Structure and Cohesion

Organisation of a piece of academic writing

• Types of academic writing – reports, essays, projects, assignments, reviews etc.

• Structure – parts of a piece of writing

• Cohesion – the way in which the diferent parts are linked together

Structure

• Basic structure includes:

• 1. INTRODUCTION (the subject or topic)

• 2. DEVELOPMENT/BODY (main ideas -presentation, analysis and discussion)

• 3. CONCLUSION (a summary of the main points; own views/opinions and decisions or recommendations)

Language functions

• Each part of the writing will consist of language functions: particular uses and structures of the language organised according to specific purposes – describing, defining, classifying, analysing etc.

• Each language function consists of sentences and/or paragraphs that are joined together by connectives

Cohesion

• Feature of a text in which there is a logical flow of ideas

• Cohesive elements are connectives (words or phrases that indicate a logical relationship)

Connectives

• Sentences are linked by means of connectives

• Basic connectives are:

• A – and

• B – or

• C - but

A – and

• Enumeration (first..., furthermore, finally; one, two, three; firstly, secondly, thirdly;

next, then...)• Addition (also, again, further, moreover,

besides, above all...)• Transition (regarding, now, as to...)• Summation (in conclusion, to sum up

briefly, overall, thus...)

B - or

• Reformulation (to express something in another way – rather, better, in other words, in that case...)

• Replacement (to express an alternative to what has preceded – again, alternatively, on the other hand...)

C - but

• Contrast to what has preceded (instead, then, on the contrary, in comparison...)

• Concession indicates the unexpected nature of what is being said in view of what was said before (however, nevertheless, only, still, although, at any rate, all the same, even though...)

Paragraphs

• Writing must be divided in paragraphs

• A paragraph normally contains several sentences that are concerned with the theme contained in the key sentence

• Key sentence contains the main idea (topic)

• Other sentences support it by adding further information or examples

The Stages of Writing an Essay

1. Think about the topic2. Make a reading list3. Read with a purpose, make notes, note sources4. Decide about the content of the essay5. Write first draft in academic style (avoiding colloquial

expressions and personal references)6. Read critically, check organisation, cohesion and

language; revise the draft7. Write final version8. Compile bilbilography in strict alphabetical order