Gary Duggins

Writing Papers with Strong Cohesion and Coherence

Writing a paper that flows effortlessly from one idea to the next isn’t easy. Cohesion and coherence might sound like academic buzzwords, but they’re what make your writing readable and your arguments persuasive. Without them, even the most insightful content can feel disjointed, like trying to follow a conversation where everyone’s talking over each other.

I’ve wrestled with this challenge more times than I care to admit. But over time, I’ve found that creating cohesive, coherent papers isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being deliberate.

What Are Cohesion and Coherence?

Cohesion is all about connections within the text—think of it as the glue that holds your sentences and paragraphs together. Coherence, on the other hand, is about the bigger picture: whether your paper makes sense as a whole.

To me, cohesion feels like sentence-level work, like making sure your transitions are smooth. Coherence is more about structure and clarity—whether your ideas flow logically from one to the next.

Start with a Clear Outline

One of the best ways to ensure coherence is to start with a solid outline. Before I write anything, I sketch out the main sections of my paper. It doesn’t have to be detailed—just enough to give me a sense of where I’m going.

For example, in a paper about climate change, my outline might look like this:

1. Introduction: The urgency of the climate crisis.
   
2. Causes: Human activity and natural factors.
   
3. Impacts: Environmental, economic, and social consequences.
   
4. Solutions: Policy changes, technology, and activism.
   
5. Conclusion: The need for collective action.
   

Having this roadmap keeps me focused and helps me see how the pieces fit together.

Linking Ideas: Transitions Matter

Transitions are a small detail that make a big difference. Without them, your writing can feel choppy or disconnected.

For me, transitions aren’t just about throwing in phrases like “however” or “in addition.” They’re about making sure each sentence naturally leads into the next. Sometimes, this means rephrasing or reorganizing sentences until they flow.

Be Consistent with Your Language

Consistency in language can also enhance cohesion. This doesn’t mean repeating the same words over and over—it means using synonyms, related terms, or pronouns to refer back to key ideas.

For instance, if you’re discussing proper citation in academic writing, you might alternate between phrases like “academic citation,” “referencing,” or simply “citations.” This variation keeps your writing engaging while reinforcing the main idea.

Avoid Overloading Your Reader

One mistake I’ve made in the past is cramming too much into a single paragraph. When you overload your reader, it’s harder for them to follow your argument.

A good rule of thumb is to stick to one main idea per paragraph. If a paragraph starts to feel cluttered, break it up. This not only improves readability but also helps maintain focus and coherence.

Educational Tools Can Help

Sometimes, achieving cohesion and coherence feels like a lot to juggle. That’s when I turn to tools designed to make writing easier.

For example, educational tools for student outreach like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor can help flag clunky sentences or suggest ways to improve clarity. While these tools aren’t perfect, they’re great for catching things you might miss on your own.

A New Perspective: Thinking Like a Reader

Here’s a mindset that’s helped me: instead of focusing solely on what I want to say, I try to think about what the reader needs to hear.

This shift changes how I structure my writing. I’ll ask myself questions like:

• Does this point follow logically from the previous one?
  
• Have I explained this idea clearly enough for someone unfamiliar with the topic?
  
• Is the connection between these two sections obvious?
  

Thinking like a reader helps me spot gaps or inconsistencies I might otherwise overlook.

Revise, Revise, Revise

Even with a solid outline and careful writing, the first draft is rarely perfect. Revising is where cohesion and coherence really come together.

Here’s my revision process:

1. Big-picture edits: Does the structure make sense? Are there any major gaps or redundancies?
   
2. Paragraph-level edits: Is each paragraph focused on a single idea? Do the transitions work?
   
3. Sentence-level edits: Are the sentences clear and concise? Do they flow smoothly?
   

Revising takes time, but it’s worth it. A well-revised paper is almost always more cohesive and coherent than a first draft.

Final Thoughts

Writing papers with strong cohesion and coherence isn’t about getting it right on the first try. It’s about being intentional—thinking carefully about how your ideas connect and how they come across to your reader.

So take your time. Plan, write, revise, and don’t be afraid to make changes. Because when your paper flows effortlessly, it’s not just easier to read—it’s more likely to leave a lasting impact.