Coherence and cohesion: Connect your ideas
Make the logic clear before adding connectors, references, and paragraph transitions.
Work through each lesson and mark the module complete when you finish practising.
Choose a connector for its function
First decide how the ideas relate. Use because for a reason, therefore or as a result for a consequence, however for a contrast, and for example for an illustration. Adding more connectors does not automatically improve coherence.
“The office closes at five. However, many residents finish work at six” contrasts the schedule with residents' needs. “The office closes before they finish work; therefore, they cannot visit on weekdays” states a consequence. Choose the relationship you actually mean.
Control punctuation and references
Do not join complete sentences with a comma alone. Write “The bus was delayed, so I missed the appointment” or “The bus was delayed. As a result, I missed the appointment.”
Use pronouns and reference phrases when the meaning is clear: “This change would help working parents.” Make sure this change refers to a specific proposal. Give each paragraph a main function and arrange sentences so that an explanation follows its claim.
Review: read only the first sentence of each paragraph. Can the reader follow your argument? Then check whether examples and closing sentences support that argument.
Mini-test
Check your understanding
Which sentence correctly expresses a consequence?
Put this lesson into practice
Apply what you learned in a timed Writing exercise, then review one specific area to improve.