PROPERTIES OF A

WELL-WRITTEN TEXT
Organization, Coherence and Cohesion
 ORGANIZATION
 also known as arrangement, is achieved when ideas
are logically and accurately arranged with focus on
the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or
details in a definite order in a paragraph, essay, or
speech.
 It can be done with a recognizable plan that defines
one sentence connection to the other sentence and
paragraph to the other paragraph.
ORGANIZATION
 Chronological Order - first, second, later, before, next, as soon as,
after, then, finally, meanwhile, following, last, during, in, on, until
 Order of Importance - less, more, primary, next, last, most
important, primarily, secondarily
 3. Spatial Order - above, below, beside, next to, in front of,
behind, inside, outside, opposite, within, nearby
 Definition Order - is, refers to, can be defined as, means, consists
of, involves, is a term that, is called
 Classification - classified as, comprises, is composed of, several,
varieties of, different stages of, different groups that6. Process -
first, next, then, following, after that, last, finally
ORGANIZATION
 Cause and Effect - Causes: because, for, since, stems from,
one cause is, one reason is, leads to, causes, creates, yields,
due to, breeds, for this reason
 Effects: consequently, results in, one result is, therefore,
thus, as a result, hence
 Comparison and Contrast - Similarities: both, also, similarly,
like, likewise, too, as well as, resembles, correspondingly, in
the same way, to compare, in comparison, share
 Differences: unlike, differs from, in contrast, on the other
hand, instead, despite, nevertheless, however, in spite of,
whereas, as opposed to
ORGANIZATION
 Listing - the following, several, for example, for
instance, one, another, also, too, in other words,
first, second, numerals (1, 2, 3...), letters (a, b, c...)
 Clarification - in fact, in other words, clearly
 Summary - in summary, in conclusion, in brief, to
summarize, to sum up, in short, on the
 Example - for example, for instance, to illustrate13.
Addition - furthermore, additionally, also, besides,
further, in addition, moreover, again
COHERENCE
 refers to the overall sense of unity in a passage,
including both the main point of sentences and the
main point of each paragraph.
 A coherent passage focuses the reader’s attention o
n the main ideas and the specific people, things,and
events you are writing about
COHESION
 very important aspect of academic writing because
it immediately affects the tone of your writing. It
allows writers to make
multiple references to people, things, and events
without reintroducing them at each turn.
 Cohesive writing does not mean just
“grammatically correct” sentences; cohesive
writing refers to the connection of your ideas both
at the sentence level and at the paragraph level.
Cohesive Devices
Techniques to improve paragraph cohesion:

 TRANSITIONS
Use a conjunction or conjunctive adverb to link sentences with
particular logical relationships.
 To Specify Sequence

again, also, and, and then, besides, finally, first . . . second . . .

third, furthermore, last, moreover, next, still, too
 To Specify Time

after a few days, after a while, afterward, as long as, as soon as,
at last, at that time, before, earlier, immediately, in the
meantime, in the past, lately, later, meanwhile, now, presently,
simultaneously, since, so far, soon, then, thereafter, until, when
Techniques to improve paragraph cohesion:

 To Specify Comparison
again, also, in the same way, likewise, once more, similarly
 To Specify Contrast

although, but, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of,

instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the one
hand . . .on the other hand, regardless, still, though, yet
 To Specify Examples

after all, for example, for instance, indeed, in fact, of course,

specifically, such as, the following example, to illustrate
 To Specify Cause and Effect

accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for this reason, hence,

if . . . then, since, so, then, therefore, thereupon, thus, to this end
Techniques to improve paragraph cohesion:

 To Specify Place
above, adjacent to, below, beyond, closer to elsewhere, far,
farther on, here, near, nearby, opposite to, there, to the left, to the
right
 To Specify Concession

although it is true that, granted that, I admit that, it may appear

that, naturally, of course
 To Specify Summary, Repetition, or Conclusion

as a result, as has been noted, as I have said, as mentioned

earlier, as we have seen, in any event, in conclusion, in other
words, in short, on the whole, therefore, to summarize
ACTIVITY
Combine the sentences in each set into two clear and concise
sentences, eliminating any needless repetition. The first one has
been done for you.
Example:
Instead
Retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of work.
It is widely viewed as a sort of punishment.

Answer: Retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of work.

Instead, it is widely viewed as a sort of punishment for the old.
ACTIVITY
1. Therefore
In recent years viruses have been shown to cause cancer
in chickens.
Viruses have also been shown to cause cancer in mice,
cats, and even in some primates. Viruses might cause
cancer in humans.
 In recent years viruses have been shown to cause

cancer in chickens, mice, cats, and even in some

primates. Therefore, viruses might cause cancer in
humans.
ACTIVITY
2. Moreover
Many of our street girls can be as vicious as any corporation
president.
Many of our street girls can be as money-mad as any corporation
president.
They can be less emotional than men.
They can be less emotional in conducting acts of personal violence.
 Many of our street girls can be as vicious and money-mad as

any corporation president. Moreover, they can be less

emotional and conducting acts of personal violence than men.
ACTIVITY
3. In fact
We do not seek solitude.
If we find ourselves alone for once, we flick a switch.
We invite the whole world in.
The world comes in through the television screen.
 If we find ourselves alone for once, we flick a

switch. We do not seek solitude. In fact, we

invite the whole world in through the television
screen.
ASSESSMENT
Re-write the sentences in an appropriate order to form a well-
written paragraph.
1. This spot, which lies in New York Harbor, was the first
American soil seen or touched by many immigrants.
Between its opening in 1892 and its closing in 1954, about two-
thirds of all immigrants were detained there before taking up
their new lives in the United States.
Ellis Island has reopened for business, but now the customers as
tourists.
Though other places also saved as ports of entry for foreigners,
none has the symbolic power of Ellis Island.
ASSESSMENT
2. The set, sounds, and actors in the movie captured the
essence of horror films.
The sounds, too, were appropriate; especially terrifying
was the hard, hollow sound of footsteps echoing
throughout the film.
The set was ideal: looming shadows of large and unlighted
houses, deserted streets, trees dipping their branches over
the sidewalks, and mist hugging the ground.
But the best feature of the movie was its actors, all of
them, tall, pale, and extremely thin.
ASSIGNMENT
In a one half crosswise sheet of bond paper, answer
the question below.
 Is language use essential in writing a paragraph or

essay? Why?