ILM- ENGLISH PROFICIENCY FOR THE EMPOWERED PROFESSIONALS

MODULE 2- SENTENCE UNITY AND COHERENCE

Content:
Writing had always been a form of
communication and, as such, it shares the
same goal; being understood is always the
end point. Misunderstanding is considered a
breakdown in the communication process.
Thus, it is imperative for students to learn
how to properly write sentences in order for
them to be clearly understood. This is where
unity and coherence comes in. Proficiency in
these two skills would then be useful when
writing larger units such as paragraphs,
compositions, or any type of discourse
Time Frame Week 6-7
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Familiarize with unity and coherence in the sentence level.

2. Write better sentences by using unity and appropriate transitional devices.

Lesson – Sentence unity and coherence

Topics:
1. Unity
2. Coherence

Time Allotment February 7-16, 2022

Student Learning Outcomes: Expected Outputs
At the end of these weeks, students should be Self-assessment
able to:
1. Write good paragraphs using unity and
coherence
2. Differentiate the use of unity and
coherence
Learning Activities:

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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Pre-assessment
Do you prefer writing shorter or longer sentences? Which do you think is better? Justify
your preference.

Sentence Unity
 A sentence has unity if it expresses only one main idea.
 How to Achieve Sentence Unity
o Consistent Use of Tenses
 A verb in an adverbial clause generally agrees with the tense of the verb in
the main clause.
Example: We finished our work before we watched the game.
 The verb in the adjective clause doesn’t need to agree in the tense with the
verb in the main clause when the two actions are not necessarily related in
time of occurrence.
Example: Ms. Darcy, who was my teacher in elementary, is now in
Antarctica.
 The verb takes the present tense of the verb if the idea being expressed is a
universal truth or a relatively permanent condition.
Example: The sun rises in the east.
 Use the tense form of the word that tells the time of action one wishes to
express.
Example: He was in Manila last week, but now he is in Baguio.
o Consistent Use of Number
 Avoid unnecessary shifting from first person to third person or vice versa
Example: If the students pass their project on time, they will obtain a good
mark.
o Consistent Use of Persons of Pronouns
 Shifting persons of pronouns will destroy unity. The pronouns must agree
with their antecedents.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Example: The man was read his rights.
She is inviting us to attend her celebration.
o Consistent Use of Subject
 Do not shift subject in a sentence.

Example: Students stay up late at night but the projects are not
usually accomplished.
(wrong because of shift of subject from student to
project)
o Consistent Use of Voice
 Voice is the aspect of a verb that tells whether the subject performs or
receives the action.
Example: The department chair held a meeting and discussed some
important matters for the upcoming seminar. (Active)
An inspirational message is given. (Passive)
o Consistent Use of Language
 Use the same language throughout the sentence. Avoid the use of foreign
terms and phrases which have not been incorporated into the language. As
much as possible, never resort to language mixing.
 Also, be consistent with the use of register (formal, informal, slang).
Example: Aren’t we going home yet? I am gutom na.
(wrong because of language mixing)

Sentence Coherence
 It means putting ideas in logical order showing their relationship with one another. The
sentence elements should be in proper word order.
 Coherence is achieved when sentences and ideas are connected and flow together
smoothly. An essay without coherence can inhibit a reader’s ability to understand the ideas
and main points of the essay. Coherence allows the reader to move easily throughout the
essay from one idea to the next, from one sentence to the next, and from one paragraph to
the next.
 How to Achieve Coherence

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 o Use Repetition to Link Ideas, Sentences, and Paragraphs

 Repeating key words or phrases helps connect and focus idea(s)

throughout the essay. Repetition also helps the reader remain focused
and headed in the right direction.

Example: Most students are intimidated by the works of William

Shakespeare. They believe Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays
are far too complicated to read and understand.

o Use Transitional Expressions to Link Ideas, Sentences, and Paragraphs

 Transitional expressions, such as however, because, therefore, and in addition,

are used to establish relationships between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs.
They serve as signals to let the reader know the previous idea, sentence, or
paragraph is connected to what follows.

Example: Many students believe they cannot write a good essay because they
are not writers. However, as they practice writing and work on
developing their writing skills, most students are able to gain the
needed confidence to start thinking of themselves writers.

 List of Transitional Devices and their Use

To Add: and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally,

further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more,
moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.)

To Compare: whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however,

nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where,
compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but,
although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast,
although this may be true

To Prove: because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously,

evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in
fact, in addition, in any case, that is

To Show Exception: yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of,

despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 To Show Time: immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours,
finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first
(second, etc.), next, and then

To Repeat: in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has

been noted

To Emphasize: definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed,

in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally,
surprisingly, always, forever, perennially,
eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably,
without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without
reservation

To Show Consequence: first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C,

and so forth. next, then, following this, at
this time, now, at this point, after,
afterward, subsequently, finally,
consequently, previously, before this,
simultaneously, concurrently, thus,
therefore, hence, next, and then, soon

To Give an Example: for example, for instance, in this case, in another

case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the
case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an
illustration, to illustrate

To Summarize or Conclude: in brief, on the whole, summing up, to

conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown,
as I have said, hence, therefore,
accordingly, thus, as a result,
consequently

o Use Pronouns to Link Sentences

 Pronouns are used to link or connect sentences by referring to preceding

nouns and pronouns. Pronouns can also help create paragraphs that are
easy to read by eliminating wordiness and unnecessary repetition.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 Example: Mr. Thompson agreed to meet with members of the worker’s union
before he signed the contract. He was interested in hearing their
concerns about the new insurance plan.

o Use Synonyms to Link Ideas and Create Variety

 Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as
another word. They provide alternative word choices that can add variety
to an essay and can help eliminate unnecessary repetition.

Example: Teenagers face an enormous amount of peer pressure from

friends and schoolmates. As a result, many young adults are
exhibiting signs of severe stress or depression at an early age.

o Use Parallel Structures to Link Ideas, Sentences, and Paragraphs

 Parallelism is the use of matching words, phrases, clauses, or sentence

structures to express similar ideas. Parallel structures allow the reader to
flow smoothly from one idea, sentence, or paragraph to the next and to
understand the relationships and connections between ideas.

Examples: Usually, the children spend the summer weekends

playing ball in park, swimming in the neighbor’s pool,
eating ice cream under the tree, or camping in the
backyard.

At the museum, the class attended a lecture where the

speaker demonstrated how the Native Americans made
bows and arrows. They also attended a lecture where a
sword smith demonstrated how the Vikings crafted swords

Activity 1

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
 DIRECTIONS: Read the following sentences correctly then encircle the letter of the best
transitional device to complete each of the sentences.

1. A vegetarian can be defined as someone who does not eat meat, fish, or other animal
products, such as eggs or cheese; _____, he or she eats vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds.
A. consequently
B. furthermore
C. instead
D. because
E. for example

2. _____ this diet consists of non-meat food sources, a vegetarian typically consumes less fat
and cholesterol than an individual who consumes meat.
A. Consequently
B. furthermore
C. instead
D. because
E. for example

3. _____, raising animals for food uses valuable land, water, and energy.
A. consequently
B. furthermore
C. instead
D. because
E. for example

4. _____, adopting a vegetarian diet helps conserve the valuable resources that our future
depends on.
A. consequently
B. furthermore
C. instead
D. because
E. for example

5. _____ many educators and parents have praised the Harry Potter series, some Christian
parents have called for a ban on the books in their schools and libraries.

A. Although
B. In addition

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
C. Such as
D. However
E. Indeed

6. Some churches have even gone as far as burning the books, citing biblical injunctions
against witchcraft, _____ those in Exodus and Leviticus.

A. Although
B. In addition
C. Such as
D. However
E. Indeed
7. _____, some Christians believe the books are compatible with Christianity,
A. Although
B. In addition
C. Such as
D. However
E. Indeed

8. _____, that they embody basic Christian beliefs.

A. Although
B. In addition
C. Such as
D. However
E. Indeed
9. _____, in the summer of 2006, western Europe experienced some of the hottest weather
on record.
A. in fact
B. for example
C. unfortunately
D. Moreover
E. But

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
Be ready for lesson 2 about rhetoric

REFERENCES:
Nelson, Gerald, Routlegde. English: an essential grammar. 2019
Lester,Mark , Mc Graw Hill Education, English Grammar Drills 2nd ed. 2018
http://oxforddictionaries.com/page/howmanywords
Lee, C., (2017) Manusya: Journal of Humanities New York: Routledge.

Aleksander Xhuvani University Elbasan Albania. European journal of language & Literature
Studies. 2015

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph