Paragraph Editing: Linking Sentences Strategies: Creating Cohesion and unity

You have two basic grammatical choices when going from one sentence to the next sentence:

1. Start the second sentence by repeating the subject of the first sentence, or

2. Start the second sentence by making the object of the first sentence the subject of the second sentence.

Borrowing "Key Words" From Previous Sentences

1. Repeat the subject of one sentence as the subject of the next sentence! 

Here are a variety of ways to think about that:

• If the subject is the author of a source you are explaining, rotate between their whole name and their last name.  

• For example:  The brother works.... The brother realizes...

• Or, use an adjective or brief phrase that helps develop the subject further.  

• For example: The speaker's devoted brother learns.... The factory-working brother realizes...

• Or, create a brief introductory phrase using a synonym (word or phrase) that characterizes your subject and gives good context, followed by the appropriate pronoun:

• For example:  The focused student and factory worker learns.... As someone with a strong work ethic, he realizes...

2. Turn the object from one sentence into the subject of the very next sentence. 

• This technique is good to use when you want to or need to make any type of transition. End one sentence with the object that you want to be the subject of the very next sentence. 

• For Math Geeks like me, in an equation: 

• Subject 1-V-Object 1.   [S2=O1]-V-Object 2. [S3=O2]-V-Object 3.  ...

•  For example: 

• The brother works at a factory during the night and at his schoolwork in the morning. His dedication to both jobs illustrates a very good work ethic. Work ethic forces a person to make sacrifices for a larger purpose. The brother's larger purpose must be to escape being a factory worker all of his life.  

The two general techniques will help you:

• Build coherency by staying on topic

• Build vocabulary as you decide on different synonyms to use, rather than trying to go to completely new places without the language to get there.

• Further pay attention to those basic parts of speech: subject, verb, and object. 

Lastly (deep breath...),  use these techniques in revising & editing all essays:

The above writing techniques can be used at any stage of of the essay writing process. Sure, it helps to practice writing this way from the first draft. However, it's also a good way to go back through and re-write your essays to help clear up coherency issues.

• Look for places where you start a sentence with a pronoun, especially one that may be too broad and lack a reference (It, This, That, Those, These...). Replace such sentences in your essay with one that uses the above techniques.

• Look for places where you have poor transitions ("trans." might be marked on a draft critique).