Transition and Coherence (1)
过渡与衔接 (1)
Read the following paragraph and answer the question: how does the writer link all the sentences effectively?
Sample:
Human blood serves the body in three important ways. First, blood carries substances needed to maintain and repair body tissues. In this way, blood serves as a provider. Secondly, blood also serves as a disposer, since it carries wastes and gases away from the tissues of the body. In addition, blood acts as a defender. The white corpuscles in the blood stream constantly guard against and try to destroy bacteria and other agents that threaten the body’s welfare.
Comments:
As you have noticed, the writer employs four ways to link his sentences:
1) Use a pronoun to refer to a person, idea or thing just mentioned in the preceding sentences. Now examine the paragraph above and underline all the pronouns.
2) Repeat a key word or phrase in the preceding sentence, but do not carry it to an absurd degree such that it bores your reader. Underline the key word or phrase in the paragraph above.
3) Use a synonym, a different word with much the same meaning as the one used in the preceding sentence (in order to avoid too much repetition). Identify the synonym of the phrase “serve as”.
4) A question for you that is so difficult that you must struggle to answer: What’s the function of the three methods? Or what do they have in common?
Your answer to the question is _______________.
A transition word or phrase helps point out the thought relationship, or thread of thought, between sentences. These words are also called logic words because they show the logical flow of thoughts between sentences.
Here are the commonly used transitional words.
1) words that denote addition: and, again, also, too, besides, moreover, furthermore, in addition, as well as
2) words that denote examples: for example, for instance, to illustrate, take …as an example
3) words that denote comparison: similarly, in the same way, equally important, likewise
4) words that denote contrast: in contrast, on the other hand, nevertheless, yet, but, although, meanwhile, however
5) words that denote concession: of course, although, it’s true, though
6) words that denote result: therefore, consequently, so, as a result
7) words that denote time or order of importance: first (second, third etc), now, before, after, next, then, later, once, finally, after that, first of all, to begin with, more important, most important
8) words that denote conclusion: in conclusion, to conclude, to sum up
*Tip: Coherence will be achieved if we employ the four methods correctly.