How to Achieve Coherence at a Macro Level

How to Achieve Coherence at a Macro Level

Dr. Richard Johnson-Sheehan Professor of English, Purdue

Coherence

Coherence describes a writer’s ability to connect ideas and provide information in a

fluid and comprehensible way. Coherence is achieved through appropriate lexical and

structural choices, but it’s also achieved

through a consideration of audience and genre.

Principle of Coherence One

Know your audience

What might seem a completely coherent paragraph for someone with content-specific knowledge may be impossible to read for a layman. Knowing what your

reader generally knows will help you make appropriate lexical choices. Consider

the following paragraph…

What’s Happening Here?

On the same day, Zorcon invaded Limlam, makingrapid progress by using aggressive tactics. At the end of the month, Norpalese troops were forced to evacuatethe continent, abandoning their heavy equipment. OnJune 10th, Tak-tak invaded, declaring war on Limlamand Norpal. Twelve days later, Limlam surrenderedand was soon divided between Zorcon and Tak-tak. Inearly July, the Norpalese attacked Limlam’s fleet inZoot to prevent their seizure by Zorcon.

Which historical event does this paragraph describe?

The paragraph above has been modified from Wikipedia.com. The original can be accessed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Two.

What’s Happening Here?

On the same day, Germany invaded France, makingrapid progress by using aggressive tactics. At the end of the month, British troops were forced to evacuatethe continent, abandoning their heavy equipment. OnJune 10th, Italy invaded, declaring war on Franceand Britain. Twelve days later, France surrenderedand was soon divided between Germany and Italy. Inearly July, the British attacked Italy’s fleet inAlgeria to prevent their seizure by Germany.

The proliferation of World War Two!

The paragraph above has been modified from Wikipedia.com. The original can be accessed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Two.

Coherent for a lay person?

The freeze and thaw durability test was conducted according to ASTM C 666 (procedure A) using two 75 x 100 x 400 mm (3 x 4 x 16 in.) specimens cast from one concrete batch. The free shrinkage measurements were conducted according to ASTM C 157 on three 75 x 75 x 275 mm (3 x 3 x 11 in.) specimens also prepared from one batch of concrete. The scaling tests were performed according to the modified ASTM C 672 procedure using two slabs (each with exposed area 72 in2) cast from the same batch. The modification of the standard method involved evaluation of the extent of scaling based on the amount of material lost (expressed in pounds per unit area) rather than using the visual rating of the surface. All specimens were cured in lime-saturated water at temperature of 23C up to date of testing. The only exception was the scaling tests (for which specimens were water cured for 14 days and than moved to curing room kept at 50% humidity and 23C where they were stored for another 14 days). The results of both fresh and hardened properties presented in this paper represent an average of at least two measurements.

Translate to common language:

The freeze and thaw durability test wasconducted according to ASTM C 666 (procedure A) using two 75 x 100 x 400 mm (3x 4 x 16 in.) specimens cast from one concrete batch. The free shrinkage measurements were conducted according to ASTM C 157 on three75 x 75 x 275 mm (3 x 3 x 11 in.) specimens also prepared from one batch of concrete.


The scaling tests were performed according to the modified ASTM C 672 procedure using two slabs (each with exposed area 72 in) cast from the same batch. The modification of the standard method involved evaluation of theextent of scaling based on the amount of material lost (expressed in pounds per unit area)rather than using the visual rating of the

surface.


All specimens were cured in lime-saturated water at temperature of 23C up to date of testing. The only exception was the scaling tests (for which specimens were water cured for 14 days and than moved to curing room kept at 50% humidity and 23C where they were stored for another 14 days).

The results of both fresh and hardened properties presented in this paper represent an average of at least two measurements.

Principle of Coherence Two

Know your genre

Documents for different audiences and purposes follow the rules of different genres. Genres are predictable patterns for arranging information to reach particular audiences. Genres helps audience anticipate the information they’ll receive in a document.

Two Examples of Genre

Analytical Report

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Procedure

Introduction

List of parts/tools

Safety Info

Ordered Steps

Conclusion


Analytical Report

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Procedure

Introduction

List of parts/tools

Safety Info

Ordered Steps

Conclusion

Opening

BodyClosing

Introduction

Notice that both the genres listed in

the last slide have an introduction.

Regardless of genre, introductions usually follow a standard pattern

of organization. To write a good introduction, follow these

following six steps.

First, define your subject

Most readers will expect to know what a

report is about right away. A sentence or

two that immediately defines the subject

helps the reader contextualize all the

proceeding information. Example:

Severe weather has become a genuine concern for the residents of Tippecanoe County in recent years.

Second, state your purpose

Tell the reader what your goals for writing

the report are. Your should be able to tell

the audience what your document will do in

one sentence. Example:This report offers some strategies for managing severe weather in Tippecanoe and neighboring counties.

Third, state your main point

Let your reader know the main idea that

you want them to take away from your paper. Your main point should be

your overarching solution, decision, or conclusion that you want your reader

to take away from your work. Example:

Specifically, it provides tips on how to keep friends and family members from making bad decisions during emergency weather situations.

Fourth, stress the importance

Make your reader understand that the

information your going to give them has

some pertinence to their life. Give them an

answer to the “So what?” question.

Example:

Without this information, you or a loved one may make a mistake in severe weather that could cost someone’s life.

Provide Background Information

Give your reader some more information to

contextualize your report. Typically, this

information should be already known or

non-controversial. Example:Recently, twenty Tippecanoe residents have been injured or killed during severe weather.

Finally, forecast the content

Forecasting lets your reader know exactly

what you’ll be telling them in the rest of the

report. Example:This report will recommend simple changes residents can make around the home to protect against future injury. Then, it will give specific steps residents can take when severe weather hits. Finally, it will identify resources available for further severe weather education.

Introduction Example

Severe weather has become a genuine concern for the residents of Tippecanoe County in recent years. This report offers some strategies for managing severe weather in Tippecanoe and neighboring counties. Specifically, it provides tips on how to keep friends and family members from making bad decisions during emergency weather situations. Without this information, you or a loved one may make a mistake during severe weather that could cost someone’s life. Recently, twenty Tippecanoe residents have been injured or killed during severe weather.

This report will recommend simple changes residents can make around the home to protect against injury or death from severe weather. Then, it will give specific steps residents can take when severe weather hits. Finally, it will identify resources available for further severe weather education.


Analytical Report

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Procedure

Introduction

List of parts/tools

Safety Info

Ordered Steps

Conclusion

Opening

BodyClosing

The Body

The body of a document can be organized a number

of different ways. Generally, the purpose of a

document will determine how the body information

should be organized. Organizational strategies

include:

Cause/Effect

Comparison/Contrast

Better/Worse

Cost/Benefit

If…then

Either…or

Chronological order

Problem/Need/Solution

Which form of body organization is most common in your profession?

The Conclusion

A good conclusion summarizes the important information from the document, emphasizing essential features,

findings, or recommendations. Many readers will skip to the end of a document, so it’s

important that the conclusion is easily

identifiable, concise, and clear. There are four steps

to writing a good conclusion.

First, make a transition

Transitional words and phrases let the

reader know where they are in a

document. For a conclusion, use a

transitional phrase like: In conclusion,

To sum up, In closing, In summary,

Finally, Overall, As a whole, In the end,

On the whole, In brief, Put briefly, or

Ultimately.

Secondly, restate the main pointWhat main idea did you build up in

your report? What claims did you make

that were essential for a reader to pick

up? Leading with your transitional

phrase,restate this main idea for your

reader in one sentence. Example:

In summary, if Tippecanoe residents want to stay safe during severe weather, they need to prepare beforehand and be aware of their surroundings.

Thirdly, re-stress importance

Try to emphasize the importance of what

you have told the audience in a positive

way. Remind them why they have spent

time reading the report.

We can easily reduce the number of casualties from severe weather by preparing our homes and property. Moreover, by disseminating information on how to handle severe weather situations, we can save our loved ones from harm.

Fourth, look to the future

Indicate to your reader that the future holds

promise or that things will improve if your

recommendations are acted on. Or, tell

your reader that further research needs to

take place in a particular part of your field.

If we all take these steps, Tippecanoe residents will reduce weather-related casualties. Increased severe weather will not have a detrimental impact on our lives.

Conclusion

In summary, if Tippecanoe residents want to stay safe during severe weather, they need to prepare beforehand and be aware of their surroundings.We can easily reduce the number of casualties from severe weather by preparing our homes and property. Moreover, by disseminating information on how to handle severe weather situations, we can save our loved ones from harm. If we all take these steps, Tippecanoe residents will reduce weather-related casualties. Increased severe weather will have a minimal impact on our lives.

Adapted from Technical Communication Today by Richard Johnson-Sheehan

Adaptation by Joshua Prenosil and Richard Johnson-Sheehan

For More Information

• Contact the Purdue Writing Lab:– Drop In: Heavilon 226– Call: 765-494-3723– Email: [email protected]– On the web: http://owl.english.purdue.edu