Writing: Cohesion and Coherence (Advanced) (C1) - Lesson 2: Ensuring Global Coherence in Complex Texts

C1 Lesson 2: Ensuring Global Coherence in Complex Texts

Welcome to our final lesson on text organization. You have learned to create cohesion within and between paragraphs. The ultimate goal of a writer is to achieve global coherence¹—the quality that makes your entire essay feel like a single, unified², and logical argument.

This means every paragraph must have a clear purpose and must work to support the single, central argument presented in your thesis statement.

The "Golden Thread": Your Thesis is the Guide

Think of your thesis statement as a "golden thread" that is woven through your entire essay. The topic sentence of every body paragraph must clearly connect back to this thread. If a paragraph does not support the thesis, it does not belong in the essay, no matter how well-written it is.

Deconstructing a Coherent Essay

Let's analyze a short essay to see how the thesis statement controls the entire text.

Introduction

As Cambodia continues its rapid economic development, a critical debate has emerged regarding the management of its cultural treasures. While tourism revenue is essential, the primary approach to managing sites like Angkor Wat must be one of long-term preservation, because its historical value is irreplaceable and it faces significant threats from mass tourism.

Body Paragraph 1

First and foremost, the emphasis must be on preservation due to the irreplaceable historical and cultural value of the site. These temples are not just tourist attractions; they are a living record of the Khmer empire's spiritual, artistic, and engineering achievements. Allowing these unique structures to degrade would be an unforgivable loss for all of humanity, not just for Cambodia.

Body Paragraph 2

Furthermore, a focus on preservation is necessary to mitigate the serious physical threats posed by mass tourism. The constant foot traffic of millions of visitors per year erodes ancient stonework, while the development of large hotels and infrastructure puts a strain on the local environment and water table. Without careful management, the very thing that attracts tourists could be destroyed by them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although tourism provides vital income, it is clear that long-term preservation must be the guiding principle for managing Angkor Wat. Given the site's irreplaceable value and the tangible threats it faces, a sustainable approach is the only responsible path forward.

Analysis: The thesis statement (highlighted in purple) makes a clear argument with two main supporting points. The topic sentences of the two body paragraphs (underlined) directly address each of those points, creating a perfectly coherent and logical argument.

✍️ C1 Global Coherence Checklist

When revising your final draft, perform this check:

• ✔️ Read only your thesis statement and then the topic sentence of each body paragraph.
• ✔️ Does the sequence of your topic sentences create a logical and persuasive summary of your entire argument?
• ✔️ Does every topic sentence directly support a part of your thesis? If not, that paragraph needs to be revised or removed.
• ✔️ Does your conclusion reflect and reinforce the thesis and the main points?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Find the Off-Topic Paragraph

Read the thesis statement below. Which of the following topic sentences would break the essay's global coherence?

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Thesis Statement: "Switching from gasoline-powered motos to electric motorcycles offers clear environmental and economic benefits for riders in Cambodia."

1. Firstly, electric motos produce zero local emissions, which directly contributes to cleaner air quality in crowded cities.
2. Furthermore, the long-term running costs are significantly lower due to cheaper electricity prices compared to gasoline.
3. On the other hand, traditional gasoline motos are currently available in many more styles and colors.

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Answer: C. The thesis promises to discuss the *benefits* of electric motos. Topic sentence C discusses an advantage of *gasoline* motos, which contradicts and breaks the focus of the planned argument.

📝 Homework: The Final Essay

This is your final project for our writing series. Your task is to plan and write a complete, coherent, 4-paragraph essay.

Choose ONE of the B2/C1 essay prompts below:

• Should developing countries prioritize economic growth or environmental protection?
• Is online learning as effective as traditional face-to-face education?

Your Task: Follow the entire writing process we have learned.

1. Plan: Brainstorm and create a detailed outline for your argument.
2. Draft: Write a full first draft of your introduction, two body paragraphs, and conclusion.
3. Revise: Check your draft for big-picture issues like global coherence, paragraph structure (P.E.E.L.), and sentence variety.
4. Proofread: Meticulously check your final version for any small errors.

Write your final, polished essay in your notebook. Focus on making your argument as logical and coherent as possible.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Global Coherence: (Noun Phrase) - ភាពស៊ីសង្វាក់គ្នាជាសកល - The quality of a text being logical, consistent, and unified as a whole. ↩
2. Unified: (Adjective) - ឯកភាព - Formed or united into a single entity. ↩
3. Logical Progression: (Noun Phrase) - ដំណើរការឡូជីខល - A series of steps or ideas that follow each other in a sensible, logical order. ↩
4. Capstone: (Noun) សមិទ្ធិផលចុងក្រោយ ឬចំណុចខ្ពស់បំផុត - A final, culminating achievement or high point.
5. To reinforce: (Verb) - ពង្រឹង - To strengthen or support.