Page 2 CUE: Developing Coherence
Completion requirements
CUE: Developing Coherence
Aspects of nature such as the seasons, heartbeats, and locations have an order. If you were traveling from northern Alberta (Fort McMurray) to southern Alberta (Lethbridge), you would not likely drive haphazardly to Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, and Lloydminster
on the way. If you did, you might never arrive at your destination of Lethbridge.
Rather, you would begin in Fort McMurray, drive south past Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary, and arrive in Lethbridge in a timely manner. In the same way, a well-written essay is systematic and connected.
This is similar to a map where larger centres such as Calgary and Edmonton are emphasized with large type and large bold dots, but small villages are written in small type with less noticeable dots.
A reader can easily follow the main idea if sentences are ordered clearly in paragraphs using transitions or key words to ease the reader from one idea to the next. Sentences lacking transitions start and stop abruptly, making ideas seem incomplete.
Below is a sample essay introduction that has coherence problems.
Sample Essay Introduction With Coherence Problems
People just brush off planet problems like it's nothing. There are many real and alarming things that are happening to our planet. We should seriously change our actions. Otherwise it will be more than just pollution we have to worry about.
What is the essay about? Garbage? Pollution? Acid rain? Global warming? The topic is too broad and the order of ideas is not provided. This paragraph lacks coherence.
An essay should provide a logical specific sequence of ideas in the introduction.
A more coherent introduction might read:
Your paragraph should be coherent. All of the ideas should flow smoothly from one sentence to the next in a logical manner, without repetition. To achieve this, you may need to revise your paragraph so ideas do not overlap and are written consistently. To avoid repeating an idea in the same way, use a thesaurus or key words to develop your points.
A well-written essay follows the acronym CUE ( Coherence, Unity, and Emphasis).
- An essay must be ordered in a logical sequence (producing effective coherence throughout the discussion) so that you arrive at your destination.
- A unified essay cuts through distractions and avoids confusion by focussing on the subject or one main idea only (producing unity throughout the discussion).
- The most important subject in an essay takes up more space or leaves an impression at the beginning or end of the essay (producing emphasis throughout the discussion).
This is similar to a map where larger centres such as Calgary and Edmonton are emphasized with large type and large bold dots, but small villages are written in small type with less noticeable dots.
Coherence
An essay is organized into a logical progression of ideas linked from paragraph to paragraph.
A reader can easily follow the main idea if sentences are ordered clearly in paragraphs using transitions or key words to ease the reader from one idea to the next. Sentences lacking transitions start and stop abruptly, making ideas seem incomplete.
| Organization of Ideas | Explanation | Key Words (Transitions) | Examples |
| Chronological Order Climactic Order |
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| Spatial Emphasis Topical |
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| Pros and Cons Comparison and Contrast |
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| Cause - Effect |
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Below is a sample essay introduction that has coherence problems.
Sample Essay Introduction With Coherence Problems
People just brush off planet problems like it's nothing. There are many real and alarming things that are happening to our planet. We should seriously change our actions. Otherwise it will be more than just pollution we have to worry about.
What is the essay about? Garbage? Pollution? Acid rain? Global warming? The topic is too broad and the order of ideas is not provided. This paragraph lacks coherence.
An essay should provide a logical specific sequence of ideas in the introduction.
A more coherent introduction might read:
| Oil spills, disease and uncontrolled pests, as well as natural disasters are threats to our environment. Taking ownership for our actions means cleaning up, reducing waste, and conserving. |
This more coherent introduction could guide readers logically to any ONE of the following thesis statements:
- Recently, massive amounts of water life has died because of oil spills and pollution.
- Similarly, habitats face threats from landowners who want to get rid of windbreaks or shelterbelts to strip their land completely of trees.
- Finally, uncontrolled pests are dangerous to habitats.
Fluent, or coherent, writing is easy to read and understand.
Fluent, or coherent, writing is easy to read and understand.
Avoid Repetition
Your paragraph should be coherent. All of the ideas should flow smoothly from one sentence to the next in a logical manner, without repetition. To achieve this, you may need to revise your paragraph so ideas do not overlap and are written consistently. To avoid repeating an idea in the same way, use a thesaurus or key words to develop your points.
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Self-Assessment: Developing Coherence Click here to practice developing coherence. |