1. Sungshin Women’s University
Unity and Coherence
Sungshin Women’s University
Writing Level 3

2. Coherence? Huh? I don’t get it!
A paragraph is coherent if all its sentences are connected logically so that they are easy to understand.
You can create connections in and between sentences and between paragraphs by (a) using transitions and (b) referring to words and ideas that you have mentioned earlier.

3. Maintain coherence by using transitions
Transitions are words, phrases, and even sentences that make a clear connection between one idea and another, between one sentence and another, or between one paragraph and another.
For example:
Subin began her career as a folk singer in coffee shops in Gwangju.
Her newest album sold over 400,000 copies.

4. These sentences would flow much smoother with a transition that helps connect the two ideas.
Subin began her career as a folk singer in coffee shops in Gwangju.
However, her newest album sold over 400,000 copies.

5. Transitions can be used to indicate time
Subin played every gig she could find to communicate with many people through her music. Her hard work paid off.
add a transitional phrase:
Subin played every gig she could find to communicate with many people through her music. After a long while, her hard work paid off.

6. Other transitions that indicate time:
Afterward in those days
After a short while meanwhile
All the while since
As soon as soon
All of a sudden suddenly
At that time then
By then thereafter
During in a few hours
In the meantime when
Whenever while

7. Transitions show similarities and differences.
Scottsboro Boys: an American Tragedy is like the Tom Robinson trial in many ways. Like the Robinson trial, innocent men are accused of raping a white woman. However these two cases exhibit many differences. Even though innocent men go to jail in both cases, Robinson dies for his crime while the Scottsboro boys, after years of captivity, are released.

8. Other transitions that show similarities and differences:
Similarities Differences
Similarly although
Likewise even though
As though
As if in contrast
As though on the contrary

9. Transitions are used to add information:
The Scottsboro boys were unfairly tried and convicted of the heinous crime of rape. Moreover, the men spent many years in prison for these crimes they did not commit.

10. Other transitions used to add information:
And furthermore
Also in addition
As well moreover
Besides too
further

11. Transitions are used to introduce information that contradicts, changes, or qualifies what you have already said.
Attorney Leibowitz promised to get the convictions overturned. However, he could not keep this promise.

12. Other transitions that are used to contradict, change, or qualify information:
Although though
Even so then again
Even though while
In contrast yet
Nevertheless
Otherwise
still

13. You may also use transitions to introduce examples, to repeat information, or to emphasize a point.
Atticus took drastic measures in order to ensure the protection of Tom Robinson. For example, he even waited outside Robinson’s jail cell, in the middle of the night, because he knew the townspeople might cause mischief.

14. Other transitions that introduce examples, repeat information, or emphasize a point:
Introduce Repeat Emphasize
as an example as a matter of fact
For instance again indeed
Specifically once again more important
Such as once more to be sure

15. Transitions show cause and effect.
As a result of the ignorance of post-Civil War Alabama, the Scottsboro boys spent twelve years behind bars for crimes they did not commit.

16. Other transitions that show cause/effect:
As a result so that
Because then
Hence therefore
Since thus

17. Coherence is needed in order for readers to understand the material that you are presenting to them.
Transitions help maintain coherence by fostering connections between your words, sentences, and paragraphs.