WRITING A COHESIVE

PARAGRAPH
 PARAGRAPHS

A paragraph is a series of sentences

that are organized and are all related to a
single topic.
 Basic Paragraph Structure:

Basic paragraph structure – two or more

sentences that talk about a main idea
(or a claim) and supporting evidences.
 Basic Paragraph Structure:

• Topic
• Claim (Main idea)
• Evidences
Sample Paragraph:
I am a freshman at Southwestern University
PHINMA. I feel a little bit overwhelmed but I am
more excited! I look forward to the new ideas and
topics that my teachers will discuss. I like that
there are many events in the school calendar. I am
also fascinated about the many different kinds of
students I see around. Indeed, the university has a
lot to offer for a freshman like me.
 Topic University

Claim (Main idea)

exciting
new topics
Evidences more activities
different people
 Our university is under the PHINMA Education
network. The main focus of PHINMA is its graduates’
immediate employability. It aims to achieve this by
streamlining the schools' courses to focus on the demands
of industries. Its academics focus on bridging deficiencies
in math and English to make sure that students have the
most essential skills to become competitive in the market.
Lessons also provide rigorous training so students are
prepared to pass their respective programs' board
examinations.The company realigned the school's
operational and administrative processes to ensure
efficiency, so that resources are focused on the things that
matter-quality teacher, vital facilities, and affordable
tuition fees.
 Topic PHINMA
Education
Claim (Main idea) Focus on immediate
employability

Evidences Streamlined courses

Essential skills
Board exams
 3 Things Make a Good Paragraph:

1.Unity
2.Coherence
3.Elaboration

“What do all of these mean?”

#1: UNITY
• When a paragraph has unity, all the
sentences relate directly to the main idea.
• If there is a sentence off topic at all, this
begins to create confusion for your reader.
 The disappearance of Amealia Earhart remains a
mystery. Earhart, who was the first woman pilot to fly
across the Atlantic Ocean, crashed into the Pacific Ocean
while attempting to fly around the world. She was born in
Atchison, Kansas, in 1897. Some researchers believe that
she survived the crash into the Pacific, because radio
distress calls were received. An intensive search for the
source of the signals was made. Searchers were not able
to find her, however. Finally, the distress signals ceased. In
spite of continued searches by airplane and ship, no clue
about what became of Amelia Earhart has yet been found.
 #2:COHERENCE
• A coherent paragraph is one in which all of
the sentences logically fit together;
there is a logical flow of ideas
“How can we create coherence?”

There are
2 ways!
1.Order details in a way that
makes sense.
2. Show a connection by
using transitional words.
Organizing your details in a specific order is one way to
make your paragraph clear and coherent.

Chronological Presents details in the

Order order they occur
Spatial Order Presents details according
to location
Order of Details are least important
Importance to most or the reverse
Logical Order Group related details
together
 “We want to see a connection!”

Transitional words help the

reader see a relationship after,
between ideas. finally, soon,
later,
first,
next, before
then
across, beyond, under, around
They tie things
inside, down, because, therefore, together!
consequently
 CONNECTIVES

• Basic connectives are ABC:

A- “And”
B- “or”
C- “But”
 A- “And”

• Addition (also, again, further, moreover, besides, above all...)

• Summation (in conclusion, to sum up briefly, overall, thus...)
• Enumeration (first..., furthermore, finally, next, then...)
 B- “Or”

• Reformulation (to express something in another

way – rather, better, in other words, in that case...)
• Replacement (to express an alternative to what
has preceded – again, alternatively, on the other
hand...)
 C- “But”

• Contrast to what has preceded (instead, then, on the

contrary, in comparison...)
• Concession indicates the unexpected nature of what
is being said in view of what was said before (however,
nevertheless, only, still, although, at any rate, all the
same, even though...)
#3:ELABORATION
Elaboration means: to add more detail, so
your reader can get a clear picture of what
you mean!
 “Ways to elaborate”
• Give a detailed Definition of the subject or detail.
• Provide examples that show your point.
• Use Comparison: Similes and/or Metaphors.
• Use Contrast to show how your idea is different from
something else.
• Include facts to support your main idea.
• Use Sensory Details that appeals to one or more of
the 5 senses.
• Use Cause & Effect to explain how 1 thing causes
another.