Writing Coherence Techniques: Transitions, Repetition, Synonyms, Pronouns - Prof. Robert A, Study notes of English Language

Download Writing Coherence Techniques: Transitions, Repetition, Synonyms, Pronouns - Prof. Robert A and more Study notes English Language in PDF only on Docsity! Kristin Roberts Organizing a Paragraph 1. Space 2. Time 3. Order of Importance Methods for Achieving Coherence 1. Transitions 2. Repetition 3. Synonyms 4. Pronouns 5. Reference to a main idea 1. Transitional Devices Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your paper. They encourage the reader to easily interpret ideas in the way that you, as a writer, want them to understand. Transitional devices help you carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another with words or phrases. There are several types of transitional devices, and each category leads your reader to make certain connections or assumptions about the two areas that you are connecting. Some lead your reader forward and imply the “building” of an idea or thought while others make your reader compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts. Note that different transitions serve different purposes. It’s not effective to use one kind when another is required. Make sure your transitions help to lead your reader through your goal.  Transition between conflicting ideas: You use these devices when you are going from one idea to the exact (or nearly exact) opposite idea in the next paragraph or sentence. These transitions help your reader see how you are moving from one side to the other. o however, but, yet, still, in contrast, whereas, on the other hand, except, by comparison, compared to, although, conversely, meanwhile  Transitions indicating time: These transitions help to show your reader how your ideas are moving in a chronological sense (i.e. the order in which they occurred in time). o then, after, now, afterwards, next before, earlier, in the past  Transitions of order: These transitions help to show your reader in what order your ideas are coming. Though they seem really simple, you should not forget that they are very effective transitions which can work in several different situations. o first, second, third, etc….  Transitions of cause and effect: These transitions show how the ideas in a previous sentence are creating (or at least leading to) the situations in the next sentence. Kristin Roberts o therefore, as a result of, thus, hence  Transitions of continuation or building: These transitions help to show your reader how you are building on or continuing an idea from sentence to sentence (these are very similar to the last set of transitions, but they are used in slightly different situations). o indeed, in fact, thus, hence  Transitions of addition: These transitions help show your reader that youa re adding more of the same ideas together. o moreover, furthermore, additionally, even more, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly  Transitions in the face of adversity: These transitions come in handy when your’re trying to show your reader that something happened despite the fact that the odds were against it. o nevertheless, despite, in spite of Note: Be careful when you use transitions. Not all transitions work in all situations (not even all the ones in each category will work the way they are supposed to all the time). You must always double-check your work. Make sure that they are telling your reader only what you want them to tell your reader. 2. Repetition Repeating a word or phrase is the second most common technique for creating coherence in writing. However, you should be careful not to repeat needlessly. A. Every summer, after school was over in Venezuela, two of my cousins used to come to my parents' house to spend their vacation time with us. My cousins and I didn't realize at that young age that my grandfather, who lived with us, was having a hard time trying to sleep. Kept awake every night by my cousins' loud voices and laughter, my grandfather decided to play a joke on my cousins and me that didn't turn out to be as funny as my grandfatherthought it would be. B. Every summer, after school was over in Venezuela, two of my cousins used to come to my parents' house to spend their vacation time with us. We didn't realize at that young age that my grandfather, who lived with us, was having a hard time trying to sleep. Kept awake every night by our loud voices and laughter, he decided to play a joke on usthat didn't turn out to be as funny as he thought it would be. I like being a college student because that means that I have freedom from my parents. 3. Synonyms Using synonyms (words with identical or nearly identical meaning) or short phrases in the place of another word or phrase is a good alternative to simple repetition. For example, in the excerpt above, the author could have created variety by naming her two cousins and using the word children to refer to herself and to her cousins.