Paragraph, Cohesion and Coherence

Paragraph
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic.
Cohesion
Cohesion refers to the logical flow and connection in a written text and is achieved through the
use of devices to link sentences together so that there is a logical flow between ideas from one
sentence to the next. Cohesion in paragraphs can be achieved by the use of linking devices and
logical connectors to link sentences.
I think that the most important characteristic in a friend is honesty. If someone is a friend, then
he or she must be honest. People can only trust only if he or she is truthful, if a friend cannot
tell the truth it is very difficult to consider him or her as a friend.
In this example, the key idea honesty is repeated as honest and rephrased as truthful and truth
to make the passage cohesive.
Paragraph 1
An effective advertisement matches images and music to its products and 1._____________. For
instance, if it’s selling cars to young men, it uses the image of speed and rock music. If it’s
selling cars to families, it uses the image of practicality and pleasant melodies.
2._______________________________.
1. A. its market
B. the market it wants to reach
C. to those who will buy the product
Paragraph 2
The contributions scientist make to society are more obvious. The cars we drive, the computers
we use at home and at work, 3.____________________- all of these come from the ideas and
hard work of scientists. Because of scientific contributions, we´re living longer and healthier
lives. Scientists also 4. _____________________ the arts. Movies are the result of science, as are
television, radio, and streaming.
3. A. and the stove and cleaning machine
B. the appliances we have to help us cook our meals and clean our house
C. the cooking and cleaning inventions
4. A. contribute to
B. help fund
C. support
Coherence
Coherence refers to the unity or togetherness of the text as a whole and is achieved through the
effective grouping and arrangement of ideas in a logical order. Paragraphs have to be coherent.
This means that the parts of your paragraph need to link to each other in a logical way so that the
reader may easily follow the development of your ideas and argument.
Digressions and deviations in paragraph-writing often come in the form of irrelevant details or
shifts in focus.
The sentences below comprise a deconstructed paragraph, with each sentence assigned a
number:
1. It is a fact that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime.

2. Statistics show that in states with capital punishment, murder rates are the same or almost the
same as in states without capital punishment.
3. It is also true that it is more expensive to put a person on death row than in life imprisonment
because of the costs of maximum security.
4. Unfortunately, capital punishment has been used unjustly.
5. Statistics show that every execution is of a man and that nine out of ten are black.
6. So prejudice shows right through.
Once again, no sentence in this paragraph is completely irrelevant to the general topic (capital
punishment), but the specific focus of this paragraph shifts abruptly twice:
 The paragraph starts out with a clear claim in sentence 1: It is a fact that capital punishment
is not a deterrent to crime.
 Sentence 2 provides evidence in support of the initial claim: Statistics show that in states
with capital punishment, murder rates are the same or almost the same as in states without
capital punishment.
 Sentence 3, however, shifts the focus from capital punishment as a deterrent to crime to the
cost of incarceration: It is also true that it is more expensive to put a person on death row
than in life imprisonment because of the costs of maximum security.
 Sentence 4 once again shifts the focus, this time to issues of justice: Unfortunately, capital
punishment has been used unjustly.
 Sentences 5 and 6, Statistics show that every execution is of a man and that nine out of ten
are black and So prejudice shows right through, follow from 4 if one believes that executing
men and blacks is in fact evidence of injustice and prejudice. More importantly, however, we
are now a long way off from the original claim, that capital punishment does not deter crime.
The focus has shifted from deterrence to expense to fairness.
The following paragraph on the same topic is much more effectively focused and unified:
1. The punishment of criminals has always been a problem for society.

2. Citizens have had to decide whether offenders such as first-degree murderers should be
killed in a gas chamber, imprisoned for life, or rehabilitated and given a second chance in
society.
3. Many citizens argue that serious criminals should be executed.
4. They believe that killing criminals will set an example for others and also rid society of a
cumbersome burden.
5. Other citizens say that no one has the right to take a life and that capital punishment is not a
deterrent to crime.
6. They believe that society as well as the criminal is responsible for the crimes and that killing
the criminal does not solve the problems of either society or the criminal.
 Sentence 1 puts forth the main claim: The punishment of criminals has always been a
problem for society.
 Sentence 2 specifies the exact nature of the problem by listing society’s choices: Citizens
have had to decide whether offenders such as first-degree murderers should be killed in a
gas chamber, imprisoned for life, or rehabilitated and given a second chance in society.
 Sentence 3 further develops the topic by stating one point of view: Many citizens argue that
serious criminals should be executed.
 The reasons for the point of view in sentence 3 are then provided in sentence 4: They believe
that killing criminals will set an example for others and also rid society of a cumbersome
burden.
 Sentence 5 states an opposing point of view: Other citizens say that no one has the right to
take a life and that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime.
 Sentence 6 states the reason for the opposing point of view: They believe that society as well
as the criminal is responsible for the crimes and that killing the criminal does not solve the
problems of either society or the criminal.

Paragraph, Cohesion and Coherence

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Paragraph, Cohesion and Coherence

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Paragraph

A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic.

B. the market it wants to reach

C. to those who will buy the product

3. A. and the stove and cleaning machine

C. the cooking and cleaning inventions

1. It is a fact that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime.

1. The punishment of criminals has always been a problem for society.

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