Coherence and Cohesion

Cohesion and Coherence are products of one another. The primary goal of cohesion and coherence is to achieve
well-arranged ideas in a paragraph.

Coherence
It is achieved when the ideas in a paragraph are arranged logically.

Logical Orders
 Order of Importance- This order is classified into two: descending order and ascending order. In the
descending order, one lists the most important ideas or the major ideas first followed by minor ideas.
Ascending order, on the other hand, lists the minor ideas first followed by a major or most important ideas.
 Chronological Order- Ideas are arranged based on a time element.
 Spatial Order- Ideas are arranged based on the description of places and objects.
 Comparison and Contrast Order- Ideas are arranged based on the similarities and differences.
 Cause and Effect- Ideas are arranged based on the causal relationship.

Cohesion
It is achieved when sentences are connected by certain signals called transitional devices.

Classification of Transitional Devices

 Addition such as also, and, in addition.
 Cause and Effect such as therefore, so, as a result.
 Comparison such as similarly, likewise, in the same way.
 Contrast such as however, but, on the other hand.
 Conclusion such as to conclude, to summarize, on the whole.

Example:
 Example such as for instance, for example, to illustrate
 Insistence such as indeed, in fact, as a matter of fact.
 Location such as in front, at the back, underneath.
 Restatement such as in other words, that is, in simpler terms.
 Time such as currently, next, later.

Example:
Order of Importance:

Learning to write is never an easy thing. Essentially, a budding writer has to learn that writing is a thing for patient
people--that writing usually takes time. On the contrary, other things that concern a promising writer are just
secondary things. For instance, being able to catch the interest of people, being able to master all the grammar
rules, being able to provide a pleasant experience for his or her readers, in fact, do not make a promising writer any
better than a writer who is the most patient.

What makes the ideas in the example paragraph above arranged based on the order of importance? What particular
classification?

Explanation:
The ideas are arranged in 'descending order'; they are arranged starting with the major idea first followed by the
minor ideas.
Example:
Using certain transitional devices:

Learning to write is never an easy thing. Essentially, a budding writer has to learn that writing is a thing for patient
people--that writing usually takes time. On the contrary, other things that concern a promising writer are just
secondary things. For instance, being able to catch the interest of people, being able to master all the grammar
rules, being able to provide a pleasant experience for his or her readers, in fact, do not make a promising writer any
better than a writer who is the most patient."

Explanation:
The bold words are transitional devices that connect and make the sentences and the whole text achieve
cohesion and coherence.

Key Points
Cohesion and Coherence are products of one another.

Coherence is achieved when the ideas in a paragraph are arranged logically.

Logical Orders:

 Order of Importance
 Chronological Order
 Spatial Order
 Comparison and Contrast Order
 Cause and Effect

Cohesion is achieved when sentences are connected by certain signals called 'transitional devices'

Classifications of Transitional Devices

 Addition
 Cause and Effect
 Comparison
 Contrast
 Conclusion
 Example
 Insistence
 Location
 Restatement
 Time