Coherence and Cohesion is one of the parameters of evaluation for writing. Since the name sounds good, most are swept up by the name and do not bother to figure out what it means and how it can affect their score.

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Coherence is about the logical flow of information. It is about unity. About how your essay sounds as a whole.

Look at the following sequence of sentences:

Bats are the only mammals capable of flight. Mammals are animals that have hair and external ears. Man is considered to be the most evolved mammal.

All the sentences are talking about mammals, however, there is no discernible direction to the paragraph.

Compare the above set of sentences with what follows:

Mammals are animals that have hair and external ears. Bats are the only mammals capable of flight. Even though man is considered to be the most evolved mammal, man cannot fly.

The set of sentences above can be a apart of a paragraph because they are coherence.

One of the ways (not the only way) to achieve coherence is by using connecting words. The quiz that follows looks at your ability to use and understand connecting words. See how well you do!

Good Luck!

Connecting Words

1 ____ Sarah drives to the cabin several times a year, she is often nervous about finding her way. Besides Unless Nevertheless Although

2 Lila wasn’t feeling well. _____, she decided to stay home from work. Therefore Meanwhile However Anyway

3___ he waited for the doctor to call him in, Sam sat in the waiting room and read the newspaper. So that While Even if Besides when

4 Ruby loves blueberry pie _____ it is made with freshly picked blueberries. Whether Because When As if

5 Mitchell loves listening to jazz and rhythm and blues. Greg, ____, will only listen to country. However Then Too Therefore

6 __ our low annual fee, you will receive a 20% discount if you sign up this week. Because While In spite of In addition to

7 The ticket said the show would start at 8:00, but the curtains didn’t go up _ 8:30. Less than Until About Since 8 My neighbor is deathly afraid of dogs; ___, I never let my Golden Retriever, Sandy, outside without a leash. Moreover Yet Mainly Consequently

9 The wedding quilt was designed as a sentimental way to make use of fabric taken __ blankets and bedding that belonged to older couples in her family. From With In At

10 Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, ____ appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. She And But Was

11 I ____ the speech you gave last Thursday night, but I was in bed with the flu. Will have heard Would hear Might hear Would have heard

12____ the Beatles’ most popular songs—most of which were written by Lennon and McCartney—are “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Hey, Jude.” With Considering Among To