Coherence, cohesion and text organisation
Coherence and cohesion is how the examiner judges the organisation of your composition, and how the reading paper tests 'which sentence fits the gap' items. Coherence is the logic - ideas in a sensible order, one per paragraph. Cohesion is the glue - pronouns, linkers and repeated or substituted vocabulary that tie sentences together.
Paragraph logic
One idea per paragraph. Open with a topic sentence, support it, then close or link forward. At 130 words, three paragraphs is usually right: position, development, conclusion.
Linkers by function
- Addition: in addition, furthermore, what is more
- Contrast: however, whereas, although, despite + noun/-ing
- Cause: because, since, due to + noun
- Result: therefore, as a result, consequently
- Example: for instance, such as
- Conclusion: to sum up, all in all
The grammar of the linker matters as much as its meaning: although takes a clause, despite takes a noun or an -ing form, and however is followed by a comma.
Worked example
Weak version: 'Mobile phones are useful. Mobile phones are distracting. Students use mobile phones in class. This is bad.' Revised: 'Mobile phones are useful tools, but they can also be distracting. When students use them in class, this often damages concentration.' Reasoning: they removes the repeated noun; but marks the contrast explicitly; when turns a flat statement into a subordinate clause; this refers back unambiguously to the preceding clause; damages concentration is a precise collocation where is bad was vague. Every sentence now depends on the one before it.
Traps
- Although … but … - English allows one, not both.
- On the other hand with no first hand.
- A linker at the start of every sentence, which reads as a list rather than an argument.
- A vague this or it with no clear referent.
- Comma splices: It was late, we went home → It was late, so we went home.
- Five one-sentence paragraphs.