3.3.1

Building Cohesion in Writing

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

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Argumentative writing

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

Jump to other topics

1Spelling

2Punctuation

3Grammar

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