An Introduction to Cohesion in Academic Writing

Summary

In this academic writing tutorial, John Connor Oskie from the National University of Science and Technology's Academic Writing Center discusses the concept of cohesion in writing. He explains cohesion as the use of vocabulary and grammatical structures to connect ideas within a text, emphasizing its importance for clarity. Oskie outlines various cohesive devices, including pronouns, lexical signposts, keyword repetition, anaphoric nouns, and reviewing work. He illustrates how these devices help writers establish clear connections between sentences and paragraphs, enhancing the reader's understanding of academic texts.

Takeaways

• 📚 Cohesion in academic writing is crucial for clarity and understanding, ensuring that ideas within a text are logically connected.
• 🔗 Cohesive devices are words and strategies that help establish meaningful connections between ideas, aiding the reader in following the writer's argument.
• 📝 Pronouns are cohesive devices that help avoid repetition by referring back to previously mentioned subjects, thus linking sentences.
• 🚦 Lexical signposts, such as transition words and phrases, guide the reader through the text by indicating relationships between ideas, like examples, summaries, and consequences.
• 🔑 Repeating keywords strategically can reinforce the main topics and themes of a paragraph, enhancing cohesion without being repetitive.
• 🔍 Anaphoric nouns, like 'this situation' or 'these findings,' summarize and connect previous information, providing a bridge between ideas.
• ✍️ Reviewing and revising writing multiple times is essential for enhancing cohesion, as it allows the writer to clarify connections and improve the flow of ideas.
• 🔎 Cohesion is not only about connecting sentences but also about ensuring that the reader can easily perceive these connections, which is vital for effective academic communication.
• 📈 The use of cohesive devices improves the overall quality of academic writing, making it more coherent and easier to follow for the reader.
• 💡 The video encourages further exploration of cohesive devices beyond those mentioned, suggesting that there is a wide array of tools available to writers to enhance cohesion.

Q & A

What is cohesion in academic writing?

Cohesion in academic writing refers to the way vocabulary and grammatical structures are used to make connections between ideas within a text, making these connections clear to the reader.

Why is cohesion important for academic writing?

Cohesion is important because it promotes clarity and ensures that sentences and paragraphs within an academic text are related to one another, making the writing more comprehensible.

What are cohesive devices and how do they help in writing?

Cohesive devices are words and strategies used to make meaningful connections between ideas in a text. They help by guiding the reader through the text and clarifying the relationships between ideas.

How can pronouns be used as cohesive devices in academic writing?

Pronouns can be used to avoid repetition by referring back to something already mentioned, thus creating a connection between sentences.

What are lexical signposts and how do they contribute to cohesion?

Lexical signposts are words and phrases that organize writing and guide readers by making specific kinds of connections, such as listing, exemplifying, generalizing, showing results, summarizing, and expressing alternatives.

Can you provide an example of how lexical signposts are used in a paragraph?

In the provided example, lexical signposts like 'first', 'second', 'moreover', 'then', 'finally', and 'another possibility' are used to guide the reader through the steps of the writing process.

How does repeating keywords help in creating cohesion?

Repeating keywords helps by emphasizing certain topics and maintaining focus on them throughout a paragraph, which aids in connecting related ideas.

What are anaphoric nouns and how do they show connections between ideas?

Anaphoric nouns are pronouns or noun phrases that refer back to a noun or idea previously mentioned in the text, highlighting the connection between different sentences or ideas.

Why is it recommended to review your work multiple times before submission?

Reviewing your work multiple times helps in understanding the connections between ideas better, allowing the writer to use cohesive devices to clarify these connections for the readers.

What is the role of the academic writing center in helping with cohesion?

The academic writing center assists students by providing guidance and resources to improve their understanding and use of cohesion in their academic writing.

How can a writer explore more about cohesive devices on their own?

A writer can explore more about cohesive devices by researching academic writing resources, reading scholarly articles, and analyzing cohesive techniques in well-written texts.