Cohesion between Paragraphs

How do we use paragraphs?

What does cohesion mean?

How can we create cohesion between paragraphs?

Paragraphs - help organise writing.

They:• begin on a new line• are usually more than one sentence• are about one topic or idea

What do you remember about paragraphs?

When a text has cohesion, it flows smoothly from paragraph to paragraph. It is not just a list of random ideas.

CohesionA cohesive text:• flows smoothly• makes links between paragraphs• makes clear how paragraphs fit together

Cohesive devices are like road signs. They keep the text running smoothly, making it clear which direction to follow

and how different parts are linked.

Adverbials make links between paragraphs. They create cohesion.

Adverbials can be

a word,

a phrase,

or a clause,

firstly

in the hotel

after Percy lost his temper

…answering the questions,

When?

Where?

In what order?

Adverbials - modify a verb or a clause

Cohesion – Adverbials of place

Where?

You might use these adverbials of place to write

about the locations of Percy’s adventures.

Each paragraph could be about a different place with

the adverbials linking the paragraphs smoothly.

At the camp

On the bus

In the sea

Up the Gateway Arch

Inside the Garden Gnome Emporium

Cohesion – Adverbials of place

Outside in the diner, Ares was waiting for us. He gave me a wicked grin as we approached him. I could tell that he already knew about the trap.

In the truck, the smell hit us. It was like the world’s biggest pan of kitty litter. It was dark until I uncapped Riptide.

Can you spot the linking adverbials of place?

ANSWERS

The paragraphs are both about the same evening. The adverbials link the paragraphs smoothly, indicating a change in place.The reader is guided from one paragraph to the next using place adverbials.

In what order?

You might use these adverbialsto sequence events or

instructions or to order reasons in an argument.

Each paragraph could contain a different step or reason and the

adverbials can link the paragraphs smoothly.

Firstly

Secondly

Thirdly

Lastly

Cohesion – Adverbials of number

Cohesion – Adverbials of number

Firstly, Percy was attacked by a Fury pretending to be a teacher at Yancy Academy. Calling herself Mrs Dodds, she cornered him on a school trip.

Secondly, Percy encountered the Minotaur as he travelled to camp. It attacked as they drove to Camp Half-Blood.

Lastly, Percy met Medusa who was hiding her snakes under a veil and working in a Garden Gnome Emporium. She was selling her victims as garden statues.

Can you spot the linking adverbials of number?

ANSWERSThe paragraphs are about Percy’s monster encounters.The adverbials link the paragraphs smoothly, indicating the order of events.The reader is guided from one paragraph to the next using number adverbials.

When?

You might use these adverbials to sequence

events in a story or a report. Each new paragraphintroduces a different

moment, with the adverbialsallowing the reader to follow

the passing time more easily.

When Poseidon first met his mother

Before long

Many years ago

Before anyone could do anything

Meanwhile

Cohesion – Adverbials of time

Every August, the councillors picked out the most important event of the summer, and they painted it on that year’s beads. The pine tree represented Thalia’s sacrifice.

Two summer’s ago, Annabeth’s father had sent her his college ring. It reminded him how much Athena had helped him with his studies.

This year, Percy wondered what would be added to Annabeth’s necklace. Would he even survive long enough to find out?

ANSWERS

Cohesion – Adverbials of time Can you spot the linking adverbials of time?

The paragraphs relay events in a story.The adverbials link the paragraphs smoothly, indicating passing of time.The reader is guided from one paragraph to the next using time adverbials.

• Paragraphs organise the text into boxes of information.

• The first sentence of a paragraph indicates what it will be about, especially in non-fiction; it is sometimes called the topic sentence. This guides the reader.

• Adverbials often appear in a topic sentence, creating cohesion.

Firstly, Percy was attacked by a Fury pretending to be a teacher at Yancy Academy. Calling herself Mrs Dodds, she cornered him on a school trip.

Secondly, Percy encountered the Minotaur as he travelled to camp. It attacked as they drove to Camp Half-Blood. It caused their car to crash and then they had to continue by foot.

Lastly, Percy met Medusa who was hiding her snakes under a veil and working in a Garden Gnome Emporium. She was selling her victims as garden statues and hoping to add more to her collection.

The topic sentence introduces the paragraph. The adverbials of time, create cohesion.

Cohesion – Topic Sentences

Cohesion within Paragraphs

What does cohesion mean?

What is cohesive writing?

What type of language helps us write cohesively?

CohesionA cohesive text:• flows smoothly• makes links between ideas• makes clear how meanings fit together

Cohesive devices are like road signs. They keep the text running smoothly, making it clear which direction to follow

and how different parts are linked.

Percy was surprised when he was now viewed as a victim. He had caused a commotion to get away from a kidnapper. It made him feel amused. Percy was surprised when he was now viewed as a victim. He had caused a commotion to get away from a kidnapper. It made him feel amused.

Cohesive devices – PronounsPronouns can be used as cohesive devices.

They make links to what has already been said.

Which pronouns refer back to Percy?

Pronouns also help avoid repetition, so the words flow more smoothly.

Percy was surprised when Percy was now viewed as a victim. Percy had caused a commotion to get away from a kidnapper. It made Percy feel amused.

A pronoun can replace a noun or

noun phrase.

This repetition is distracting and stops the words

flowing smoothly.

Cohesive devices – Pronouns

Percy was asked to repeat his story again for the reporters

Which pronouns could replace the nouns and noun phrases?A pronoun can

replace a noun or noun phrase.

Percy was fed the whole story by the reporters.

ANSWERSPercy wondered if people would believe the story was Percy’s.

He

it them

hisHe

His chair was covered rips and patches but it was this chair where Chiron was most comfortable. He rested his arms on those patches and looked up when he heard the knock.

His chair was covered rips and patches but it was this chair where Chiron was most comfortable. He rested his arms on those patches and looked up when he heard the knock.

Determiners can be used as cohesive devices.

They make links to what has already been said.

Can you spot the determiners?

Cohesive devices – Determiners

Each determiner makes links to other parts of the text.

A determinerspecifies a noun

(known or unknown)

the chair belonging to Chiron this particular chair

the knock which is important to what comes nextthe specific patches mentioned previously

the arms belonging to Chiron

Percy would be happy to pass exam.

Choose a determiner to show that Percy would be happy to pass any exam.

Cohesive devices – DeterminersA determiner

specifies a noun (known or unknown)

a the an

______ bolt was instantly recognisable.

Choose a determiner to show that it was Zeus’ bolt.

My Your His

Percy took in ______ detail.

Choose a determiner to show that Percy looked carefully at Olympus.

some every any

an

His

every

Cohesive devices – Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions can be used as cohesive devices.

They join clauses and explain how they are joined.

They can give meaning to do with…

Timewhenwhilesince

asbefore

Conditionif

unlesseven if

Causebecause

soas

since

Contrastalthoughthough

whereaswhile

Placewhere

wherever

Subordinating conjunctions join

clauses

Percy’s heart was racing because Poseidon was there. Although Zeus was king of the gods, Poseidon was Percy’s father. He could not remember when he had last seen him.

Percy’s heart was racing because Poseidon was there. Although Zeus was king of the gods, Poseidon was Percy’s father. He could not remember when he had last seen him.

Cohesive devices – Subordinating ConjunctionsTimewhenwhilesince

asbefore

Conditionif

unlesseven if

Causebecause

soas

since

Contrastalthoughthough

whereaswhile

Placewhere

wherever

Subordinating conjunctions join

clauses

With conjunctions, clauses are linked so a text has more cohesion.Can you spot the conjunctions?

Cohesive devices – Subordinating ConjunctionsTimewhenwhilesince

asbefore

Conditionif

unlesseven if

Causebecause

soas

since

Contrastalthoughthough

whereaswhile

Placewhere

wherever

Subordinating conjunctions join

clauses

Percy waited ______ he kept his head down.

Which conjunction would join these clauses best?

when while before

Zeus sat __________ his throne was placed. if where before

_______ he was not welcomed, Percy felt sad. because although If

ANSWERS

while

where

Because

Cohesive devices – AdverbsAdverbs explain how words relate to each other.

They can give meaning to the links, to do with…

Time/Orderthensoon

yesterdaynowfirst next

finally

Contrastshowever

meanwhilenevertheless

Lists/Addingfirstly

secondlyfurthermore

also finally

Causestherefore

consequentlyas a result

Adverbs link sentences – they do not join them.

Mannerfast

surprisinglyluckily

eventually

Eventually, Percy looked at Poseidon. There was no sign of approval, however. Now, he saw that he was not like a human father. Therefore, Percy did not feel so bad about his absence. First, Percy told Zeus his story. Meanwhile, the bolt was hidden in his bag.

Eventually, Percy looked at Poseidon. There was no sign of approval, however. Now, he saw that he was not like a human father. Therefore, Percy did not feel so bad about his absence. First, Percy told Zeus his story. Meanwhile, the bolt was hidden in his bag.

Cohesive devices – AdverbsTime/Order

thensoon

yesterdaynowfirst next

finally

Contrastshowever

meanwhilenevertheless

Lists/Addingfirstly

secondlyfurthermore

also finally

Causestherefore

consequentlyas a result

Adverbs link sentences – they do not join them.

Can you spot the linking adverbs?

Mannerfast

surprisinglyluckily

eventuallyANSWERS

Challenge:

Choose a paragraph of writing from any of the pieces you have done so far.

Using what you now know about cohesion, rewrite it, so that it flows, and sounds more sophisticated.

Explore more Hamilton Trust Learning Materials at https://wrht.org.uk/hamilton/ .