Text Cohesion

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.

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

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.