Discourse Structure, Cohesion, and Paragraph Organisation
Discourse structure, cohesion, and paragraph organisation
This domain tests how well you see the architecture of a text: how paragraphs are built, how sentences connect, and how reference and vocabulary tie ideas together.
Core rules
- A paragraph normally has one controlling idea, expressed in a topic sentence, then support, then a link forward.
- Choose connectors by logical relationship, not by sound: contrast (however, in contrast), concession (nevertheless, although), result (therefore, as a result), addition (moreover).
- Keep given information early and new information late, so the reader can attach each sentence to the last.
- Make pronouns unambiguous; this alone is weak, this shift is clear.
- Maintain lexical chains: repeat key terms or use stable synonyms rather than elegant variation that confuses.
Worked example
"The city banned cars from the square. ___, air pollution fell within a month." Options: Nevertheless / As a result / In contrast. Reasoning: the second sentence reports a consequence of the first, so As a result fits. Nevertheless signals concession, which would require an unexpected outcome. In contrast requires two comparable cases being opposed.
Traps
- Using on the contrary where in contrast is meant.
- Stringing clauses with and instead of showing the relationship.
- Placing a pronoun so that it could refer to two nouns.
- Writing a paragraph with two competing topic sentences.
- Inserting a sentence that is interesting but breaks the paragraph's unity.