COHESION AND COHERENCE.
COHESION AND COHERENCE.
On The Other Hand, While, Whereas | Cohesive Elements
Sentence connectors add variety and sophistication to your writing. Usually, to avoid unbroken continuity of thought in writing, some conjunctions and discourse markers can be useful. In written language, there are words like hence, therefore, however, nevertheless, but, or, in spite of and then, if rightly used, will connect sentences for a better transition or cohesion between paragraphs.
There are sentence connectors or link words or phrases used to emphasize a contrast at the beginning of a sentence. The commonest conjunctions used to emphasize contrast include: on the other hand, while, whereas, however, nevertheless, still, yet and in spite of.
On the other hand; while; whereas
These expressions are used to balance two contrasting ideas that do not contradict each other.
1. I love playing the piano, while / whereas my friend John prefers the guitar.
2. Television drama is good to watch. On the other hand, it can make people physically inactive.
However, nevertheless, still, yet, in spite of this, even so, of course, all the same
These connectors are used to show that the second point contradicts with the first.
1. The students at school want a new dinning hall. However, not every student agrees.
2. He is opulent, still, he leads a miserable life.
3. The chances of success were minimal; nevertheless, the doctors decided to perform the surgery.
4. Whereas Mary is a bright girl, her sister is quite the opposite.
5. In spite of the rain, we managed to reach the train station in time.
6. It rained cats and dogs, all the same, we had to go to the train station.
7. The trains was now already full, even so, an old lady asked if there was a free seat.
8. A tropical climate is, of course, very humid, so we sweated all the time.
The difference between coherence and cohesion in writing
These expressions are used in a three-part structure.
1) The writer mentions ideas that point in a certain direction.
2) He or she then introduces a contradictory fact that points the other way.
3) The writer then dismisses the contradictory fact and returns to the original direction of the argument.
Concession: it is true; of course; certainly; if; may
Counter-argument: however; even so; but; nevertheless; nonetheless; all the same; still
Examples:
People who believe in basic human rights cannot agree with colonialism. It is true that the British did some good in their colonies. Even so, colonialism is basically evil.
Here the first statement expresses a certain idea. The second statement contradicts it. The third statement dismisses the second statement and agrees with the first statement.
His relationships with women were always problematic. Of course, several women loved him, and he was married twice. All the same, the women in his life were invariably unhappy.
Few people could understand Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Of course, almost everybody had heard of the word ‘relativity’, but hardly anybody could understand what it actually meant.
It was a great party. The guests, if a little surprised by the host’s behavior, were nonetheless impressed by the warm welcome they received.
Using discourse to enhance cohesion.
To show a good understanding of language usage, test takers can use discourse markers. These are words and expressions that show connection between what has already been said and what is going to be said, adding sophistication and variety to one’s writing. There are very many discourse markers in English. In this lesson we will learn about discourse markers used to make counter arguments.
In writing, the following discourse markers are common:
1. firstly
2. in addition
3. moreover
4. on the other hand
5. secondly
6. in conclusion
7. on the one hand
8. to begin with
9. thirdly
10.in sum
Examples:
1- Firstly, it is believed, as stated in the reading, that dinosaurs are a myth. In addition, the author states that there is little evidence presented by science. Moreover, if they had lived as believed, they would not have been extinct by now.
2- Secondly, the person arguing about their existence lacks professional archeological knowledge. On the one hand, there is no proof of his prior research on the subject. On the other hand, there is no record of him having attended the university he claims.
3- In sum/ in conclusion, the arguers claim that dinosaurs lived lacks water.
We also use discourse markers to order or sequence what we say. Some of the common words and phrases which we use for this are:
1- And
2- in general
3- second
4- to sum up
5- and then
6- in the end
7- secondly
8- what’s more
9- first (of all)
11. last of all
12.so
13. well
14 firstly
15. next
16. lastly
17. for a start
18. on top of that
19 third(ly)