NATIONAL TEACHERS COLLEGE

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Guide

Coherence

• How clear and logical the ideas are in a passage.

• Meaning the ideas of each sentences and ideas of each paragraph are
connected to the main idea of the text.
• In that way, readers can easily understand what the message or the purpose
of the text is.

A piece of writing is coherent if:

1. Connection and unity of ideas.

Each sentences and paragraphs should be connected to the main idea of the
text to create unity.

For Example: Main Idea: Global Warming

Supporting Details: Causes and Effect of Global Warming
Supporting Details: Solutions

In that way, there’s a connection and oneness of ideas.

2. The ideas flow logically and smoothly.

It should allow the readers to move easily throughout the text from one idea
to the next.

3. Clear and easy to understand.

The readers can identify the main points of the text.

4. The whole paper makes sense.

It serves the purpose of the writing.

The paragraph shows unity of ideas. All the sentences effectively relate back
to the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

There’s a flow of thoughts and ideas. The writer presents her subtopics.
Use Logical Patterns

Coherence is established through the presentation of ideas in a logical order. So,

there are 5 logical patterns that we need to remember to achieve coherence in our
writing.

1) Chronological Order

Refers to the arrangements of events according to the time they occurred.

(e.g., from first to last)

For example, in here, the writer narrates what happened first, second, third,
and so on.

Ask the student:

Can you identify the transitional devices used to indicate the arrangements of
events?

A story doesn’t make sense when the events are not presented in the proper
sequence.

For us to easily understand chronological order, here’s another example.

This is the life cycle of a butterfly. You see, the butterfly goes through stages,
from egg, to caterpillar, to pupa, and finally to a fully grown butterfly.

2) Spatial Order

Spatial order means that you explain or describe an object or location as they
are arranged in a physical space.

As the writer, you create a mental picture for your reader.

Can you read the given example?

In this example, the writer described how horrible bill’s refrigerator is by

drawing the reader to the left of the refrigerator, to the right, to the top
shelf and to the one below.

Now what are the transitional devices in this example?

Remember Spatial Order is used when a writer wants to create a mental

picture of something in a physical location.

Another example:
 On the top of the table, Alyssa’s favorite books are arranged. Next to it is
an organic plant to keep the house cool.

3) Order of Importance

Organizing information according to their order of importance by either using

descending or ascending order or from (a) least to most important idea, or (b)
from most to least important idea.

In the example, the organization moves from the most important idea
(Christianity) because it has the greatest number of believers to the least
important idea (Buddhism) because it has the least number of believers.

4) Topical Order

The main topic is broken down into subtopics.

Larger category is broken down into smaller categories or “types.”

Main topic:
Sports:
Ask students the subtopics:
1) Basketball
2) Volleyball

Now, in this example. Can you identify what is the writer’s main topic and
subtopics?

Main Topic:

How to protect your skin from the sun.

Subtopics:
1) Use Sunscreen
2) Seek Shade
3) Wear protective clothing.

Another example: When the main topic is about book genre, you can write
about romance, fiction, novel etc..

5) Compare and Contrast

Identify the similarities and differences of two or more things.

In this example, the writer arranges the information based on the similarities
and differences of the American flag and the British flag.

Ask the student:

Can you give the similarities and differences between a cat and a dog.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WHAT ARE THE 5 LOGICAL PATTERNS?

COHESION

Cohesion is the glue that sticks or holds the sentences and paragraphs
together. It refers to how the sentences and paragraphs link together, which
helps you connect the ideas.

You can say that the text has good cohesion if there is a good transition and
the ideas flow from one sentence to another smoothly.

When you look at this example, which one do you think has better cohesion?

The first passage is more cohesive because the ideas of the first sentence flows
smoothly to the second sentence. You will also noticed how the writer used
transitional words or cohesive devices.

To achieve cohesion: use

Repetition of Words:

It simply means Reusing the terms and phrases throughout the sentences.

_______can you read the example?

Now, what are the terms repeated throughout the sentences?
That’s correct.

Cohesive Devices:

Cohesive devices are transitional words to connect one sentence to another or

one paragraph to another.
_____ can you read the given example?
Now, what is the cohesive device used in the sentence.
Thank you, that’s Correct.
Ideas are choppy and hard to follow (Not Cohesive)
The whole text is Hard to understand and confusing (Not Coherence)

Differences between coherence and cohesion:

Coherence refers to the overall connection of ideas in your paper. Your

sentence and paragraphs should relate back to the main idea of your paper.

Meanwhile, cohesion refers to how join you words, sentences, and paragraphs
together to achieved connection and smooth text flow.