3.3.1

Building Cohesion in Writing

Test yourself on Building Cohesion in Writing

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Building Cohesion in Writing

The reader can process a written discussion better if you create a cohesive piece of writing. A cohesive piece of writing can be easily followed.

Whole text cohesion

Whole text cohesion

There are some simple signposts that we can use to control the way the reader reads our discussion.
When presenting points in a discussion for non-fiction writing, we can separate them by saying ‘firstly’, then ‘secondly’, then ‘thirdly’, then ‘finally’.
- ‘Firstly’, then ‘secondly’, then ‘thirdly’, then ‘finally’ should be the point where you introduce a new paragraph.

Paragraph cohesion

Paragraph cohesion

You can still signpost a slight or substantial change in direction within a paragraph.
Words like ‘however’, ‘although’ or ‘nevertheless’ can suggest that there’s an alternative to the point just discussed.
Words like ‘then’ and ‘when’ suggest the next stage of your argument.

Sentence cohesion

Sentence cohesion

Subordinating conjunctions can be used to build cohesion in writing.
- Subordinating conjunctions help link a main clause to a subordinate clause.
- Subordinating conjunctions can also provide key information about the link.
- 'However', 'then', 'because' and 'if' are examples of subordinating conjunctions.

Building Cohesion in Argumentative Writing

The reader can process a written discussion better if you create a cohesive piece of writing. A cohesive piece of writing can be easily followed.

Argumentative writing

Argumentative writing

Indications of contrast are very effective in argumentative writing.
- Words like 'however', 'although' and 'nonetheless' are indications of contrast.

Indications of contrast example

Indications of contrast example

‘I see your point about mobile phones allowing you to access information in class, however, the amount of distraction they cause makes them a bad thing for a classroom environment.’
- The word 'however' introduces a contrast to the main clause and signposts the reader that there’s an alternative point of view.

1

Spelling

1.1

Spelling

1.1.1Hard 'U' & 'I' Sounds 1.1.2Words Ending in '-sure', & '-mure'1.1.3Words Ending in '-sion'1.1.4'Ei', 'Eigh' & 'Ey' Spellings 1.1.5Spelling Words with 'Ch'1.1.6Spelling Words with 'Sc'1.1.7Silent Letters 1.1.8i Before e Rule 1.1.9Hard & Soft 'c' Sounds 1.1.10End of Topic Test - Spelling

1.2

Prefixes

1.2.1'Anti-' & 'Auto-'1.2.2Not & 'Inter-'1.2.3'Mis-', 'Dis-' & 'Re-'1.2.4'Sub-' & 'Super-'1.2.5End of Topic Test - Prefixes

1.3

Suffixes

1.3.1Vowel Suffixes 1.3.2Short Vowel Suffixes 1.3.3Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.4Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.5Rules for Suffixes: '-ous' 2 1.3.6Suffixes: '-ly'1.3.7Suffixes: '-ation'1.3.8Suffixes: '-ation' 2 1.3.9Spelling: '-tion' Endings 1.3.10Spelling: '-sion' Endings 1.3.11Spelling: '-ssion' Endings 1.3.12Spelling: '-cian' Endings 1.3.13End of Topic Test - Suffixes 1.3.14End of Topic Test - Spelling

1.4

Making Words Plural

1.4.1Plurals 1.4.2End of Topic Test - Plurals

1.5

Homophones

1.6

Word Meanings

1.6.1Homonyms 1.6.2End of Topic Test - Homonyms

2

Punctuation

3

Grammar

3.1

Word Classes

3.1.1Nouns 3.1.2Pronouns 3.1.3Verbs 3.1.4Adjectives & Adverbs 3.1.5Qualifiers & Quantifiers 3.1.6Determiners 3.1.7Prepositions 3.1.8Synonyms & Antonyms 3.1.9End of Topic Test - Word Classes

3.2

Conjunctions

3.2.1Coordinating Conjunctions 3.2.2Subordinating Conjunctions 3.2.3End of Topic Test - Conjunctions

3.3

Writing Coherently

3.3.1Building Cohesion in Writing 3.3.2Avoiding Ambiguity in Writing 3.3.3End of Topic Test - Cohesion

3.4

Verbs

3.4.1Subject-verb Agreement 3.4.2End of Topic Test - Subject-verb

3.5

Modal Verbs

3.5.1Modal Verbs 3.5.2Can & Could 3.5.3May & Might 3.5.4Should & Shall 3.5.5Will & Would 3.5.6Must & Have To 3.5.7End of Topic Test - Modals

3.6

Phrasal Verbs

3.6.1Phrasal Verbs 3.6.2End of Topic Test - Phrasal Verbs

3.7

Subjunctive Verbs

3.7.1Subjunctive Verbs 3.7.2End of Topic Test - Verbs

3.8

Sentences

3.8.1Subject of a Sentence 3.8.2Object of a Sentence 3.8.3Main & Subordinate Clauses 3.8.4Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences 3.8.5Complex Sentences 3.8.6Relative Clauses 3.8.7Relative Clauses Without Relative Pronouns 3.8.8Participle Clauses 3.8.9Run-on Sentences 3.8.10Sentence Functions 3.8.11End of Topic Test - Sentences

3.9

Tenses

3.9.1Present Tense 3.9.2Past Tense 3.9.3Past Tense Using Have 3.9.4Future Tense 3.9.5Present vs Past vs Future 3.9.6Continuity of Tenses 3.9.7End of Topic Test - Tenses

3.10

Adverbials

3.10.1Adverbial 3.10.2Saying Where & When 3.10.3Saying How Often 3.10.4Saying How & Why 3.10.5Using Commas for Fronted Adverbials 3.10.6End of Topic Test - Adverbials

3.11

Language Techniques

3.11.1Figurative & Emotive Language 3.11.2Active & Passive Voice 3.11.3Idiomatic Expressions 3.11.4End of Topic Test - Language Techniques

4

Decoding Words

4.1

Common Word Roots

4.1.1Saving 4.1.2Certainty & Clarity 4.1.3New & Alone 4.1.4Believing & Thinking 4.1.5Carrying & Leading 4.1.6Shape & Place 4.1.7Doing & Making 4.1.8Climbing & Going 4.1.9End of Topic Test - Common Root Words 4.1.10End of Topic Test - Common Root Words 2

4.2

Common Prefixes

4.2.1For & Against 4.2.2All & Same 4.2.3Away & Far 4.2.4Colour & Shape 4.2.5Back & Down 4.2.6Numbers 4.2.7Across & Through 4.2.8Life & Earth 4.2.9Empty & Broken 4.2.10Great & Greater 4.2.11Hearing & Speaking 4.2.12Apart & Together 4.2.13Over & Under 4.2.14In 4.2.15Less & Smaller 4.2.16Before & After 4.2.17End of Topic Test - Common Prefixes 2 4.2.18End of Topic Test - Common Prefixes

4.3

Common Suffixes

4.3.1Characterised By 4.3.2Disease 4.3.3Lover & Lacking 4.3.4Belief & Study 4.3.5People 4.3.6State & Quality 4.3.7Sound & Colour 4.3.8Capable & Relating 4.3.9End of Topic Test - Common Suffixes 4.3.10End of Topic Test - Common Suffixes 2

5

Reading & Writing

Jump to other topics

1

Spelling

1.1

Spelling

1.1.1Hard 'U' & 'I' Sounds 1.1.2Words Ending in '-sure', & '-mure'1.1.3Words Ending in '-sion'1.1.4'Ei', 'Eigh' & 'Ey' Spellings 1.1.5Spelling Words with 'Ch'1.1.6Spelling Words with 'Sc'1.1.7Silent Letters 1.1.8i Before e Rule 1.1.9Hard & Soft 'c' Sounds 1.1.10End of Topic Test - Spelling

1.2

Prefixes

1.2.1'Anti-' & 'Auto-'1.2.2Not & 'Inter-'1.2.3'Mis-', 'Dis-' & 'Re-'1.2.4'Sub-' & 'Super-'1.2.5End of Topic Test - Prefixes

1.3

Suffixes

1.3.1Vowel Suffixes 1.3.2Short Vowel Suffixes 1.3.3Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.4Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.5Rules for Suffixes: '-ous' 2 1.3.6Suffixes: '-ly'1.3.7Suffixes: '-ation'1.3.8Suffixes: '-ation' 2 1.3.9Spelling: '-tion' Endings 1.3.10Spelling: '-sion' Endings 1.3.11Spelling: '-ssion' Endings 1.3.12Spelling: '-cian' Endings 1.3.13End of Topic Test - Suffixes 1.3.14End of Topic Test - Spelling

1.4

Making Words Plural

1.4.1Plurals 1.4.2End of Topic Test - Plurals

1.5

Homophones

1.6

Word Meanings

1.6.1Homonyms 1.6.2End of Topic Test - Homonyms

2

Punctuation

3

Grammar

3.1

Word Classes

3.1.1Nouns 3.1.2Pronouns 3.1.3Verbs 3.1.4Adjectives & Adverbs 3.1.5Qualifiers & Quantifiers 3.1.6Determiners 3.1.7Prepositions 3.1.8Synonyms & Antonyms 3.1.9End of Topic Test - Word Classes

3.2

Conjunctions

3.2.1Coordinating Conjunctions 3.2.2Subordinating Conjunctions 3.2.3End of Topic Test - Conjunctions

3.3

Writing Coherently

3.3.1Building Cohesion in Writing 3.3.2Avoiding Ambiguity in Writing 3.3.3End of Topic Test - Cohesion

3.4

Verbs

3.4.1Subject-verb Agreement 3.4.2End of Topic Test - Subject-verb

3.5

Modal Verbs

3.5.1Modal Verbs 3.5.2Can & Could 3.5.3May & Might 3.5.4Should & Shall 3.5.5Will & Would 3.5.6Must & Have To 3.5.7End of Topic Test - Modals

3.6

Phrasal Verbs

3.6.1Phrasal Verbs 3.6.2End of Topic Test - Phrasal Verbs

3.7

Subjunctive Verbs

3.7.1Subjunctive Verbs 3.7.2End of Topic Test - Verbs

3.8

Sentences

3.8.1Subject of a Sentence 3.8.2Object of a Sentence 3.8.3Main & Subordinate Clauses 3.8.4Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences 3.8.5Complex Sentences 3.8.6Relative Clauses 3.8.7Relative Clauses Without Relative Pronouns 3.8.8Participle Clauses 3.8.9Run-on Sentences 3.8.10Sentence Functions 3.8.11End of Topic Test - Sentences

3.9

Tenses

3.9.1Present Tense 3.9.2Past Tense 3.9.3Past Tense Using Have 3.9.4Future Tense 3.9.5Present vs Past vs Future 3.9.6Continuity of Tenses 3.9.7End of Topic Test - Tenses

3.10

Adverbials

3.10.1Adverbial 3.10.2Saying Where & When 3.10.3Saying How Often 3.10.4Saying How & Why 3.10.5Using Commas for Fronted Adverbials 3.10.6End of Topic Test - Adverbials

3.11

Language Techniques

3.11.1Figurative & Emotive Language 3.11.2Active & Passive Voice 3.11.3Idiomatic Expressions 3.11.4End of Topic Test - Language Techniques

4

Decoding Words

4.1

Common Word Roots

4.1.1Saving 4.1.2Certainty & Clarity 4.1.3New & Alone 4.1.4Believing & Thinking 4.1.5Carrying & Leading 4.1.6Shape & Place 4.1.7Doing & Making 4.1.8Climbing & Going 4.1.9End of Topic Test - Common Root Words 4.1.10End of Topic Test - Common Root Words 2

4.2

Common Prefixes

4.2.1For & Against 4.2.2All & Same 4.2.3Away & Far 4.2.4Colour & Shape 4.2.5Back & Down 4.2.6Numbers 4.2.7Across & Through 4.2.8Life & Earth 4.2.9Empty & Broken 4.2.10Great & Greater 4.2.11Hearing & Speaking 4.2.12Apart & Together 4.2.13Over & Under 4.2.14In 4.2.15Less & Smaller 4.2.16Before & After 4.2.17End of Topic Test - Common Prefixes 2 4.2.18End of Topic Test - Common Prefixes

4.3

Common Suffixes

4.3.1Characterised By 4.3.2Disease 4.3.3Lover & Lacking 4.3.4Belief & Study 4.3.5People 4.3.6State & Quality 4.3.7Sound & Colour 4.3.8Capable & Relating 4.3.9End of Topic Test - Common Suffixes 4.3.10End of Topic Test - Common Suffixes 2

5

Reading & Writing

Practice questions on Building Cohesion in Writing

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Answer all questions on Building Cohesion in Writing

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

End of Topic Test - Conjunctions

Avoiding Ambiguity in Writing