One important cohesive device is the topic sentence. This is the sentence which introduces the subject of the text and usually occurs at the beginning of the text.

The continuity and organisation of the information is also an important factor in constructing a coherent text.

In addition, there are many words called linking words, which act as links between clauses and sentences in a text.

Examples of Linking Devices

Conjunctions

and, but, or, so, nor, for, yet, also, too

Other sentence connectors

Ordering:
- firstly, secondly, next, in addition, furthermore, finally, in conclusion
Contrasting:
- however, on the other hand, in contrast, in comparison, nevertheless
Drawing conclusions:
- as a result, thus, therefore, consequently, in conclusion

Personal pronouns

I, he, she, it, we, you, they, them, us, etc.

Pointers

this, that, these, those

Clause connectors

(These connect clauses to form a sentence. They can come at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.)

Comparing and contrasting:
- while, whereas, although, though, even though, besides
Time:
- after, before, when, until
Cause:
- since, because, so that

Clause Connectors

Cause and Effect

Because of
Due to As
Owing to
Since
Consequently
Thus (formal)
As a consequence
As a result
Therefore

Contrast

In contrast to
In comparison
However
On the contrary
Even though
Compared with/to
While
Nevertheless
On the other hand
But
Whereas
Despite

Similarity

Similarly
Both
Just as
The same is true for
In the same way
The same can be said for

Purpose

To
So as to
In order to
For the purpose of
So that

Addition and Amplification

And
As well as
Moreover
In addition
Also
Furthermore
Indeed
In fact
Even

Giving Examples

For example
For instance
Such as
e.g.
like

Clarification

That is to say
And by this I mean
This shows
This means
In other words
This indicates that

Reference and Introducing

I would like to start by( -ing)
What I want to discuss is
I am going to discuss/write about…
My objectives are

Quoting

N.N. mentions that..
N.N. claims that..
According to N.N. ..
What N.N. seems to think is ..

Turning to a New Topic

Now I would like to turn to
The next point I would like to deal with is..
The next aspect I would like to present is ..
Another point to consider is ..

Returning to a Point

As I mentioned earlier..
To return to what I wrote earlier ..
As I said / wrote in the introduction ..

Drawing Conclusions

It is quite clear that ..
What this shows is ..
As you can see ..
It is evident that

Concluding

So, to sum up ..
I would like to conclude by (-ing)
In conclusion ..
Finally Finally, I could say that ..
Eventually, I would say that ..

Attitude and Intention

I believe that ..
I think ..
What I am trying to say ..
In my opinion ..
As far as I am concerned ..
It seems to me that ..
I feel ..
The point I am trying to make ..
As I see it ..
What I feel is ..

Example of Text Cohesion

Compare these two texts and identify the linking devices in the second text.

Text 1

Bobby was a Skye Terrier. Bobby roamed the streets of Edinburgh. Bobby met John Grey in the 1850s. Grey worked as a night watchman in the Edinburgh police. Bobby kept John Grey company. The winters in Edinburgh can be very cold. Grey fell sick with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was a fatal disease back in the 1800s. On 15 February 1858, Grey died.

Bobby followed John Grey to his grave at Greyfriars Kirkyard in the old part of Edinburgh. Bobby did not leave the grave except for when he was hungry. Bobby did not leave the grave except for when he was very cold.
People started to notice the dog in the churchyard. People started worrying about Bobby. The City of Edinburgh had decided that ownerless dogs should be shot. The city council bought a licence for Bobby. Bobby could keep on watching his master’s grave. Bobby survived his master by 14 years. He died in 1872. He was buried just inside the gate of the churchyard. He could not be buried together with his master. The church ground is sacred.

Text 2

Bobby was a Skye Terrier roaming the streets of Edinburgh in the 1850s until he met John Grey. Grey worked as a night watchman in the Edinburgh police and Bobby kept him company. The winters in Edinburgh can be very cold and one day Grey fell sick with tuberculosis. This was a fatal disease back in the 1800s and on 15 February 1858, Grey died.

Bobby followed him to his grave at Greyfriars Kirkyard in the old part of Edinburgh and he did not leave the grave except for when he was hungry or very cold.
People started to notice the dog in the churchyard and they started worrying about Bobby because the City of Edinburgh had decided that ownerless dogs should be shot. However, the city council bought him a licence and he could keep on watching his master’s grave. Bobby survived his master by 14 years, and when he died in 1872 he was buried just inside the gate of the churchyard. He could not be buried together with his master, since church ground is sacred.

Tasks and Activities

Try the following tasks:

Text Cohesion - Linking Devices -Drag and Drop
Text Cohesion, Linking Words - Drag and Drop

Siden har flyttet, men du kan finne den her: