Learning English Yourself: Coherence in Writing a Paragraph (Part 1)

Hi! it was quite a long time since my last post

. After doing this and that, finally I have the opportunity to post in this blog.

Well, as I mentioned in the previous post (here), coherence in a paragraph is an essential factor to be considered. Because, coherent paragraph will be easier to understand than the paragraph without any coherent elements. Coherence can be achieved in two ways. The first way is to use transition signal to show how one idea is related to other. The second way to achieve coherence is by arranging the sentence in a paragraph in logical order. In this post I'll talk about the first way; using transition signal.

So, what is Transition Signal?

Roughly speaking, transition signal is what we can call as the traffic sign of our paragraph that tell the reader when to go forward, turn, slow down and stop. In other word, transition signal tell them when you are giving similarity to the idea, an opposite idea, an example, a result, or a conclusion. Therefore, transition signal are be able to guide your reader to follow your ideas.

Types of Transition Signals

Transition signal can be divided into four basic groups according to the function, they are namely: sentence connectors, coordinators (coordinating conjunctions), subordinators (subordinating conjunctions), and prepositions and determiners.

1. Sentence Connectors

(example: however, therefore, furthermore, for example, on the other hand, in addition, still, otherwise)

Sentence connectors join one independent clause (subject + verb + complement) with another to form compound sentence, which is punctuated with a semicolon (;) and a comma (,). Notice below:

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE; SENTENCE CONNECTORS, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Example:

I like to browse the internet; therefore, I always do that everyday.
You don't like browsing the internet; however, I do that everyday.

Sentence connectors not only come in between the independent clause, but they also may come at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of simple sentence. In this case, they are punctuated by using commas. Notice the example:

At the beginning:
Therefore, I always do that everyday
On the other hand, you don't like browsing the internet

In the middle:
therefore, always do that everyday
Browsing the internet, on the other hand, are disliked by you.

At the end:
I always do that everyday, therefore.
You don't like browsing the internet, on the other hand.

2. Coordinators

(Example: and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so)

Coordinators join two independent clause to form compound sentence. Comma is used to punctuate the sentence after the first clause. Notice below:

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE, COORDINATOR INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

example:

I like browsing the internet, but you hate it.
You hate browsing the internet, so you never do that.

3. Subordinators

(Example: Because, after, since, as, although, if, when)

In a writing, subordinators introduce a dependent clause (subordinator + subject + verb + complement) which is joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. There are two positions for the dependent clause. Notice below:

1. If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, use a comma after it.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Example:

Although I like browsing the internet a lot, you still hate it.
Because you hate browsing the internet, you never do that.

2. If the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, do not use a comma.

Example:

I love browsing the internet although you never like it
You never browse the internet because you hate it.

4. Prepositions and Determiners

Because of, due to, in spite of, (prepositions)
Another, additional, final (determiners)

This groups of transition signals has no special punctuation rules in their application. Notice below:

I love browsing the internet very much because it is very interesting.
Another reason I love browsing the internet is the advantages.

Well done! That was the explanation about achieving coherence using transition signal. Next time I'll continue this discussion about achieving coherence using logical order. Remember, practice makes perfect!