1. Coherence MENU EXIT How could this paragraph be revised to read more smoothly? Before you buy a daypack, make sure the daypack fits you and will last a long time. Check the seams to be sure the seams are zig-zag stitched and not single-row stitched. This is because zig-zag stitches hold together longer. The zippers should be covered by flaps so your homework doesn’t get wet when it rains. Make sure the daypack fits you. The bottom of the daypack should rest comfortably on your hips. Click to see a revision

2. EXIT PREVIOUS Coherence This paragraph now reads smoothly because it uses transitions, pronouns, and synonyms to establish coherence. Before you buy a daypack, make sure it fits you and will last a long time. First, check the seams to be sure they are zig- zag stitched and not single-row stitched. This is because zig-zag stitches hold together longer. Next, check that the zippers are covered by flaps so your homework doesn’t get wet when it rains. Finally, make sure the daypack fits you. The bottom of the pack should rest comfortably on your hips. Next MENU

3. EXIT PREVIOUS Coherence Continue… MENU An essay or paragraph is coherent when the parts fit together logically and the ideas are connected.

4. Coherence EXIT Next PREVIOUS MENU using transitional words and phrases repeating similar words throughout Coherence can be achieved by An essay or paragraph is coherent when the parts fit together logically and the ideas are connected.

5. EXIT Coherence MENU The following techniques can be used to create coherence. Click on the technique you want to explore. MENU Effective Transitions Pronouns Synonyms Repetition Rephrasing Consistent Word Choice

6. EXIT Effective Transitions Coherence Transitional words and phrases such as these can make the relationship between ideas clear. SequenceCause/EffectComparison/ Contrast Degree of Importance first third last because consequently since however unlike yet most important worst main i Next MENU

7. EXIT Effective Transitions Coherence Transitional words and phrases such as these can make the relationship between ideas clear. SequenceCause/EffectComparison/ Contrast Degree of Importance first third last because consequently since however unlike yet most important worst main i MENU i See the Transitions lessons for a more detailed explanation of transitions. CLOSE

8. EXIT Click to see a revision Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Effective Transitions During 1989, the communist regimes of several Eastern European countries fell, giving rise to new democratically elected governments. The communist government of Hungary fell. Romania’s government fell. The people of Lithuania began to clamor for freedom. How might transitions help to connect the ideas in this paragraph?

9. EXIT Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Effective Transitions During 1989, the communist regimes of several Eastern European countries fell, giving rise to new democratically elected governments. First, the communist government of Hungary fell. Shortly after, Romania’s government fell. Then, the people of Lithuania began to clamor for freedom. The transitions help to connect the ideas in this paragraph. They tie the paragraph together by showing the steps of the process. Menu

10. EXIT Continue… Coherence MENU Pronouns Pronouns can keep ideas connected and the writing concise.

11. EXIT PREVIOUS Coherence MENU Pronouns The train wound through the hilly land, hauling its load of people and the products of the nation. It held the isolated towns together. These might otherwise have been lost in the vast land where they sprang up like unexpected weeds. But the train kept coming every day, and it gave the towns life. Where are the pronouns in this paragraph? Click to see the pronouns Pronouns can keep ideas connected and the writing concise.

12. EXIT PREVIOUS Coherence MENU Pronouns What ideas do these pronouns connect to? Pronouns can keep ideas connected and the writing concise. Click to see the connected ideas The train wound through the hilly land, hauling its load of people and the products of the nation. It held the isolated towns together. These might otherwise have been lost in the vast land where they sprang up like unexpected weeds. But the train kept coming every day, and it gave the towns life.

13. EXIT PREVIOUS Coherence MENU Pronouns The train wound through the hilly land, hauling its load of people and the products of the nation. It held the isolated towns together. These might otherwise have been lost in the vast land where they sprang up like unexpected weeds. But the train kept coming every day, and it gave the towns life. What ideas do these pronouns connect to? Pronouns can keep ideas connected and the writing concise. Menu

14. EXIT Continue… Coherence MENU Synonyms Using a series of synonyms or closely related words helps hold ideas together.

15. EXIT Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Click to see the related words Synonyms Early one morning, a bear came down out of the mountains into our yard. It was as big as a car. It knocked our garbage shed over on its side. Then our visitor sat down and rummaged for some breakfast. By the time it left about 30 minutes later, it had snacked on food scraps from all three of our garbage cans. Look for synonyms and near synonyms in the following paragraph.

16. EXIT Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Synonyms Early one morning, a bear came down out of the mountains into our yard. It was as big as a car. It knocked our garbage shed over on its side. Then our visitor sat down and rummaged for some breakfast. By the time it left about 30 minutes later, it had snacked on food scraps from all three of our garbage cans. Look for synonyms, near synonyms, and pronouns in the following paragraph. Menu

17. EXIT Continue… Coherence MENU Repetition Repeating a word or phrase throughout a piece of writing is a strategy for achieving coherence. This technique helps a writer emphasize a point and establish a rhythm.

18. EXIT Coherence MENU Repetition Speak out and make your opinion heard. Our school board says they control our school newspaper. They say we cannot express our opinions, unless they say it is okay. I say I have the right to express my opinion no matter what anyone says. I urge you to write a letter to the Village Gazette and tell the city what you think. Speak out before it is too late. PREVIOUS Click to see the repetition Repeating a word or phrase throughout a piece of writing is a strategy for achieving coherence. This technique helps a writer emphasize a point and establish a rhythm.

19. EXIT Coherence MENU Repetition Menu PREVIOUS Repeating a word or phrase throughout a piece of writing is a strategy for achieving coherence. This technique helps a writer emphasize a point and establish a rhythm. Speak out and make your opinion heard. Our school board says they control our school newspaper. They say we cannot express our opinions, unless they say it is okay. I say I have the right to express my opinion no matter what anyone says. I urge you to write a letter to the Village Gazette and tell the city what you think. Speak out before it is too late.

20. EXIT Continue… Coherence MENU Rephrasing Coherence between paragraphs can be achieved by taking a phrase that occurred near the end of one paragraph and rephrasing it near the beginning of the following paragraph.

21. EXIT What is the rephrased idea in the second paragraph? Under President Jefferson’s orders, Lewis and Clark set off up the Missouri River to explore the new territory known as the Louisiana Purchase. As they paddled and polled their way upstream, this vast and unknown land opened up before them. Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Rephrasing Click to see the rephrased idea Coherence between paragraphs can be achieved by taking a phrase that occurred near the end of one paragraph and rephrasing it near the beginning of the following paragraph.

22. EXIT Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Rephrasing Coherence between paragraphs can be achieved by taking a phrase that occurred near the end of one paragraph and rephrasing it near the beginning of the following paragraph. What is the rephrased idea in the second paragraph? Under President Jefferson’s orders, Lewis and Clark set off up the Missouri River to explore the new territory known as the Louisiana Purchase. As they paddled and polled their way upstream, this vast and unknown land opened up before them.

23. EXIT Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Rephrasing Louisiana Purchase=vast and unknown land Menu i Coherence between paragraphs can be achieved by taking a phrase that occurred near the end of one paragraph and rephrasing it near the beginning of the following paragraph. What is the rephrased idea in the second paragraph? Under President Jefferson’s orders, Lewis and Clark set off up the Missouri River to explore the new territory known as the Louisiana Purchase. As they paddled and polled their way upstream, this vast and unknown land opened up before them.

24. EXIT Coherence PREVIOUS MENU Rephrasing i Coherence between paragraphs can be achieved by taking a phrase that occurred near the end of one paragraph and rephrasing it near the beginning of the following paragraph. What is the rephrased idea in the second paragraph? Under President Jefferson’s orders, Lewis and Clark set off up the Missouri River to explore the new territory known as the Louisiana Purchase. As they paddled and polled their way upstream, this vast and unknown land opened up before them. Louisiana Purchase=vast and unknown land i CLOSE This rephrasing helps the writer connect the ideas by offering another way to envision the Louisiana Purchase.

25. EXIT Continue… Coherence MENU Consistent Word Choice Coherence can be achieved by choosing words that help create a single mood or tone throughout the writing.

26. EXIT Coherence MENU Consistent Word Choice In this paragraph, which words help create a coherent mood? But by far the most loathsome thing about Mrs. Pratchett was the filth that clung around her. Her apron was grey and greasy. Her blouse had bits of breakfast all over it, toast crumbs and tea stains and splotches of dried egg-yolk. It was her hands, however, that disturbed us most. They were disgusting. They were black with dirt and grime. —Roald Dahl, Boy: Tales of Childhood PREVIOUS Click to see the words Coherence can be achieved by choosing words that help create a single mood or tone throughout the writing.

27. EXIT Coherence MENU Consistent Word Choice Notice how these words all reinforce a mood of intense dislike and disgust. But by far the most loathsome thing about Mrs. Pratchett was the filth that clung around her. Her apron was grey and greasy. Her blouse had bits of breakfast all over it, toast crumbs and tea stains and splotches of dried egg-yolk. It was her hands, however, that disturbed us most. They were disgusting. They were black with dirt and grime. —Roald Dahl, Boy: Tales of Childhood Menu PREVIOUS Coherence can be achieved by choosing words that help create a single mood or tone throughout the writing.