Unity and Coherence in Paragraphs

1. Unity and Coherence in Paragraphs Unity All of the sentences in the paragraph has to relate to the topic and develop the controlling idea.

2. Example: Topic sentence: Steps to prepare yourself for a successful interview. All sentences in the paragraph should talk about job interview perparation. Adding sentences about how to talk to your new boss one you are hired would destroy the paragraph’s unity.

3. Strategies for Coherence: 1. Arrange ideas in a logical order (sometimes in chronological order). Incorrect: There are several steps involved in baking a cake. After you sift the flour, add the sugar to it. First, sift the flour. Correct: There are several steps involved in baking a cake. First, sift the flour. Then add the sugar to it.

4. 2. Repeat key words, use appropriate pronouns, and use synonyms. • Example: • I saw a very interesting man at the supermarket yesterday. The supermarket (repetition of key word) was a busy place, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry, except for this customer (synonym). There he (appropriate pronoun) stood, with a line of people behind him, blocking the produce aisle, gazing at the eggplants.

5. Transition Expression • Use transition expression to link your ideas together smoothly. • Example: You should put the egg in the water first. Next, hear the water until it boils.

6. Activity: Write a paragraph with your partner about communication problems based on the outline we created last class. • Preliminary Outline • Communication Problems • A. Poor verbal skills • - lack vocabulary - poor pronunciation • B. Americans difficult to understand • - use incomplete sentences - use unclear expressions • - talk too fast • - use slang and idioms