Coherence Practice (I)
1. X graduated from the university in 1975.
2. X adores music.
3. An unpleasant thing happened to X.
4. X cannot see well in the dark.
5. X walked in the street and stumbled.
6. X's purse fell down on the road.
7. In X's purse there was a purse.
8. At home X realized that he had lost his money.
9. X played football on Thursday.
10. X joined the line for the fruit-stall.
a. I used all ten (some didn't fit that well, though).
b. A sentence can be used if it fits in with the rest of the story.
c. The connection [that I see] is a cause-effect relationship story.
d. I would assume that it’s "natural" because if something is coherent, it makes sense, is consistent, and is logically ordered. It integrates different elements to a natural order.
e. Yes. There is symbolic logic, which is a science of developing and representing logical reasoning (and principles) by using a system of symbols and rules of inference. There is chop logic, which is irrational thinking, non-sequitur (conclusion not based on the premises). It also means argumentative. And there is mathematical logic, which essentially deals with the various principles of mathematics. It is useful in solving math equations as well as applying them to everyday life and surroundings. (Whew!)
a. No, this set of statements is not coherent at all. This 'train of thought' has been derailed, so to speak. The reason is that none of the sentences relate to one another. This statement takes one of the words and writes a sentence, but that is only related -- and even then, indirectly -- to one word.
b. As is mentioned above, the statement connects mere words; coherence should connect ideas and thoughts. Meaning is important in creating coherence because once we have established the meaning, we can add ideas to enhance it. Putting together a bunch of ideas that aren’t related in some way eliminates meaning.
“Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience.” I underlined the follow-up sentence in the places where the device is used. For example, I underlined "experience" in #1 since it is the example of repetition.
a. Repetition: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. As I continue taking more and more classes, I am gaining experience in making my way around.
b. Synonymy: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. I may be a college freshman, but the some of the courses require subject knowledge that seems beyond the capabilities of a first-year student.
c. Antonymy: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. However, people who are very intelligent or creative often think lowly of colleges by judging them with closed minds.
d. Pro-forms: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. As far as I am concerned, though, mathematics is synonymous with confusion!
e. Collocation: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. English is especially enjoyable, and most of the subject matter is crystal clear!
f. Enumeration: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. There are three things about the college that I very much like: (1) the teachers are very friendly and knowledgeable, (2) the campus is easy to navigate, and (3) the college has students of all ages and nationalities, promoting equality.
g. Parallelism: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. I've found that many classes were formerly taught strictly with textbooks; however, they are now being supplemented by computers and such.
h. Transitions:
Identity: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. In other words, knowledge creates creativity and power.
Opposition: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. By comparison, high school forces many into conformity.
Addition: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. Furthermore, the classes challenge people to strive for improvement, not perfection.
Cause/Effect: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. As a result, I have become more independent as well as more aware of the world around me.
Indefinites: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. Indeed, college expands the mind and teaches us what was once unknowable.
Concession: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. I have to admit, however, that I wouldn’t have believed that to be true before experiencing college firsthand.
Exemplification: Taking my first year of classes at the College of DuPage has been a mind-opening experience. For example, taking English courses has shown me new ways to express myself when I write.
Part IV (Three Parallelism Sentences)
1. Inasmuch as I hate computers, they do have redeeming qualities, such as Solitaire, e-mail, word processing and Web pages.
2. I think we ought to start a revolution against machinery; we have to either pull the plug on this Age of Technology, or have the plug pulled on humanity!
3. Computers used to be massive, multi-ton monsters that broke half the time; thanks to progress, though, now we have one-pound things that can break three-fourths of the time -- and twice as fast!
Part V (Analyzing Coherence Strategies)
6.
a. Pronoun reference "their"; repetition of "taste in music"; pronoun references "you" and "your"; repetition of question format.
b. Pronoun reference "it"; parallel form "Amazon has its BookMatcher ..."; repetition of "collaborative filters"; pronoun references "you" and "your"; pronoun reference "these weird pals"; pronoun references AND repetitions "your community" and "your trusted associates."
c. "The whole thing" as reference to previous paragraph; pronoun reference AND repetition of "it," "you" and "your"; parallel form "I love Chopin and Bach and ..."