Cohesion in writing a paragraph. Week 3. Lesson 2

Lesson objectives
To understand the meaning and importance of coherence and cohesion
To identify the problems of coherence and cohesion in written texts
To learn different kinds of cohesive devices

Lead-in
Read the following paragraph and decide what problems it has.
A student will feel resentment at being financially dependent on his parents. They receive a grant from the government, but the money is never enough to pay for all the books and other bills that would need to be paid. So he tries to find a job to make ends meet, but there's a limit on how much they can earn (Hannay et al., 1996).
The text lacks coherence and cohesion.
Even though all the ideas are connected to a common theme (student finances), the writer does not gradually progress from one matter to another.
The reader is frequently misled - they in the second sentence, for instance, refers to 'students', not to 'parents', but this is not immediately clear.
The tense of the passage chops and changes in a confusing manner, from future in the first sentence, to present and then a modal would in the second, and back to present in the last.
You can pay for books, and pay bills, but since books are not bills you cannot write 'books and other bills'.
How would you improve the text?

Cohesion relates to the micro level of the text, i.e. the words and sentences and how they join together.
Coherence relates to the macro level features of a text (the structure of the text) that create unity and connectedness of ideas
It is important for the parts of a written text to be connected together.
2. Discuss: What do you think can make a text coherent based on the definition above ?
1. Discuss: What are the ways to connect your sentences together?
Pronouns
Repetition of key words
and using synonyms
Linking words
Heading
Thesis statement
Topic sentences
The summary in the
concluding paragraph
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

Activity 1.
Put the sentences in the correct order to make a cohesive paragraph about protest groups. List the words and phrases used to create cohesion in the text.
This is not a label that many of these groups use themselves.
They are often categorized under the heading of anti-capitalism or anti-globalization.
In the past few years, many protest movements around the world have converged, partly assisted by internet-based technologies which allow easy communication.
Some, in fact, disavow it.
Correct answers:
C
B
A
D

Activity 2
Put the sentences in the correct order to make a cohesive paragraph about data
storage. List the words and phrases used to create cohesion in the text.
DropBox and its competitors allow digital files to be stored online.
These are items of hardware or storage media, respectively, that individuals or organizations own and maintain themselves.
Another feature of this method of storage is its 'chat' feature, which enables those working on a file simultaneously to type to each other via a sidebar.
This method of storage has distinct advantages over storing items in folders on hard drives or discs.
When it comes to electronic storage, one can store data in different ways.
One can save files on an internal or external hard drive, or on a portable storage device (CD, USB stick, etc.).
However, there is another method: in the cloud.
Its usefulness lies in individuals being able to access and edit files from any location with internet access.
When it comes to electronic storage, one can store data in different ways. One can save files on an internal or external hard drive, or on a portable storage device (CD, USB stick, etc.). These are items of hardware or storage media, respectively, that individuals or organizations own and maintain themselves. However, there is another method: in the cloud. DropBox and its competitors allow digital files to be stored online. This method of storage has distinct advantages over storing items in folders on hard drives or discs. Its usefulness lies in individuals being able to access and edit files from any location with internet access. Another feature of this method of storage is its 'chat' feature, which enables those working on a file simultaneously to type to each other via a sidebar.

Using participles (причастие) to connect ideas
For economy, and to maintain the flow of your sentences, you can use participle clauses to link two ideas that have the same subject.
Present participle (verb+ing, resting – отдыхающий)
Past participle (V3, e.g. a broken window)
Perfect participles (having+V3, e.g. having written).
Lincoln's Electricals needed to expand abroad to maintain its market share. It bought a small factory outside Paris.
—► Needing to expand abroad to maintain its market share, Lincoln’s Electricals bought a small factory outside Paris.
The perfect participle is used for completed actions.
Having read out a statement, the Chief Superintendent invited questions from journalists.
Present participles can replace subject + main verb after the time words after, before, since, and while.
After investigating (= after they had investigated) the causes of the accident, flight engineers recommended withdrawing the remaining Concordes from service.
Since leaving (= since they left) college, 20% of graduates have been unable to find work.

Using participles to connect ideas
You can use a past participle to replace a passive verb.
Penicillin was discovered in 1929. It provided a cure or many serious diseases. —►
Discovered in 1929, penicillin provided a cure for many serious diseases.
If the meaning is clear, you can also replace connecting words such as because, so, and therefore with a participle.
Not being (= Because it isn't) far from the centre of the city, the museum attracts many visitors.
The new model of bank opens on a Sunday, making (= so it makes) it easier for customers to visit.

Let's practice.
Reform the sentences, using the present, past, or perfect participle of the underlined verb.
The Democrats needed to regain California, so they launched a series of aggressive TV ads.
Before he began his expeditions, Amundsen always made meticulous preparations.
Hans Blix and his team were refused access to the nuclear facility, so they had to return to their hotel.
The bridge rises automatically on the approach of tall ships, and therefore allows them to pass safely through.
Needing to regain California, the Democrats launched a series of aggressive TV ads.
Before beginning his expeditions, Amundsen always made meticulous preparations.
Refused access to the nuclear facility, Hans Blix and his team had to return to their hotel.
The bridge rises automatically on the approach of tall ships, allowing them to pass safely through.

Name the linking words that are used to:
Linking words
Give examples:
For instance, for example, to illustrate, to exemplify, an illustration of
Shift from more general to more specific
Specifically, to be specific, that is, particularly/in particular, namely, in other words, that is to say
Express reasons :
Because of, as, since, due to, owing to
Express results
As a result, consequently, therefore, as a consequence
Express contrast
but, yet, however, nevertheless, still, although/even though, whereas, in contrast to, nonetheless, in spite of/despite
Express sequence
First(ly)/second(ly), The latter/the former, subsequently, at the same time , in the meantime, afterwards, eventually

Complete the text, using the connectors in the yellow box.
Legal tourism, 1___________ , the practice of bringing a case to court in whatever jurisdiction is deemed most favourable, has increased markedly over the past ten years. It is particularly noticeable in two areas of law, 2___________ divorce and libel. Although a couple may both be citizens of a certain country, and may meet and marry and 3___________ live in that country, there is little to stop the aggrieved party (4___________ , the spouse who wants the divorce) from initiating legal proceedings wherever that person thinks the case is most likely to succeed. International legal disputes tend to be expensive, 5___________ in the case of very rich people (or, as the jargon has it, 'high-net-worth individuals'), the gamble can prove worthwhile. 6 _________ the laws surrounding marriage break-up vary widely around the world, some lawyers and their wealthy clients shop around. English divorce laws are perceived to favour the less wealthy spouse, usually the wife, and 7 _________ the English courts are seeing more and more divorces in which neither party has a strong connection to England. 8___________ , the system is being abused.
but consequently
in brief in other words
namely subsequently
that is to say since
that is to say (or in other words)
namely
subsequently
in other words (or that is to say)
but
Since
consequently
In brief

I felt nervous when the phone rang…
Cohesive strip story
Continue the stories in turns by adding one sentence each. Write down the sentences in the chat box. All the sentences should contain cohesive devices.
Note: The focus here is on cohesion, not coherence. Unlike an essay, the story may “wander.”
I woke up knowing it was the most important day…

3 things that I have learned from the lesson:
1.
2.
3.
LESSON REFLECTION

References
Smith, S. (2020). Cohesion.https://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/cohesion/
Useful resources:
https://papyr.com/hypertextbooks/comp1/coherent.htm
Hannay M., Mackenzie J.L., Wekker H. (1996) Textual cohesion. In: Wekker H.
(eds) Effective writing in English. Springer, Dordrecht.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-4916-9_10
Paterson, K., & Wedge, R. (2013). Oxford Grammar for EAP: English grammar
and practice for Academic Purposes with answers. Oxford University Press.​