語意連貫 字句連貫

Coherence & Cohesion

Writing without these two devices

is like making a hamburger with
leftovers.
 Why important?

Coherence
語意連貫 Logical order

Cohesion
字句連貫 Helpful links glue
How to make my writing coherent?

Coherence

General particular
Statement example
Problem solution
Question answer
Claim counter-claim
 How to make my writing cohesive?

Cohesion

It,neither,this 之前提過的訊息

First of all,after that 時間順序

however, in addition, for transitional words(轉承)

instance
How to make your pieces smoothly written?
1. Repetition of a Key Term or Phrase

The problem with contemporary art is that it is not

easily understood by most people. Contemporary
art is deliberately abstract, and that means it leaves
the viewer wondering what she is looking at.
How to make your pieces smoothly written?

2. Synonyms

Myths narrate sacred histories and explain sacred

origins. These traditional narratives are, in short, a
set of beliefs that are a very real force in the lives
of the people who tell them.
How to make your pieces smoothly written?

3. Pronouns

When scientific experiments do not work out

as expected, they are often considered failures
until some other scientist tries them again.
Those that work out better the second time
around are the ones that promise the most
rewards.
How to make your pieces smoothly written?

4. Transitional Words
I like autumn, and yet autumn is a sad time of
the year, too. The leaves turn bright shades of
red and the weather is mild, but I can't help
thinking ahead to the winter and the ice
storms that will surely blow through here. In
addition, that will be the season of chapped
faces, too many layers of clothes to put on, and
days when I'll have to shovel heaps of snow
from my car's windshield.
How to make your pieces smoothly written?

5. Sentence Patterns

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what

your country can do for you--ask what you can
do for your country.
(from a speech by President John F. Kennedy)

Credited:
http://www.missouri.edu/~pattonmd/cohesion.html%2
0
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/style/cohesion.html
 Practices

 Find an article
 Circle the words/phrases or
underline the sentences that
make the article coherent and
cohesive.
 Read the article aloud to your
group members with
coherence and cohesion
devices emphasized.
 News Report

 1. find an article in the websites

 2. read the article
 3. write down the main idea (at least 150 words)
With the help of transitional words

4. Select 10 key words

4. Oral report
 addition

 equally
 important
 likewise also
 besides by the same
 token
 and
 too similarly again
 what is more as well as at
the same
 time
 in addition further
moreover
 time

 after; after a while in the

 meantime
 thereafter next
 afterwards before until then
 as long as in the past in the future meanwhile
 as soon as lately ultimately
 at last; finally
 contrast

 but
 regardless
 in contrast
 despite though conversely
 even so nonetheless notwithstanding
 even though nevertheless for all that
 on the other hand however but
 in spite of yet whereas
 on the contrary still
 sequence

 for this
 purpose
 as a
 consequence
 hence
 since so thus
 then as a result in short
 to this end thereupon because
 with this object accordingly therefore
 example

 such as for instance specifically

 in particular an illustration
 of
 namely
 to demonstrate to illustrate even
Transition signals
Which paragraph is easier to understand?
Clarity
 Examples:
Norden picked up the wrench, removed the nut,
and handed it to Robert.

Norden picked up the wrench, removed the nut,

and handed the tool to Robert.

Complaining angrily, John wrote it up and sent it to the

newspaper. (what is it?)
Angrily, John wrote up his complaint and sent it to the
newspaper.
 Eliminate the vague it, they, is when,
and is where.
1. In Oregon, they have passed a law which encourages the
recycling of waste materials.
Oregon has passed a law which …
2. In the instruction manual, it explains how to operate an
chewing machine.
The instruction manual explains how to operate…
3. Inflation is when the dollar is worth less than previously.
Inflation occurs when the dollar is ....
4. At the Farmers’ Auction Block is where they have many
buyers of truck crops.
Many buyers of truck crops are at the Farmers’ Action Block.
 practice
1. I went with Brad to Phil’s place because he wanted
company.
Because Brad wanted company, I went with him to Phil’s
place.
2. Peter spoke to the assistant, and he was very rude.
Peter spoke very rudely to the assistant.

3. The division manger always favored Sam. This

angered the other employees. This action angered…

4. John showed the news reporter how to take good

pictures, and his pictures turned out beautifully.
the reporter’s pictures
5. Gail hired the waitress, which was a wise move
on her part.
Gail’s hiring of the waitress was a wise move on her part.
Gail hired the waitress. This move was wise on her part.
6. After the electrician installed new switches in the motors,
some of them did not work.
some of the switches did not work.

7. As the ferry boat approaches the tugboat, it blows a warning.

The ferry boat blows a warning as it approaches the tugboat.

Compound Adjectives
複合形容詞
 A single adjective made up of two or more words is called a
"compound adjective".

 The words in a compound adjective are linked together by a

hyphen (or hyphens) to show that they are part of the same
adjective.

 A compound adjective is a modifier of a noun. Compound

adjectives do not always have hyphens.

 They are hyphenated to avoid confusion.

 Types of hyphenated compound adjectives
A、名詞為主的複合形容詞:

1. Adjective + Noun (including comparatives and superlatives)

A red-light district. A full-time employee. A high-level requirement.
A large-scale development. A shorter-term solution

2. Numeric+ Noun (Singular)

A seven-year itch. A ten-storey building. A five-minute walk

3. Noun + Noun
(Adjectival phrases are often hyphenated to avoid confusion with nouns.)
A parent-teacher conference. Some food-web dependencies.
A crude-oil processing. An ice-cream shop
B、形容詞為主的複合形容詞:

1. Adjective + Adjective
A dark-green dress.
A bitter-sweet memory.

2. Noun + Adjective
A water-proof jacket.
A nation-wide campaign.
A duty-free shop.
A world-famous player.
C、分詞為主的複合形容詞:

主動語態 - 用現在分詞
被動語態 - 用過去分詞

1. Adjective + Participle
2. Adverb + Participle
3. Noun + Participle
4. Numeric + Past Participle
5. Past Participle + Adverb
6. Past Participle + Preposition
1. Adjective + Participle
(including comparatives and superlatives)
An ugly-looking goose = A goose which looks ugly.
A snow-covered mountain = A mountain which is covered with snow.
An eye-catching girl = A girl who catches people’s eyes.

2. Adverb + Participle
A never-ending story = A story which never ends.
A well-paid salary.
A well-respected teacher
3. Noun + Participle
An adventure-packed quest = A quest which is packed with adventures.
A home-made cookie.= The cookie was made at home.
A heart-broken story.
A fun-loving person.

4. Numeric + Past Participle

A one-eyed bear.
A two-sided story

5. Past Participle + Adverb

A laid-off worker = A work who is laid off.
A scaled-down operation.

6. Past Participle + Preposition

An agreed-upon solution.
We should not place a hyphen in a compound adjective if
the adjectives are capitalized, such as when they are part
of a title.

•His book was entitled, "Gender Neutral Language in

English Usage," and it revolutionized the way people think
about sex roles.

•However: His book on gender-neutral language

revolutionized the way people think about sex roles.
 practice
1.This is a dress which was made by hand.
This is a _________
hand-made dress.
2. It is a walk which takes just 7 minutes.
It is just a ___________
seven-minute walk.
3. I like the house which was painted brown.
I like the ___________
brown-painted house.
4. Can you see the star which is shining brightly?
Can you see the _____________
brightly-shining star.
5. This is a cake which is made carefully.
This is a ____________
carefully-made cake.
Sentences that are too long or too
short
(I). Too many long sentences:
The following sentence may be confusing to read because
of its length:

My favorite place to visit is my grandparents’ house near the

lake where we love to fish and swim, and we often take the
boat out on the lake.

(Breaking the sentence into two can make your writing clearer and more
interesting.)

My favorite place to visit is my grandparents’ house near the

lake. We love to fish and swim there, and we often take the
boat out on the lake.
(II). Sentences that are too short:
Too many short sentences often makes the writing sound
choppy:

I knew my friends would throw me a party. It was for my

birthday. There was something in the air. I felt it for a
whole week before that. I was nervous. I was also very
excited. I got home that night. My friends didn’t
disappoint me. I walked in my house. All my friends
yelled, “surprise!”

To improve the above paragraph, you should join some

of the short sentences using connectors.
Because it was my birthday, I knew my friends would
through me a party. There was something in the air for a
whole week before that. I was nervous but excited when I
got home that night. I wasn’t disappointed. When I
walked in my house, all my friends yelled, “Surprise!”

A good style often involves the combination of both

short and long sentences.
 Write As Much As Is
Appropriate

“The professional writer writes in plastic; the amateur writer

writes in concrete.”

this means that the professional works his sentences

over and over, knowing that the first version is seldom
the best.
One of the most common errors is using
unnecessary words.

What is the obvious problem of the following sentence?

“Many uneducated citizens who have never attended

school continue to vote for better schools.”
 Other examples
Each and every employee will report in writing and complete
and turn in form number 402 by August 31 not later.
Each employee will complete and turn in form 402 by
August 31. (10 words saved)

The employers cooperated together and endorsed a

confirmation of the important essentials of the concurring
agreement.
The employers cooperated and endorsed the essentials
of the agreement.
Meaningless and Ineffective Usages
List of words/phrases that be made simpler:

12 midnight midnight
3 am in the morning 3 am
a person who is honest an honest person
a total of 14 birds 14 birds
circle around circle
close proximity proximity
end result result
exactly the same the same
Important and basic essential
in spite of the fact that although

in the field of economics in economics

shorter/longer in length shorter/longer

small/large in size small/large
blue in color blue
square/round/rectangular in shape square/round/rectangular
summarize briefly summarize
surrounded on all sides surrounded
surrounding circumstances circumstances
there is no doubt but that no doubt
the future to come the future
and also and or also
basically, essentially, (try to avoid these words)
totally
Due to the fact that due to, because
each every each or every
equally as (O) equally important
(O) as important as
(X) equally as important
Firstly, secondly, thirdly first, second, third
kind of or sort of somewhat, rather, slightly
lots or lots of many or much
plus and or moreover
a considerable amount of much
The reason why is because The reason is / because
on account of because
a number of several
referred to as called
In a number of cases some
has the capacity to can
It is clear that clearly
obviously apparent apparently
It is apparent that apparently
employ use
fabricate make
mix together mix
combine together combine
connect together connect
for the purpose of for….
to….
noticeable to the eye noticeable
Visible to the eye visible
Audible to the ear audible
Alone all by himself alone
during the winter months during winter
In the month of May In May
In the city of Detroit In Detroit
Past experience experience
Past history history
In the final analysis finally
Final conclusion conclusion
Whole entire entire
Might possible might
Here in this place here
Different variations variations
In this day and age today
Retrieve back retrieve
Return back return
Repeat again Repeat
Prior to the time that before
 practice
1. The clerk reviewed the statement for the purpose of
checking for errors. checking
2. All the students must know the absolutely basic
fundamentals of grammar. fundamentals
3. The politician tried to make his influence felt among the
citizens. influence
4. The bank teller asked the customer to endorse the check
on the back. endorse the check
5. The governor’s assistant gave a speech on the subject of
the resources of Texas. a speech on
6. The patient was to take his medicine at regular intervals
of time. regularly
 Only →注意這個字在句子中的位置。

 當你要表達"He kicked that ball only ten yards." 的意

思時，切勿寫成"He only kicked that ball ten yards."
Plague Words and Phrases
1. “All things considered”:
All things considered, Connecticut's woodlands are in better
shape now than ever before.
Connecticut's woodlands are in better shape now than ever
before.

2. “As a matter of fact”:

As a matter of fact, there are more woodlands in Connecticut
now than there were in 1898.
There are more woodlands in Connecticut now than
there were in 1898.

3. “At the present time”:

This is because there are fewer farmers at the present time.
This is because there are fewer farmers now.
4. “Because of the fact that”:
Woodlands have grown in area because of the fact that farmers have
abandoned their fields.
Woodlands have grown in area because farmers have
abandoned their fields.

5. “Exists”:
The fear that exists among many people that we are losing our
woodlands is uncalled for.
The fear among many people that we are losing our woodlands
is uncalled for.

6. “For the most part”:

For the most part, people's suspicions are based on a
misunderstanding of the facts.
People's suspicions are based on a misunderstanding of the
facts.
7. “In my opinion”:
In my opinion, this wasteful policy ought to be revoked.
This wasteful policy ought to be revoked.

8. “In the case of”:

In the case of this particular policy, citizens of northeast Connecticut
became very upset.
Citizens of northeast Connecticut became very upset about his
policy.

9. “In the final analysis”:

In the final analysis, the state would have been better off without
such a policy.
The state would have been better off without such a policy.

10. “In the process of”:

Legislators are already in the process of reviewing the statutes.
Legislators are already reviewing the statutes.
11. “It seems that”:
It seems that they can't wait to get rid of this one.
They can't wait to get rid of this one.

12. “The point I am trying to make”:

The point I am trying to make is that sometimes public policy
doesn't accomplish what it set out to achieve.
Sometimes public policy doesn't accomplish what it set
out to achieve.

13. “Type of”:

Legislators need to be more careful of the type of policy they
propose.
Legislators need to be more careful of the policy they
propose.