UNITY To create unity in an essay, you need to ensure everything you write supports your thesis. Each paragraph should contain a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis. The topic sentence is usually found near the beginning of the paragraph. The rest of the paragraph should contain facts, examples,or reasons that support the topic sentence.

COHERENCE Writing is coherent if sentences and paragraphs are clearly and smoothly connected. Transition words (consequently, for example, after, since, because, etc.) help to achieve a smooth carry-over within sentences, between sentences, and between paragraphs. They show the relationship between ideas and give order to writing by pointing out the direction in which the writer’s thoughts are moving.

Pronoun Reference The use of a pronoun in one sentence or clause to refer to a noun in a preceding sentence or clause.(E.g., it, that, we, us, our) This enables the writer to continue the train of thought from one sentence to the next without unnecessary, awkward repetition of the noun.

Repetition of a Key Word or its Synonym A key word from a previous sentence or paragraph is repeated. A synonym can also be used to achieve variety. This technique helps to emphasize ideas and to show the relationship between them.

Parallel Structure Parallel structure requires that all ideas presented in a series or list have the same grammatical form. E.g., Going to school, listening to teachers, and doing homework are not my idea of a good time. E.g., School, teachers, and homework are not my idea of a good time.

The use of parallel structure achieves coherence by repeating similar grammatical patterns and the writer is able to show a link within and between sentences. It also enables the writer to connect ideas of equal importance. Hint: When the conjunctions and, but, or, nor, both … and, either…or, neither…nor are used to connect elements of a sentence, the elements should be grammatically alike. Join adjectives with adjectives, nouns with nouns, etc.

Adapted from: Transitions by V. Cooper, et.al. 1988