows, and sounds more sophisticated.

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