Unit One:

The Researched Essay

Lecture Three:
Part 3 & 4

Unity & Coherence within a

Paragraph

A paragraph has unity when:

1)

all sentences support the topic sentence, the main idea of the
paragraph.

2)

the topic sentence focuses on one aspect of the topic.

3)

the supporting details of the paragraph must support the topic

sentence.

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within a Paragraph

A paragraph has unity when:

1)

A paragraph discusses one and only one main idea from beginning
to end.

- a new paragraph for a new main idea

2)

Every supporting sentence must directly explain or prove the main

idea.
- Dont include irrelevant sentences.

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within a Paragraph

3.

How to achieve Paragraph Unity?

must have a single generalization as the focus of

attention (topic sentence).

control the content of every other sentence in the

paragraph's body:
it

contains more specific information than the topic sentence.

it

maintains the same focus of attention as he topic sentence.

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within a Paragraph

Activity 1
This paragraph contains sentences that do not support the topic and
controlling idea expressed in the topic sentence. Identify the sentences
Septimus Harding was my favorite character in the novel Barchester
Towers by Anthony Trollope. This novel is part of the series called the
Chronicles of Barsetshire. Some of the qualities I valued most in him were
his devotion to his daughter and his generosity of spirit. Even though he
believed that his daughter was going to marry a man that Harding didnt
admire, Harding respected his daughters choice. Eleanor Bold was a very
strong willed woman. Also, he gave up a coveted position to another job
because the man had twelve children and needed the money. Barchester
Towers, published in 1857, is about the prominent citizens in a small city
in England. Unfortunately, many other characters in the novel felt they
could take advantage of Hardings gentle nature.
Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within a Paragraph

Activity 1
Confused Paragraph
Septimus Harding was my favorite character in the novel Barchester
Towers by Anthony Trollope. This novel is part of the series called the
Chronicles of Barsetshire. Some of the qualities I valued most in him were
his devotion to his daughter and his generosity of spirit. Even though he
believed that his daughter was going to marry a man that Harding didnt
admire, Harding respected his daughters choice. Eleanor Bold was a very
strong willed woman. Also, he gave up a coveted position to another job
because the man had twelve children and needed the money. Barchester
Towers, published in 1857, is about the prominent citizens in a small city
in England. Unfortunately, many other characters in the novel felt they
could take advantage of Hardings gentle nature.
Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within a Paragraph

Activity 1
Unity Paragraph
Septimus Harding was my favorite character in the novel Barchester
Towers by Anthony Trollope. Some of the qualities I valued most in him
were his devotion to his daughter and his generosity of spirit. Even though
he believed that his daughter was going to marry a man that Harding didnt
admire, Harding respected his daughters choice. Also, he gave up a
coveted position to another job because the man had twelve children and
needed the money. Unfortunately, many other characters in the novel felt
they could take advantage of Hardings gentle nature.

Exercise: 1 Page 15-16

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within an Essay

An essay has unity when:

1)

all the body paragraphs contain a topic sentence and

supporting sentences that reinforce the thesis of the essay.

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Unity within an Essay

Activity

Topic sentences 1 and 2 support the thesis statement.

Topic sentence 3 does not support the thesis statement.

Exercise 2 Page 17.
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Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Coherence

Coherence means all the ideas fit together in a logical flow.

The movement from one sentence to the next must be

logical and smooth.

There is no sudden jumps

Coherence aids readers

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

10

How to achieve Coherence?

Coherence
1.

using transitions.

2. ordering
3.

can be achieved by:

ideas

using pronoun reference

4. using

parallel forms

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

11

Transitions

Transitions show how one idea relates to another.

She likes to read novels. However, she does not enjoy biographies.

They are separated from the rest of the sentence by

a comma.

She likes to read novels. However, she does not enjoy biographies.

She likes to read novels. She does not enjoy biographies, however.

They can be used with a semicolon and a comma

to form a compound sentence.

She likes to read novels; However, she does not enjoy biographies.

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

12

Transitions

Below is a list of some transitions and their use.

Example: for instance, to demonstrate, for example, in some
cases.
Addition: furthermore, moreover, in addition.
Contrast: however, nevertheless, even though, although,
whereas, in contrast, unlike, on the contrary, nonetheless.
Similarities: similarly, likewise.
Cause and effect. therefore, thus, as a result, consequently
Emphasis: in fact, indeed, obviously.
Conclusion: in conclusion, in summary.

Exercise 3, 4 Page 18-19

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

13

Ordering Ideas

Ordering ideas means to arrange ideas in a logical

order.

There are two types of ordering ideas:

A Chronological order: in the beginning, first, second, next,

then, finally.

Order of importance: the most/least important thing, the next

priority, the third/ final priority/goal

Exercise 5 Page 20
Lecture One: The Researched Essay

14

Pronoun Reference

A pronoun can replace a noun.

Pronouns can replace whole phrase or ideas:

What is revision and why is it necessary.

I left my expensive dictionary in the library. I do not know how I

did that.

Pronouns must agree in number and gender with the

noun they refer to:

I have a younger brother. He is a lawyer.

I have a younger brother. She is a lawyer.

[Incorrect]

Exercise 6 Page 21
Lecture One: The Researched Essay

15

Parallel Forms

Parallel form means that all the items in a list have

the same grammatical form.

I like playing tennis, swimming, and dancing.

I like playing tennis, swimming, and to dance.

[Incorrect]

Exercise 7 Page 22

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

16

Part IV: Language &

Grammar
Clauses.
Run-ons
Tense

and sentence fragments

consistency

Lecture One: The Researched Essay

17

Clauses

A clause must have a subject and a verb.

There are two types of clauses:

A main clause: contains a complete idea and can stand alone as a

sentence.
EX.: I read my speech at graduation.

A Dependent clause: does not contains a complete idea

and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It often starts with a
conjunction.

EX.: When I read my speech at graduation, all my friends were

amazed.
All my friends were amazed when I read my speech at
graduation,.

Exercise 1 Page 23
Lecture One: The Researched Essay

18

Run-on Sentences

A run-on sentence is incorrect. It occurs when two

main clauses come together with no connector or
incorrect punctuation between them.

I came from Egypt I was 26 years old. [Incorrect]

A run-on sentence can also occur when two main

clauses are separated by a comma.

I came from Egypt, I was 26 years old. [Incorrect]

19
Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Run-on Sentences

A run-on sentence can be corrected in several ways:

Change one of the main clauses to a dependant clause

using a conjunction
I came from Egypt when I was 26 years old.

correct the punctuation mark between the main clauses

by adding a period or semicolon.
I came from Egypt. I was 26 years old.
I came from Egypt; I was 26 years old.

Exercises 2,3&4 Page 24-26

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Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is an error because it cannot

stand by itself.

It does not have a complete thought.

EX. When I first started college. [Incorrect]

It can be corrected by adding a main clause.

When I first started college, I was excited about facing new
challenges.

Exercise 5 Page 27
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Lecture One: The Researched Essay

Verb Tense Consistency

Be

consistent in the use of verbs.

Use

simple present to describe facts and habits.

Tourists visit Giza Pyramids and enjoy their history and beauty
Use

the simple past to tell a story.

On our trip to Cairo, we visited the Pyramids and toured the

ancient ruins of Egyptian civilization.

Exercise 6 Page 28
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Lecture One: The Researched Essay