Writing: Cohesion and Coherence (B2) - Lesson 3: Maintaining a Consistent Viewpoint or Argument

Writing: Cohesion and Coherence

B2 Lesson 3: Maintaining a Consistent Argument

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to write a coherent essay by aligning your topic sentences and supporting details with a single, consistent argument.

Model of a Coherent Argument ✍️

The most important sentence in your essay is the thesis statement. It is a promise to the reader. Every paragraph must work to support that promise.

Example Essay Outline

Thesis Statement: To be successful, university students require both strong self-discipline and excellent organizational skills.

Topic Sentence (Paragraph 1): First and foremost, strong self-discipline is essential because it allows students to stay focused on their studies without constant supervision.

Topic Sentence (Paragraph 2): Furthermore, excellent organizational skills are necessary for managing multiple assignments and deadlines effectively.

Breaking Down the Model

Let's analyze why this structure is so effective and consistent.

💡 The Thesis Statement makes a clear, two-part promise. It tells the reader, "I will prove that students need self-discipline AND organizational skills."

💡 Topic Sentence 1 directly supports the first part of the thesis. The entire paragraph that follows will give examples of self-discipline.

💡 Topic Sentence 2 directly supports the second part of the thesis. The entire paragraph that follows will give examples of organizational skills.

⚠️ Important: A major error is to contradict your thesis. If your thesis says "social media is negative," you cannot include a paragraph that says "social media is an excellent tool." This confuses the reader and weakens your argument.

Your Writer's Toolkit 🛠️

B2 Argument Consistency Checklist

• Does my thesis statement make a clear argument?
• Does the topic sentence of every body paragraph directly support the thesis?
• Does all the evidence within each paragraph support its topic sentence?
• Have I avoided any ideas or paragraphs that contradict my main argument?

Practice Your Skills 🎯

Quiz: Does it Support the Thesis?

Thesis Statement: Governments should invest more money in public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and protect the environment.

Which of the topic sentences below does NOT support this thesis?

1. Firstly, an efficient public transport system can significantly decrease the number of cars on the road.
2. In addition, building more roads is a very expensive project.
3. Furthermore, a modern public transport network helps lower air pollution by reducing vehicle emissions.

→ Answer: B. This sentence is about the cost of roads, not the benefits of public transport. It is off-topic and does not directly support the thesis.

Your Writing Mission ⭐

Writing Task: Plan a Coherent Argument

Your mission is to plan the "skeleton" of a consistent essay. Choose ONE of the thesis statements below:

• The best way to see a new country is by traveling with a tour group.
• The best way to see a new country is by traveling independently.

In your notebook, write an outline that supports your chosen thesis. Your outline must include:

1. The Thesis Statement you chose.
2. A Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph 1 that supports the thesis.
3. A Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph 2 that also supports the thesis.

Key Vocabulary

• Coherence (Noun) | ភាពស៊ីសង្វាក់គ្នា
  The quality of being logical, consistent, and easy to understand as a whole.
• Consistent (Adjective) | ជាប់លាប់
  Acting or done in the same way over time; not changing.
• Argument (Noun) | ការ​ជជែក​វែកញែក
  The main point or claim that you are trying to prove in a piece of writing.
• To contradict (Verb) | ផ្ទុយគ្នា
  To state the opposite of what someone has said; to be in conflict with.