Coherence & Cohesion – Page 50
In Writing
Coherence:
• Refers to how paragraphs are connected in a larger text.
• All paragraphs are connected in a clear and reasonable way.
• Makes a reading easier to understand.
Cohesion:
• Refers to how sentences are connected in a paragraph or how clauses
are connected within a sentence.
• All sentences, clauses, and parts, are connected in a clear and
reasonable way.
• Essential for readers to understand the text.
Forest fires are undoubtedly a menace. They ruin valuable stands of
trees, destroy animal habitat, kill woodland creatures, pollute the air,
and endanger human life, homes, and communities. In the mid-1900s ,
all forest burns were considered undesirable, and firefighters responded
to all of these fires whether or not they were burning close to human
habitation. This approach, to forest fires was both expensive and risky.
However, more recently, forest managers began to see that wildfires did
have benefits. Foresters saw that forest fires were beneficial for trees,
soil, and animals.
(This is the introductory paragraph to the essay ‘The Beneficial Effects of
Forest Fires’ on page 50)
Forest fires are undoubtedly a menace. They ruin valuable stands of
trees, destroy animal habitat, kill woodland creatures, pollute the air,
and endanger human life, homes, and communities. In the mid-1900s ,
all forest burns were considered undesirable, and firefighters responded
to all of these fires whether or not they were burning close to human
habitation. This approach, to forest fires was both expensive and risky.
However, more recently, forest managers began to see that wildfires did
have benefits. Foresters saw that forest fires were beneficial for trees,
soil, and animals.
• All words related to the main topic of the paragraph
• They avoid repetition
Forest fires are undoubtedly a menace. They ruin valuable stands of
trees, destroy animal habitat, kill woodland creatures, pollute the air,
and endanger human life, homes, and communities. In the mid-1900s ,
all forest burns were considered undesirable, and firefighters responded
to all of these fires whether or not they were burning close to human
habitation. This approach, to forest fires was both expensive and risky.
However, more recently, forest managers began to see that wildfires did
have benefits. Foresters saw that forest fires were beneficial for trees,
soil, and animals.
• All words are pronouns (replaces nouns)
• They link two sentences together
• They link clauses together
Forest fires are undoubtedly a menace. They ruin valuable stands of
trees, destroy animal habitat, kill woodland creatures, pollute the air,
and endanger human life, homes, and communities. In the mid-1900s ,
all forest burns were considered undesirable, and firefighters responded
to all of these fires whether or not they were burning close to human
habitation. This approach, to forest fires was both expensive and risky.
However, more recently, forest managers began to see that wildfires did
have benefits. Foresters saw that forest fires were beneficial for trees,
soil, and animals.
• These are summary phrases
• These fires  all forest burns in the mid 1990’s
• This approach  100% response of firefighters to all forest fires
Forest fires are undoubtedly a menace. They ruin valuable stands of
trees, destroy animal habitat, kill woodland creatures, pollute the air,
and endanger human life, homes, and communities. In the mid-1900s ,
all forest burns were considered undesirable, and firefighters responded
to all of these fires whether or not they were burning close to human
habitation. This approach, to forest fires was both expensive and risky.
However, more recently, forest managers began to see that wildfires did
have benefits. Foresters saw that forest fires were beneficial for trees,
soil, and animals.
• This is a connecting word
• It shows contrast between the ideas in the beginning / end of the
paragraph
Coherence & Cohesion – Page 55
In Speaking - Called Speech Markers
Speech Markers (you should learn to listen for)
Begin a Lecture
Today we will
talk about …
List Points
Give Examples
First …
For example …
Second …
Such as …
Let’s discuss …
Third …
We will begin
by …
Let’s get
started …
Next …
Finally …
Another point …
Also …
To demonstrate
…
Change Topic
End a Lecture
Now let’s turn
to another
matter
(issue, problem)
…
To summarize
(In summary) …
However, we
must also
consider …
Here’s another
problem to
think about …
To conclude
(In conclusion)
…
We are almost
out of time for
today …
To wrap up …
To fiish off …
As well …
Speech Markers
to Build
Coherence in
the Lecture
INTRODUCTION
Speech Markers
to Build
Coherence in
the Lecture
BODY
Today we will
talk about …
First …

We will begin
by …
Let’s get
started …

Speech Markers
to Build
Coherence in
the Lecture
CONCLUSION
Speech Markers
to Build
Coherence by
showing
EXAMPLES
Speech Markers
to Build
Coherence by
signaling a
TOPIC CHANGE
To wrap up …
Such as …
Now let’s turn
to another
matter …
Another point … To summarize …

Third …
As well …

Let’s discuss …
Second …
Finally …
Also / In
addition …

Next …
Similarly …

To conclude …
To finish off …
To demonstrate
…

For example …
For instance …
We are out of
time for today …
However, we
must also
consider …

Here’s another
problem to
think about …
Now let’s look at
another
problem …
Cause / Effect Thesis Statements
General Examples
Cause / Effect - (Effects)
Studying for the Turkish university entrance exam affects
students in three negative ways; (1) psychologically, (2) physically
and (3) socially.
The negative effects of television on children fall into three
general categories: (1) poor cognitive development, (2) reduced
interpersonal skills, and (3) obesity.
Cause / Effect - (Causes)
Teenagers start to smoke for three wrong reasons; (1) rebelling
against society, (2) copying adult examples and (3) peer pressure.
The three main reasons of students obtaining low grades are
their (1) missing classes, (2) lack of organisation and (3) too much
socializing.
Forest Fires – Cause / Effect – Thesis Examples
There are three main causes of forest fires; lightning strikes, ground
fires, and people’s ignorance.
Forest fires are often responsible for the following three negative
effects; damage to nature, loss of property, and loss of life.
The positive effects of forest fires fall into three areas; control tree
disease, control insect pests, and improve soil quality.
Natural occurences like lightning strikes affects forested areas in three
negative ways; ruining stands of trees, destroying animal habitat, and
killing woodland creatures.
Although there are numerous negative effects of forest fires, there
are three areas in which forest fires are beneficial; cleaning the forest
floor, providing new habitat, and killing disease.
Use the details below to write your own Cause/Effect thesis statements
Cause(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
lightning strikes
•
surface fires
Urban population
increase
More people
looking for a
country retreat
More people
building homes
near forests
Changed forest
management
Forest fires
prevented to
protect homes
Dangerous build up
of forest fuels
Effect / (Cause )
forest fires
-’ve Effect(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ruin valuable
stands of trees
destroy animal
habitats
kill woodland
creatures
pollute the air
endanger human
life
harm homes
harm community
+’ve Effect(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
control tree disease
control insect pests
heat stimılates seed
growth
improves soil
increase tree
growth
allows diversity of
animal species
Essay Introduction
An Example
Sample Introduction
General fire:
When children are growing up the sight and smell of a fire brings excitement.
Sample Introduction
General fire:
When children are growing up the sight and smell of a fire brings excitement.
General feelings:
As they grow older fires arouse different feelings in the mind of the watcher.
Sample Introduction
General fire:
When children are growing up the sight and smell of a fire brings excitement.
General feelings:
As they grow older fires arouse different feelings in the mind of the watcher.
Specific feelings:
As adults we can consider fires to be a great tool or a great destructive force;
the fire can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
Sample Introduction
General fire:
When children are growing up the sight and smell of a fire brings excitement.
General feelings:
As they grow older fires arouse different feelings in the mind of the watcher.
Specific feelings:
As adults we can consider fires to be a great tool or a great destructive force;
the fire can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
Specific fires:
Fires in wooded areas, called “forest fires,” do not have to be our enemy; if
thought about correctly, they can be of great benefit to any forest.
Sample Introduction
General fire:
When children are growing up the sight and smell of a fire brings excitement.
General feelings:
As they grow older fires arouse different feelings in the mind of the watcher.
Specific feelings:
As adults we can consider fires to be a great tool or a great destructive force;
the fire can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
Specific fires:
Fires in wooded areas, called “forest fires,” do not have to be our enemy; if
thought about correctly, they can be of great benefit to any forest.
Thesis statement:
Although there are numerous negative effects of forest fires, there are three
areas in which forest fires are beneficial; cleaning the forest floor, providing
new habitat, and killing disease.
Sample Introduction
When children are growing up the sight and smell of a fire brings excitement.
As they grow older fires arouse different feelings in the mind of the watcher. As adults
we can consider fires to be a great tool or a great destructive force; the fire can be our
best friend or our worst enemy. Fires in wooded areas, called “forest fires,” do not
have to be our enemy; if thought about correctly, they can be of great benefit to any
forest. Although there are numerous negative effects of forest fires, there are three
areas in which forest fires are beneficial; cleaning the forest floor, providing new
habitat, and killing disease.
(111 words)