What Do "Coherence" and "Cohesion" Mean?

What do "Coherence" and "Cohesion" Mean?
The two words, "coherence" and "cohesion" mean different things but the two ideas are connected and, in
fact, overlap. "Coherence" in an essay (or when you are speaking about interconnected idea in the
Speaking test) means the overall "understandability" of what you write or say. When writing an
essay, coherence involves such features as: summarizing the overall argument of an essay in the
introductory paragraph; presenting ideas in a logical sequence; putting separate, major points into
separate paragraphs; and beginning each paragraph with a 'topic sentence', following by supporting
sentences. Coherence is based more on the logic of the ideas and how they are presented rather than on
the language that is used to express these ideas.
"Cohesion" refers to the degree to which sentences (or even different parts of one sentence)
are connected so that the flow of ideas is easy to follow. To achieve good cohesion, you need to know
how to use "cohesive devices", which are certain words or phrases that serve the purpose of connecting
two statements, usually by referring back to what you have previously written or said. For example, if you
write "Statement A" and then follow with the words, "On the other hand, Statement B", then these two
sentences "cohere" or "stick together" and it is easy to follow the flow of ideas. Good cohesion leads to
good coherence, which is the ultimate aim.
Here's an example of how coherence and cohesion overlap. If you have a major new point to add to your
essay then you should put that in a paragraph by itself and begin the paragraph with a topic sentence that
more or less summarizes the point you want to make. This topic sentence, following by supporting
sentences, make your paragraph more coherent. However, your essay will be less coherent if you
suddenly start a paragraph without some form of connection to what you have previously written, either
in the previous paragraph or some other previous part of your essay. This problem can be overcome by
beginning that topic sentence with words such as, "On the other hand", which connect to the last
statement made in the previous paragraph. This shows good cohesion.
EXERCISE 1 ►SENTENCE ORDER

Number the sentences in an appropriate order to form a well-structured paragraph. Write the numbers in
the boxes provided.
1)
_____a. This spot, which lies in New York Harbor, was the first American soil seen or touched by many
immigrants.
_____b. Between its opening in 1892 and its closing in 1954, about two-thirds of all immigrants were
detained there before taking up their new lives in the United States.
_____c. Ellis Island has reopened for business, but now the customers are tourists.
_____d. Though other places also served as ports of entry for foreigners, none has the symbolic power of
Ellis Island.
2)
_____a. The set, sounds, and actors in the movie captured the essence of horror films.
_____b. The sounds, too, were appropriate; especially terrifying was the hard, hollow sound of footsteps
echoing throughout the film.
_____c. The set was ideal: looming shadows of large and unlighted houses, deserted streets, trees dipping
their branches over the sidewalks, and mist hugging the ground.
_____d. But the best feature of the movie was its actors, all of them, tall, pale, and extremely thin.
3)
_____a. When it was being constructed in the early 1970s, its windows began cracking and falling to the
ground.
_____ b. They were replaced with plywood until the problem could be found and solved.
_____ c. The Hancock Tower in Boston is a thin, mirror-glass slab that rises almost eight hundred feet.
_____ d. Eventually, the cracking was blamed on the windows' rigid, double-paned glass.
_____ e. Single-pane windows were installed, and the plywood building crystallized into a shining jewel.
EXERCISE 2 ►TRANSITIONS
Find and underline the critical transitions that connect sentences in the paragraph.
Why I Don't Make My Bed
Ever since I turned 15 last fall, I have lost the habit of making my bed--except on Fridays, of course,
when I change the sheets. Although some people may think that I am a slob, I have some strong reasons
for breaking the bed-making habit. In the first place, I am not worried about keeping a tidy bedroom
because no one except me ever gets in there. If my mum ever decides to inspect the room, I guess I can
hurry in there to fluff up the pillow and slap on a spread. Otherwise, I am not bothered. In addition, I find
nothing uncomfortable about crawling into a rumpled mass of sheets and blankets. On the contrary, I
enjoy making a cozy space for myself before falling asleep. Also, I think that a tightly made bed is very
uncomfortable: entering one makes me feel like a loaf of bread being wrapped and sealed. Finally, and
most importantly, I think bed-making is an awful way to waste time in the morning. I prefer spending
those precious minutes checking my messages or feeding the cat than tucking in corners or snapping the
spread.
EXERCISE 3 ►Consistency with nouns and pronouns
In the following paragraph, find the pronouns which are not consistent with the nouns they refer to:
1) When a person is waiting to receive a package for something they bought online, you begin to notice
what time the postman arrives.
2) If the person does not receive the package within one week of buying the item, they may not have
followed the right process.
3) For instance, buyers who don't include a phone number on the purchase form will have to wait longer
for his or her package.
4) If they make errors on the form, you also have to wait, and they might even call you asking questions
and delaying the delivery for two or three weeks or longer.
5) Even if you followed the right process and gave all the correct information, the company can still delay
their purchase as long as he or she wants.

What Do "Coherence" and "Cohesion" Mean?

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What Do "Coherence" and "Cohesion" Mean?

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What do "Coherence" and "Cohesion" Mean?

EXERCISE 1 ►SENTENCE ORDER

Why I Don't Make My Bed

EXERCISE 3 ►Consistency with nouns and pronouns

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