Posted By:Vivian D. Peremacio
Sources:1.English Grammar composition c/o Prof. Rufina C. Esagre
2.http://web.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/p-cohere.htm
3.http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/p-cohere.htm
4.http://www.qondio.com/paragraph-coherence-using-
transition-signals
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INTRODUCTION
To be skilled in composition writing, one should not only learn how to write a correct paragraph, but also how to develop an effective paragraph; that is, one which will serve the end of communication which is clarity and fracility in delivering a message. To achieve this end one should know, apply, and drill intensively on the three qualities of an effective paragraph; namely, unity, coherence, and emphasis.
This module intends to:
1.identify paragraph structure.
2.observe coherence in making an effective paragraph.
COHERENCE
·Cohesiveness
·The act of sticking together.
It is best achieved:
·By correct sequence of the sentences with each one logically proceeding from the previous sentence successively up to the end of the paragraph.
RULE:
·One must determine the course of movement of direction the sentence should follow as conditioned by time, space or logical thinking.
SAMPLE:
The second Greenhills Grand Prix held in Ortigas Avenue was a great success. Multi-colored expensive cars vied for attention. Beside them stood hopeful and determined “artisans of daredevils were racing” waving at the big crowd. A few minutes before the race, the signal light flashed. The drivers stood at attention. Put on their crash helmets. Bowed before the crowd. And zoom! – they sped away.
Take note of the movement or direction followed by the sentences conditioned firstly by space as spectator’s eye takes in the car first, the drivers second, and the action third. In relating the action, the rule of time relationship or chronology is narrated very briefly.
SAMPLE:
Weak
Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically impossible to allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs. A high rate of urban population growth has increased the country's needs for housing. A small group of city officials has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis. A solution to the housing-shortage problem is a vital policy issue here. The housing problem has grown in the last twenty years. [Although related by topic (housing shortage), each sentence makes its own separate point with no link to the sentences before or after. The result is a group of related yet separate ideas instead of one coherent paragraph.]
Improved
Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically impossible to allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs. In fact, the problem has grown in the last twenty years. Because a high rate of urban population growth has increased the country's needs for housing, a solution to the housing-shortage problem is a vital policy issue here. A small group of city officials has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis. [Each separate fact now flows into the next, creating a coherent whole.]
Improved
Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically impossible to allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs. In fact, the problem has grown in the last twenty years. Because a high rate of urban population growth has increased the country's needs for housing, a solution to the housing-shortage problem is a vital policy issue here. A small group of city officials has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis. [Each separate fact now flows into the next, creating a coherent whole.]
Cohesion Strategies: Revising Paragraphs with Transitional Words and Phrases
Transitional Words and Phrases
Cohesion Exercise A: Learning Under Pressure
Transitional Words and Phrases
Cohesion Exercise A: Learning Under Pressure
Organize these five sentences into a cohesive paragraph by adding appropriate transitional words and phrases to sentences number 2, 3, and 5. When you are done, compare your paragraph with the original on page two.
1. Dr. Edward C. Tolman, after experimenting with rats over a long period of years, found that rats that learned to run a maze under the pressure of hunger took much longer to learn the maze than rats that learned under non-crisis conditions.
2. The learning that did take place was of a narrow type.
3. After learning the "right" route, these rats panicked if one avenue were blocked off.
4. They were not able to survey the field to notice alternative routes.
5. When the rats were permitted to learn under non-crisis conditions, they later performed well in a crisis.
2. The learning that did take place was of a narrow type.
3. After learning the "right" route, these rats panicked if one avenue were blocked off.
4. They were not able to survey the field to notice alternative routes.
5. When the rats were permitted to learn under non-crisis conditions, they later performed well in a crisis.
Sentence Cohesion
To achieve cohesion, the link of one sentence to the next, consider the following techniques:
1.Repetition. In sentence B (the second of any two sentences), repeat a word from sentence A.
2.Synonymy. If direct repetition is too obvious, use a synonym of the word you wish to repeat. This strategy is call 'elegant variation.'
3.Antonymy. Using the 'opposite' word, an antonym, can also create sentence cohesion, since in language antonyms actually share more elements of meaning than you might imagine.
4.Pro-forms. Use a pronoun, pro-verb, or another pro-form to make explicit reference back to a form mentioned earlier.
5.Collocation. Use a commonly paired or expected or highly probable word to connect one sentence to another.
6.Enumeration. Use overt markers of sequence to highlight the connection between ideas. This system has many advantages:(a) it can link ideas that are otherwise completely unconnected,(b) it looks formal and distinctive, and (c) it promotes a second method of sentence cohesion, discussed in (7) below.
7.Parallelism. Repeat a sentence structure. This technique is the oldest, most overlooked, but probably the most elegant method of creating cohesion.
8.Transitions. Use a conjunction or conjunctive adverb to link sentences with particular logical relationships.
2.Synonymy. If direct repetition is too obvious, use a synonym of the word you wish to repeat. This strategy is call 'elegant variation.'
3.Antonymy. Using the 'opposite' word, an antonym, can also create sentence cohesion, since in language antonyms actually share more elements of meaning than you might imagine.
4.Pro-forms. Use a pronoun, pro-verb, or another pro-form to make explicit reference back to a form mentioned earlier.
5.Collocation. Use a commonly paired or expected or highly probable word to connect one sentence to another.
6.Enumeration. Use overt markers of sequence to highlight the connection between ideas. This system has many advantages:(a) it can link ideas that are otherwise completely unconnected,(b) it looks formal and distinctive, and (c) it promotes a second method of sentence cohesion, discussed in (7) below.
7.Parallelism. Repeat a sentence structure. This technique is the oldest, most overlooked, but probably the most elegant method of creating cohesion.
8.Transitions. Use a conjunction or conjunctive adverb to link sentences with particular logical relationships.
A. Identity
B. Opposition
C. Addition
D. Cause and Effect
E. Indefinites
F. Concession
G. Exemplification
Paragraph Coherence Using Transition Signals
So, what is Transition Signal?
Roughly speaking, transition signal is what we can call as the traffic sign of our paragraph that tell the reader when to go forward, turn, slow down and stop. In other word, transition signal tell them when you are giving similarity to the idea, an opposite idea, an example, a result, or a conclusion. Therefore, transition signal are be able to guide your reader to follow your ideas.
Types of Transition Signals
Transition signal can be divided into four basic groups according to the function, they are namely: sentence connectors, coordinators (coordinating conjunctions), subordinators(subordinating conjunctions), and prepositions and determiners.
1. Sentence Connectors
(example: however, therefore, furthermore, for example, on the other hand, in addition, still, otherwise)
Example:
I like to browse the internet; therefore, I always do that everyday.
You don't like browsing the internet; however, I do that everyday.
You don't like browsing the internet; however, I do that everyday.
At the beginning:
Therefore, I always do that everyday
On the other hand, you don't like browsing the internet
On the other hand, you don't like browsing the internet
In the middle:
therefore, always do that everyday
Browsing the internet, on the other hand, are disliked by you.
Browsing the internet, on the other hand, are disliked by you.
At the end:
I always do that everyday, therefore.
You don't like browsing the internet, on the other hand.
You don't like browsing the internet, on the other hand.
2. Coordinators
(Example: and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so) Coordinators join two independent clause to form compound sentence.
Example:
I like browsing the internet, but you hate it.
You hate browsing the internet, so you never do that.
You hate browsing the internet, so you never do that.
3. Subordinators
(Example: Because, after, since, as, although, if, when)In a writing, subordinators introduce a dependent clause (subordinator + subject + verb + complement) which is joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
1.If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, use a comma after it.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Example:
Although I like browsing the internet a lot, you still hate it. Because you hate browsing the internet, you never do that.
2.If the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, do not use a comma.
Example:
I love browsing the internet although you never like it
You never browse the internet because you hate it.
You never browse the internet because you hate it.
4.Prepositions and Determiners
Because of, due to, in spite of, (prepositions) Another, additional, final (determiners)
CONFIRMATION OF LEARNING
1.What is coherence?
2.How to achieve coherence in paragraph making?
3.What is that one RULE in achieving a perfectly coherent paragraph?
4.How to revise a paragraph to achieve paragraph cohesion?
5.What are the techniques used in achieving sentence cohesion?
6.What is transition signal?
7.What are the types of transition signals?
