Cohesion at Paragraph Level: Making Ideas Flow

Good writing flows not just within a sentence, but between sentences and paragraphs — each one should feel connected to the last.

Notice

  • Topic sentences tell the reader what a paragraph is about, right from its first sentence.
  • Linking between paragraphs: “Having considered the economic argument, we now turn to the social impact.”
  • Pronoun reference: using “this,” “these,” or “such” to refer back to a previous idea keeps ideas connected without repeating full phrases.

Rule

Rule: cohesion means a reader never has to guess how one sentence or paragraph relates to the last. At C2, this is achieved with a mix of topic sentences, explicit linking phrases, and careful pronoun reference — not just a list of connectors dropped in randomly.

Practice

  1. Write a topic sentence introducing a paragraph about the risks of remote work.
    Answer: Example: “Despite its benefits, remote work also introduces several significant risks.”
  2. Write a linking sentence moving from a paragraph about costs to one about benefits.
    Answer: Example: “Having outlined the costs, it is worth considering the benefits in turn.”
  3. In “The team faced three major setbacks. These nearly derailed the project entirely,” what does “these” refer back to?
    Answer: “These” refers back to “three major setbacks” mentioned in the previous sentence.

Connect

Spot cohesion devices in well-structured texts with the Reading Quiz.

Try Reading Quiz →

CEFR: C2

Azizul Hakim
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