Cohesiveness

When your writing is cohesive, your reader will find it much easier to understand what you are saying: everything is tied together in a clear and logical manner.

There are several techniques that you can use to help your readers follow your ideas.

• First, you should use some logical method of organization.
• Second, you may want to repeat a key word or phrase to remind your reader of the important parts of your essay.
• Third, you should connect sentences and paragraphs with transitional devices.

Key Words

• One method of achieving coherence is to repeat your subject's name throughout your writing.
• Your reader will then be kept constantly aware of your subject.
• But repetition of a word, without a specific purpose, can be boring.
• You might find it a good idea to use replacement nouns or pronouns instead.
• You might, for example, in a paragraph discussing Kakuei Tanaka, refer to him as "the late Kakuei Tanaka," "the former prime minister," "the member from Niigata," "the computerized bulldozer," as well as using pronouns such as "he," "his," "himself."

Read the following paragraph, paying attention to the linking lines:

The Squirrel

Wary, delicate, beautiful--the squirrel reluctantly approaches my food-filled hand. Its quivering nose accentuated by a fluttering tail, the tiny creature lingers in the near distance. Startled by the scratch of a single falling leaf, it freezes momentarily. Darting closer, it shows nature's perfection, as filtered sunlight reflects prisms of bright light from the squirrel's silvery tail.

• Study the lines that tie particular words to the first three words.
• Do you see how the words that have been connected give the paragraph coherence?
• Can you draw further lines?

Besides key words, what types of supporting evidence (facts, details, reasons, and so on) and which methods of organization (comparison, cause/effect, analogy, and so on) have been used?

• Transitional expressions show relationships between thoughts and give a sense of direction and continuity.
• They assist the reader to move not only from detail to detail within a single sentence, but also from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph.
• They are a vital factor in coherence.

1. Examine the following sentences.

Weak Transition
Imported oil is now over $30.00 per barrel, and it has become a very expensive fuel.

Stronger Transition
Imported oil is now over $30.00 per barrel; hence, it has become a very expensive fuel. (Note the punctuation.)

No Transition
Canada's energy policy calls for Canadianization. The government believe that Canada's resources should be owned by Canadians.

Transition Added
The government believes that Canada's resources should be owned by Canadians; moreover, Canada's energy policy calls for Canadianization.

No Transition
The United States advocates a continental energy policy for North America. Canada and Mexico disagree with this approach.

Transition Added
The United States advocates a continental energy policy for North America. On the other hand, Canada and Mexico disagree with this approach.

No Transition
CANDU reactors use natural uranium and heavy water. They are considered safer to operate than other types of reactors. The uranium in them has been used by some countries to make atomic bombs.

Transition Added
CANDU reactors use natural uranium and heavy water. They are, consequently, considered safer to operate than other types of reactors, Nevertheless, the uranium in them has been used by some countries to make atomic bombs. (Notice the position of the two transitional expressions. Could they be placed in other positions?)

2. Look at your list of transitional expressions.

• Notice the specific reasons for the use of certain transitional devices.
• Then, reread the examples above.
• Which new transitional expressions could you substitute for the ones that have been used?
• As long as the meaning does not change, you could easily change the transitional expression.

3. Notice how the following conjunctions function in the same way as transitional devices.

No Transition
The Alberta tar sands are considered an almost unlimited source of oil. Exploration in the Beaufort Sea has revealed large supplies.

Correlative Conjunctions Added for Transition
Not only are the Alberta tar sands considered an almost unlimited source of oil, but exploration in the Beaufort Sea has also revealed large supplies.

No Transition
In Canada, garbage is considered a nuisance and a health hazard. In some parts of the world it is burned to generate electricity.

Coordinate Conjunction Added for transition
In Canada garbage is considered a nuisance and a health hazard, yet in some parts of the world it is burned to generate electricity.

Subordinate Conjunction Added for Transition
Although in some parts of the world garbage is burned to generate electricity, it is considered a nuisance and a health hazard in Canada.

Adapted from: Parker, John F. The Writer's Workshop. Don Mills, Ontario: Addison-Wesley Publishers, 1982.