Tutorial: Coherence

Study Skill 12.2 Tutorial: Coherence

Introduction

One of the best ways to create coherence in your writing is to use transition words. These words help you bridge the gap between one idea, sentence, or paragraph and the next in your writing. There are different types of transitions and it is important to know when to use each one. Remember, these are sign posts for your reader. Using inappropriate transitions can lead your reader in the wrong direction and this decreases the coherence of your essay.

Paragraph Analysis

Click on the tabs below to review the key characteristics of a paragraph and answer questions about each.

Chronology (Time Order)

**Transitions to Show Chronological Order**
about	after	all the while	as soon as
at the same time	before	during	meanwhile
yesterday	just then	later	tomorrow

The transition words have been highlighted in green. These words tell the reader what will happen next in the bedtime routine. Here are some other transitions you can use to show chronology. They are usually written at the beginning of a sentence as a sign post to the reader letting them know the order of events.

Let’s look at the two example paragraphs:

Example 1

My bedtime routine helps me to be more efficient and organized. First, I prepare my book bag and clothes for tomorrow. I put everything I need for school into my book bag. However, I do not put my lunch in my bag at this time because it needs to stay in the refrigerator until the morning. I also lay out my choice of clothing for the next day. For example, if the weather will be cold, I will make sure to lay out a jumper to wear. Next, I put on my pajamas and place my dirty clothing in the laundry basket. Then, I wash my face with a special soap my mom bought for me. After my face is clean, it is time to brush and floss my teeth. Finally, I am ready to go to bed and get some sleep before another exciting day. Following this routine helps me save time in the morning and insures I don’t forget anything I need for school the next day.

Example 2

After school I have a lot of chores to complete. I help my mom cook dinner and sometimes I help do the dishes. My homework is the first thing I do after school. I have a dog named Sunny and I take her for a walk. If I have time, I like to play video games with my brother or watch a movie. I go to bed.

How can we add transitions to show the chronology of events in Example Paragraph #2?

After school I have a lot of chores to complete. First, I do my homework. Next, help my mom cook dinner and sometimes I help do the dishes. Then, I take my dog, Sunny, for a walk. If I have time, I like to play video games with my brother or watch a movie. Finally, I go to bed.

You can see that we also made some changes to the sentences to make this paragraph more coherent. When you add transitions, you may find other changes you need to make so your reader can follow your ideas easier. That is great! Everything you do to get your message to the reader makes your writing stronger.

Compare and Contrast

**Transitions to Show Compare/Contrast**
Compare (two like things)	Contrast (two unlike things)
Additionally	In contrast
Also	However
Similarly	One the one hand/ On the other hand
Likewise	Rather
Comparably	Yet

A picture is worth a thousand words. We have all heard that saying in our lives. Our job, as a writer, is to give the reader “a thousand words” to create a picture in their minds. When we compare and contrast things in our writing, we help the reader to visualize our examples. We tell the reader what our ideas are similar to and what they are different from. Using transitions to show how we compare and contrast things helps the reader to create images in their mind.

Let’s look at Example Paragraph #1 again. There are two transitions used to show compare and contrast. Can you find them?

The transition “However” tells the reader we are going to provide a contrast. The two unlike things you are contrasting are books/homework, and lunch. Lunch does NOT go into the book bag. We let the reader know this by using the transition word “However” at the beginning of the sentence.

Can you find another place to add a transition of compare or contrast? It is okay if you need to move some other words around to make the picture clear and coherent for the reader.

My bedtime routine helps me to be more efficient and organized. First, I prepare my book bag and clothes for tomorrow. I put everything I need for school, such as books and homework, into my book bag. However, I do not put my lunch in my bag at this time because it needs to stay in the refrigerator until the morning. I also lay out my choice of clothing for the next day. For example, if the weather will be cold, I will make sure to lay out a jumper to wear. Next, I put on my pajamas and place my dirty clothing in the laundry basket. Then, I wash my face with a special soap my mom bought for me. After my face is clean, it is time to brush and floss my teeth. Finally, I am ready to go to bed and get some sleep before another exciting day. Following this routine helps me save time in the morning. Additionally, it insures I don’t forget anything I need for school the next day.

Identifying Examples

**Transitions to Identify Examples**
For example	In this situation	As an illustration
Chiefly	Specifically	In other words
In particular	For one thing	Especially

We have all seen the signs on the street announcing things such as “Railroad tracks ahead” and “School Crossing.” Often, these messages are conveyed using pictures. When we write, we have to use words to convey our messages. How can we let our reader know we are going to provide an example? There are special transition words and phrases to help us convey this message and make our writing more coherent.

Here we are back with Example Paragraph #1. Notice the transitions used to indicate an example.

My bedtime routine helps me to be more efficient and organized. First, I prepare my book bag and clothes for tomorrow. I put everything I need for school, especially my books and homework, into my book bag. However, I do not put my lunch in my bag at this time because it needs to stay in the refrigerator until the morning. I also lay out my choice of clothing for the next day. For example, if the weather will be cold, I will make sure to lay out a jumper to wear. Next, I put on my pajamas and place my dirty clothing in the laundry basket. Then, I wash my face with a special soap my mom bought for me. After my face is clean, it is time to brush and floss my teeth. Finally, I am ready to go to bed and get some sleep before another exciting day. Following this routine helps me save time in the morning and it insures I don’t forget anything I need for school the next day.

Practice

Have you ever eaten s'mores? A s'more is a traditional nighttime campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a marshmallow and a layer of chocolate placed between two pieces of graham cracker. In the following practice activity, you will be asked to analyze a paragraph about how to make s'mores. If you aren't familiar with the process, take a look at the following video first before you do the activities.

Video: How to Make S'mores

Source: Howcast via YouTube

Practice 3

Directions: Put the sentences in this paragraph in the correct order.

Practice 4

Directions: Use the paragraph below to answer the questions that follow.

One of my favorite treats to eat in the summer is s’mores. This delicious snack is usually made over a campfire and shared with friends. To begin, you will need to build your campfire and gather your ingredients. Specifically, you need milk chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers. First, lay one chocolate square on each graham cracker square in preparation for creating the s’more. Then, roast the marshmallow on a stick or roasting fork over the campfire. On one hand, I like to burn the marshmallow so it is melted well on the inside. However, a lightly toasted marshmallow may be easier to use in creating your s’more as it won’t be quite as sticky. Finally, place the melted marshmallow directly from the stick onto the chocolate and cracker and create a sandwich with another cracker on top. Although making this snack is messy, it is also very delicious. Making s’mores over a campfire is one of my favorite memories of times spent camping with friends.

Key Ideas

The purpose for your writing is to convey a message to the reader. Strong coherence makes sure this message is loud and clear. It helps the reader to follow the order of events, spot examples, and see comparisons and contrasts. All of these enable the reader to visualize your message in their minds. Transitions are just a few of the thousand words that make up the picture you are sending in your paragraph.
You don’t need a transition for every sentence. However, you should read your writing out loud and put yourself in the shoes of your reader. Listen from their perspective and ask yourself if your writing is smooth and easy to read. If it is choppy and difficult to follow, you may need transitions.
There are many more transitions. Check out the resources links for more examples of transition words and phrases and how to use them.

Apply

Past writing analysis: Look back at some past assignments you wrote. Did the TA or your teacher tell you the writing needed transitions or it did not “flow smoothly?”
Transition analysis: Can you find transitions in a past writing assignment?
Goals for future assignments: As you work on future assignments, make sure to include transitions in your paragraphs. Read your writing out loud and ask yourself if your writing is smooth. Does your reader need sign posts to recognize the order of events or examples in your paragraph? Does your writing convey a clear message or picture to your reader?