Linking Ideas Clearly: Cohesion

Cohesion means linking your ideas together clearly. Without cohesion, you will have al ist of sentences, rather than a connected paragraph or essay.

1.1 The following words and phrases are all used to connect sentences and ideas together. Put them into the correct place in the list, according to how they are used.

• Connecting similar ideas: similarly,
• Connecting different ideas: but,
• Clarifying an idea: in other words,
• Giving examples: for example,
• Giving reason or conclusion: therefore,

1.2 Choose the correct words.

1. Advertisements provide vital revenue for the entertainment industry. Consequently / Despite, without adverts we could lose certain forms of entertainment altogether.
2. Nowadays, the internet has become an indispensable business tool. Although / In fact, we would find it very difficult to get through a working day without it.
3. The internet brings the world into our home. Also / However, we sometimes want to shut out the outside world from time to time.
4. Schools can give our children academic knowledge. Whereas / Furthermore, at school, children can learn social skills.
5. Many people today spend time on social networking sites. As a result / For example, Facebook and Twitter are both used around the world to help people stay connected.

1.3 Which connectors in the box could also be used to link the ideas in 1.2?

In addition On the other hand For instance

In other words As a result

1.4 Lexical Resource / Avoiding Repetition

To achieve a high band score in the IELTS Writing test, you need to show a wide variety of vocabulary and sentence structure.

You can avoid repeating words by

• using a synonym
• using apronoun to refer back to an idea (this+noun / These + Plural noun)
• using a group noun (This /These type(s) of / kind(s) or + noun)

For example

Settlers introduced several new animals, such as the cat. This predator preyed on the local wildlife.

Settlers often introduce new crops and animals to an area. This type of activity can be disastrous.

2.1 Extract 1-5 repeat the same vocabulary. Improve them by replacing the underlined phrases with a suitable synonym from the box and the apropriate pronoun.

funding	system
method natural resrouces	technology facilities

1. We depend on oil, coal and gas for the majority of our energy needs. However, oil, coal and gas will one day run out.
2. Remote and rural areas may initially seem like idyllic places to live but they often lack hospitals, shops and schools. Living without easy access to hospitals, shops and schools can make life very difficult indeed.
3. Governments soemtimes try to encourage innovation by offering grants. This is not aleays effective because special grants are often difficult to obtian.
4. Some teachers ask students to simply copy down texts from a blackboard. But copying down texts does not help students to become independent or flexible in their use of language.
5. In my country, cars driving through the city centre are charged a toll. Charging a toll has been a success because the traffic has decreased considerably.

Using the correct style

The language you choose must be as accurate as possible and must suit this formal task.

2.2 Sentences 1-6 contain one example of incorrect style. Find the mistakes and correct them.

1. Children with no access to education are most likely gonna end up in manual jobs.
2. Two of the major problems we are facing today are global warming & increased pollution.
3. A lot of our modern conveniences are contributing to our unhealthy lifestyle, e.g. we often use a car instead of walking to the local shops.
4. Some businesses think it is OK to simply dump toxic waste and pay the necessary fin.
5. Kids of any age need the right type of guidance.
6. I find that the internet helps me a lot when I travel. I can use it to book flights, find a hotel, get maps, etc.

2.2 Expressing a spersonal view

Remember that your Writing Task 2 answer should give your own views on the topic. One way to show this is by using

A. Adverbs such as personaly or probably.

B. Modals such as might or could.

C. Phrases such as in my view.

D. Verbs such as appear to be or seem to be.

These can also help to stress your ideas or change them from a simple fact to a personal opinion.

For example:

Travelling is dangerous. →Travelling can be dangerous.

Most people agree with me. → I think most people would agree with me.

3.1 Highlight the words or phrases in sentences 1-9 that show opinion and attitude. Then rewrite them using the words in brackets.

1. (example) Perhaps this is because today’s teachers are not trained as well as they used to be. (might)

This might be because today’s teachers are not trained as well as they used to be.

2. Personally, I don’t think this is a good idea. (view)

3. I certainly would not like to have to do a job I did not enjoy. (Personally)

4. I think this could be a bad idea. (probably)

5. In my view, life is much more complicated for young people nowadays. (can)

6. Personally, I think every situation is different. (opinion)

7. Nowadays, young people probably use their mobile phones for multiple tasks (generally)

8. In my opinion, schools are more crowded than in the past. (seem)

9. My city is less crowded now and people generally enjoy walking through the streets. (appear)