HOW TO WRITE A COHERENT, COHESIVE, AND SUBSTANTIAL ESSAY

Summary

This video script teaches how to develop an academic essay by focusing on coherence and cohesion. It explains the importance of a well-structured paragraph with a topic sentence that supports the thesis statement. The script emphasizes the use of minor details to elaborate on key points and the inclusion of personal analysis to create a cohesive paragraph. It also highlights the role of logical bridges and concluding sentences to maintain focus and ensure a coherent essay.

Takeaways

• 📝 **Structure of an Essay**: The script emphasizes the importance of understanding the structure of an essay, which includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• 📄 **Paragraph Composition**: Each paragraph should consist of a topic sentence, minor details, and a concluding sentence to maintain coherence and cohesion.
• 💡 **Topic Sentence**: The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph and should align with the thesis statement, presenting one of its key points.
• 🔗 **Coherence**: Coherence is achieved by ensuring that the topic sentences in each paragraph are connected to the thesis statement through the use of keywords.
• 📚 **Minor Details**: These details elaborate on the key points introduced in the topic sentence and should include evidence from various sources and personal analysis.
• 🔍 **Cohesion**: Cohesion is the quality that makes a paragraph understandable by presenting connectedness in sentence level, achieved through specific details and cohesive devices.
• 🔗 **Intertextuality**: The script mentions the importance of intertextuality, which is creating relationships between texts and generating understanding across different references.
• 🔄 **Logical Flow**: Paragraphs should maintain a logical flow, starting and ending with the same focus, achieved through the use of transitional devices and pronouns.
• ✍️ **Concluding Sentence**: The concluding sentence synthesizes the paragraph, often rephrasing the topic sentence and using transitional devices without additional citations.
• 📈 **Essay Development**: The script guides on how to develop an essay by putting different pieces together in a cohesive and coherent manner, ensuring each part supports the overall thesis.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?

The topic sentence indicates the general idea that the paragraph will address. It presents a sub-topic that supports the thesis statement and is typically the first sentence of a paragraph.

How does the topic sentence relate to the thesis statement?

The topic sentence presents one of the key points from the thesis statement, ensuring coherence in the essay by maintaining a connection between the thesis and each body paragraph.

What are the three key components of a paragraph?

A paragraph is comprised of the topic sentence, minor details, and a concluding sentence.

What is the difference between coherence and cohesion in essay writing?

Coherence refers to the connectedness of ideas at the paragraph level, while cohesion refers to the connectedness at the sentence level, making the text easy to follow and understand.

How can you ensure coherence in an essay?

To ensure coherence, the key points from the thesis statement should appear in the topic sentences of each body paragraph, maintaining consistency and connectedness throughout the essay.

What are minor details in a paragraph, and why are they important?

Minor details elaborate on the topic sentence, providing specific support such as examples, citations, or analysis. They are important for adding depth and clarity to the main point.

What is intertextuality, and how is it applied in paragraph writing?

Intertextuality is a literary device that creates relationships between different texts or references. In essay writing, it involves connecting various sources or pieces of information to build a cohesive argument.

Why should a paragraph not be just a compilation of citations?

A paragraph should include the author's own analysis and voice to avoid being just a collection of citations. This adds original insight and personal engagement with the topic.

What are logical bridges, and how do they help in paragraph writing?

Logical bridges ensure that the same idea flows from one sentence to the next, maintaining coherence. This is often achieved through cohesive devices like keywords, pronouns, and transitional phrases.

What is the purpose of the concluding sentence in a paragraph?

The concluding sentence synthesizes the entire paragraph, often rephrasing the topic sentence and using transitional devices to link to the next idea or paragraph.