Developing Unity and Cohesion in Writing Paragraphs (and Arguments) Built to Lead Thought and Improve Ideas

What is COHESION and why is it important? Interconnecting all thoughts/sentences within a paragraph (commonly referred to a “flow”) in order to easily draw a reader through a point, idea, or topic. This idea is predicated on the concepts of UNITY and COHERENCY UNITY – a paragraph that focuses solely on a single and central point, idea, or topic and nothing else COHERENCY – all ideas within a paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next, increasing reability, making writing more understandable and clear (thus making more enjoyable for the reader) In essence, a paragraph that is built by stacking ideas from the topic sentence on down is commonly more focused (UNITY), elaborate (DEVELOPMENT), and clear (COHERENT). Cohesion makes writing more lucid and understandable!

Revision Warning Signs To develop more cohesive paragraphs, REVISION is essential! Revising while writing is usually a bad idea. Plan your thoughts, get the ideas out, and then revise to ensure cohesion. When you are done with a draft, do the following: The first word used in each sentence and look for Overused first word patterns indicate a lack of syntactic variety and sentences that are meant to flow based on juxtaposition (proximity). This only works occasionally. Consistent loosely constructed sentences (sentences that are written with the subject and predicate first and only modified by dependent clauses and phrases after the fact); used too often, this can make writing seem monotonous and accidentally disconnected. Overreliance on punctuation (either too many short sentences {juxtaposition again], too many really lengthy sentences [overuse of FANBOYS and semi- colons], or too many semi-colons and “lazy man transitions”)

The Points to Memorize! To improve COHESION and make your paragraphs more unified, developed, and coherent, make sure you do the following: Vary your sentence structures and lengths A mixture of loose construction and periodic construction Simple sentences along with complex, compound, and compound-complex Use a variety of cohesive devices (NEXT SLIDE) Consider punctuation a method of keeping ideas apart, corralling them, rather than using mechanics as methods of “real speech” (A COMMA WILL NEVER BE A PAUSE; IT’S A MARK OF SEPARATION!!!) Remember that “guilt by association” (i.e. juxtaposition) may suggest connection between sentences, but it does not work as well in practice as it does in theory

Syntactic Fixes: Conjunctive Adverbs Automatic (and relatively harsh) transitions Also known as: “lazy man transitions” FANBOYS on speed!

Syntactic Fixes: Conjunctive Adverbs Indicated at the beginning of sentences by use of a comma (Therefore, it is understandable …) or mid- sentence by a semi-colon (… never concealed it; however, it was there …)

Syntactic Fixes: Dependent Clauses Show a variety of connections within or between sentences via causation (cause and effect) Generated (most often) by usage of a subordinate conjunction:

Syntactic Fixes: Dependent Clauses Far less harsh than a conjunctive adverb and more correct grammatically than a coordinate conjunction Especially effective in periodic construction

Syntactic Fixes: Prepositional Phrases Allows the reader to see the order or position of ideas within a sentence and can be used to do so in a variety of different forms of writing (modes of discourse) AGAIN, Far less harsh than a conjunctive adverb and more correct grammatically than a coordinate conjunction Especially effective in periodic construction

Syntactic Fixes: Prepositional Phrases

Syntactic Fixes: Participle Phrases Generates action within a sentence or paragraph by utilizing a verb form as an adjective (typically, a verb ending in –ing or-ed) Keeps ideas moving forward and developing as a simple consequence of form (verb form “tricks” the mind) ALWAYS set apart by commas whether loosely or periodically constructed (or within a sentence) Commonly considered a nonrestricitive element or a sentence part that is unnecessary to the vital meaning of the sentence. This type of phrase is the most stylistic and potential unnecessary; use with CAUTION!