Coherence and Cohesion

in Writing
READING AND THINKING STRATEGIES
ACROSS TEXT TYPES
Objectives
 At the end of the lesson, students will be able
to demonstrate an understanding of
coherence and cohesion in a well-written
text.
Activity
 Do you find it difficult to stay on one topic
when writing a composition?
 Are the texts you write filled with

disorganized ideas?
 Would you like to know how to improve your

reader’s experience when trying to

understand your essays?
 Coherence and cohesion make your
text easier for your readers to follow and
understand. 
 Cohesion is the connection of ideas to the

central concept of a text while coherence is

the relationship of ideas between sentences.
 Both should be present in your text because

having one without the other will still create

confusion for readers.
Cohesion without Coherence
 A text with cohesion has a central concept or “glue” that
holds all the different ideas together. Although without
coherence, there is no apparent logic to the way these
ideas are presented. The writer appears to move on to
another related idea without a proper transition from the
previous idea.
 Example:
 Cubism is an avant-garde art movement that started in

the early 20th century in Europe. A famous Filipino

cubist painter is Vicente Manansala. He is a National
Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts. Did you know that
visual arts have different forms including architecture,
video, and textile?
Coherence without Cohesion 
A text with coherence has ideas that are logically
sequenced in a way that is easy to follow for the reader.
Although without cohesion, no central concept links all
these ideas together. The main point of the text remains
unclear for readers.
 Example:
 My favorite painting is “The Weeping Woman” by Pablo

Picasso, which is an intriguing painting that symbolizes

suffering. As a result, I love bright primary colors, so I
wear a lot of shocking yellows, blues, and reds. Also, as
an outgoing person, I enjoy performing for large crowds.
In the end, people should not judge an artist’s talent
based on one standard.
Cohesion and Coherence
 A text with both cohesion and coherence has a central
concept linking all the ideas in the text, and these ideas
are presented in a logical manner. The main point is
clear, and the text is easy to follow and understand.
 Example:
 International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of
March of every year. It began as a Socialist political
event in several Western countries. Then, other
countries also started celebrating the holiday just as a
way to express their love for women. Currently, the
United Nations observes the holiday as a way to bring to
light women’s issues around the world.
 Application
 Combine the sentences in each set into two clear and
concise sentences, eliminating any needless repetition.
As you do so, add a transitional word or phrase (in italics
at the head of each set) to the beginning of the second
sentence to show how it relates to the first.


1. Instead
Retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of work.
It is widely viewed as a sort of punishment.
It is a punishment for growing old.
2. Therefore
In recent years viruses have been shown to cause cancer in chickens.
Viruses have also been shown to cause cancer in mice, cats, and even in some
primates.
Viruses might cause cancer in humans.
This is a reasonable hypothesis.
3. In fact
We do not seek solitude.
If we find ourselves alone for once, we flick a switch.
We invite the whole world in.
The world comes in through the television screen.
4. On the contrary
We were not irresponsible.
Each of us should do something.
This thing would be of genuine usefulness to the world.
We were trained to think that.
5. However
Little girls, of course, don't take toy guns out of their hip pockets.
They do not say "Pow, pow" to all their neighbors and friends.
The average well-adjusted little boy does this.
If we gave little girls the six-shooters, we would soon have double the pretend
body count.
 Ans
 Retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of
work. Instead, it is widely viewed as a sort of
punishment for growing old.
(Carll Tucker)
 In recent years viruses have been shown to cause

cancer not only in chickens but also in mice, cats,

and even in some primates. Therefore, it is a
reasonable hypothesis that viruses might cause
cancer in humans.
 We do not seek solitude. In fact, if we find ourselves

alone for once, we flick a switch and invite the whole

world in through the television screen.
(Eugene Raskin, "Walls and Barriers")
 We were not irresponsible. On the contrary, we were
trained to think that each of us should do something
that would be of genuine usefulness to the world.
(Lillian Smith, Killers of the Dream)
 Little girls, of course, don't take toy guns out of their
hip pockets and say "Pow, pow" to all their neighbors
and friends like average well-adjusted little
boys. However, if we gave little girls the six-shooters,
we would soon have double the pretend body count.
(Anne Roiphe, "Confessions of a Female Chauvinist
Sow")
Remember the following when trying to evaluate if
your text has cohesion and coherence:

A text with cohesion but no coherence

is difficult to follow.
 A text with coherence but no cohesion

has no definite point.

 A text with both cohesion and

coherence is logically sequenced and

stays on topic.