UNITY AND COHERENCE

Name :M.Faris(1913025)
`Yazan.B(1913044)
Class :Tbi 4 B

Writing for Academic Purpose

Unity
 A paragraph has unity when all the sentences
support a single idea.
 The paragraph must have one controlling idea in the
topic sentence. Otherwise the paragraph loses focus.
 The supporting sentences must support or explain
the controlling idea with examples, details, steps, or
definitions. Otherwise, the paragraph will not be
about one single idea.
 The concluding sentence should restate the idea in
the topic sentence. Otherwise the main idea might
will not be clear.
Coherence
 Every good paragraph in a composition must have
coherence.
 One way to achieve coherence is through the use of
transition signals.

Transition signals are words and phrases that connect the

idea in one sentence with the idea in another sentence.
They make the movement between sentences in a
paragraph smooth, so the reader does not have problems
understanding the writer’s ideas.
There are four ways to achieve Cohorence :

1. Repetition of Key Nouns

2. Key Nouns Substitutes

3. Consistent Pronouns

4. Transition Signal
1. Repetition of Keys Nouns

The easiest way to achieve coherence is to repeat key

nouns frequently in your paragraph
2. Key Nouns Subtitutes

If you do not wish to repeat a key noun again and

again, you can use synonyms or expressions with the
same meaning
3. Consistent Pronouns

When you use pronouns, make sure that you use the
same person and number throughout your paragraph.
Don’t change from you to she or he (change of person)
or from he to they
4. Transition Signal

Transition signal are expressions such as first, finally,

and however.
Transition signal are like traffic sign; they tell your
reader when to go forward turn around, slow down,
and stop.
Transition signal give a paragraph coherence because
they guide your reader from one idea to the next.
 Another way to achieve coherence in writing is
through the writer’s consistent choice of such elements
as person (I, he, she, it, they, you, one), voice (active
or passive), and register (formal or informal).

Remember: Be consistent! If you use the pronoun I at

the beginning of your paragraph, keep it throughout. If
you begin with a singular noun such as a student or
singular pronoun such as he, she, or, it, don’t change to
plural the students or they.