ELS - Writing Lecture 10: The paragraph – Unity and Coherence + Review of the paragraph (next week: Essay) 1

Schedule today Finish up: writing a paragraph + peer review Unity and Coherence in the paragraph structure

Review: The paragraph writing practice Choose one of these topics (or which ever topic that might interest you personally): movies, your home town, advertising, cell phones Write a paragraph 8 – 10 sentences in length Step 1. Begin with a topic sentence. Write several supporting sentences. Include at least one specific example. End with a concluding sentence Step 2. After you have completed the first draft of your paragraph, use the self- editing worksheet. Answer the questions on it and write a second draft if necessary. Step 3. Exchange papers with a classmate and check each other’s paragraph using the Peer-editing worksheet. Step 4. Write a final copy of your paragraph, making any improvements you discussed with your peer-editor. Step 5. Hand in your first draft, your second draft and the page containing your two editing worksheets.

Unity and Coherence

Unity 1) Means that a paragraph discusses one and only one main idea from the beginning to the end. E.g. if your topic sentence is about the advantages of owning a microwave – use only that. Do not discuss the disadvantages. Each time you discuss an advantage, you begin a new paragraph. Sometimes it is possible to discuss them in the same paragraph, but only if the advantages are closely related

Unity 2) Every supporting sentence must directly explain or prove the main idea. E.g. in a paragraph about the high cost of food in Prishtina, you could mention buying food outside of Prishtina as an alternative, but if you write several sentences about buying food outside of the city, you are getting off topic, and your paragraph will not have unity Exercises PART 2 handout week 9 – starting from page 5

Coherence Means “hold together.” For coherence in writing, the sentences must hold together; that is, the movement from one sentence to the next must be logical and smooth. There are four ways to achieve coherence: Repeat key nouns (instead of a pronoun if the meaning is not clear). Key noun substitutes Use consistent pronouns Use transition signals to link ideas Arrange your ideas in logical order

A. repeat key nouns The easiest way to achieve coherence is to repeat key nouns frequently in your paragraph. Read the model paragraph about gold to see how it uses this technique to smooth the flow of sentences. The key noun in this paragraph is gold. Circle all pronouns that refer to it. (next slide) + cf. exercise 1, Handout week 10

Coherence (1) ‘Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. (2) First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. (3) Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. (4) Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. (5) For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. (6) Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. (7) For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as photography and dentistry. (8) The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. (9) Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection when they go outside spaceships in space. (10) In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

B. Key noun substitutes If you do not wish to repeat a key noun again and again, you can use synonyms for expressions with the same meaning. This smoothens the flow of thought from one sentence to the next Cf. Exercise 2, Handout week 10

C. Use consistent pronouns When you use pronouns, make sure that you use the same person and number throughout your paragraph. Change of person: Don’t change from “you” to “he” or “she” Change of number: Don’t change from “he” to “they” Notice the changes the writer made for consistency in the following paragraph (next slide) See exercise

Consistency of pronouns

D. Transition signals to link ideas Transition signals are expressions such as first, finally, and however, or phrases such as in conclusion, on the other hand, and as a result. Subordinators (when, although, see classes 1-5), coordinators (and, but), adjectives (another, additional), and prepositions (because of, in spite of) can also function as transition signals.

D. Transition signals to link ideas You can see them as traffic signs: they tell your reader when to turn around, slow down, and stop.

D. Transition signals to link ideas In other words, they tell your reader when you are giving a similar idea: similarly, and, in addition An opposite idea: on the other hand, but, in contrast An example: for example, for instance (etc. see lectures 8 and 9) A result: therefore, as a result A conclusion: in conclusion (see lectures 8 and 9)

D. Transition signals to link ideas Exercises handout week 10 Exercise 4

Exercise 4 Paragraph 2 is more coherent because it contains more transition signals Each transition signal has a special meaning; each shows how the following sentence is linked to the preceding one

Transition Signals’ Chart

Transition signals Most words and phrases in the first two columns of the chart can appear at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of one independent clause and are usually separated by commas. Exceptions: The words and phrases in the last four groups in the chart (for listing ideas and time sequences, for emphasizing, for giving reasons and conclusions) usually only appear at the end. Too usually appears only at the end of a sentence, sometimes preceded by a comma. The short time words then, now and soon usually do not need commas.

Transition signals The words and phrases in the first two columns of the chart can also connect two independent clauses. In this case, we use them with a semicolon, and a comma.

Coordinators This group includes seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, so, or, nor, for and yet This group includes 5 correlative (“paired”) conjunctions both…and, not only…but also, neither…nor, either…or, and whether…or

Subordinators A subordinator is the first word in a dependent clause. A dependent clause is always connected to an independent clause to make a sentence. The sentence may or may not have a comma. The general rule is this: Put a comma after a dependent clause but not in front of it

Example

Exercises: Recognizing, choosing and using signals See handout week 10

See Charts of connecting words and transition signals Important chart, see separate handout You can use it on the final test and exam in June

E. Arrange Ideas in a logical order In addition to using transition signals and repeating key nouns and pronouns, another way to achieve coherence is to arrange your sentences in some kind of logical order. Your choice of one kind of logical order over another will depend on your topic and your purpose. Important: arrange your ideas in some kind of order that is logical to a reader accustomed to the English way of writing (short – long – short – long)

E. Arrange Ideas in a logical order Kinds: CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER: order by time – a sequence of events or steps in a process. LOGICAL DIVISION OF IDEAS: A topic is divided into parts, and each part is discussed separately (i.e. Gold) A COMPARISON/CONTRAST paragraph: similarities and differences are discussed. See handout week 10, exercises

Review These are the important topics discussed in these final two lectures: Every good paragraph has both unity and coherence You achieve unity by: A) discussing only one idea in a paragraph B) Always staying on the topic in your supporting sentences You achieve coherence by: A) repeating key nouns B) Using consistent pronouns C) Using transition signals D) Logical order There are different types of transition signals (transition chart)