Cohesion in IELTS Writing.

In writing Task 2, you can use words or even short phrases which help to guide your reader through your writing.

These cohesive devices or discourse markers can show contrast, similarity or even concession as in:

by contrast, in a similar way, despite this

The phrases used in this post, however, are great ways of introducing specific examples and extending the evaluation of your ideas.

Why use linking words and phrases in IELTS?

These can be used to link sentences, paragraphs and sections both forwards and backwards.

Good use of linking words (discourse markers) can make your exam writing clearer and easier to follow and so can improve your band score.

Similarly, careless or ineffective use may make your writing appear disjointed and consequently difficult to follow.

Your mark could be affected either way.

Understanding what Cohesion is

The best way to “get a feel” for using these words is through extensive reading

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Most IELTS practice textbooks and articles are well-written and probably include a lot of these cohesive device examples. 

You can also note and underline cohesive devices in IELTS reading tests to understand how they function or notice them in well-written essays.

It is important that you observe how they are used and then try to emulate what you have read in your own writing.

Make sure that you fully understand their meaning: incorrect use could completely change what you’re trying to say.

A good strategy is to build on the cohesive devices that you are already confident in using and slowly introduce new phrases into your writing which a teacher could check for you.

Whichever strategy you follow, it is important to try using a variety of expressions for variation in one piece of writing rather than repeating the same phrases.

One good example of this is to remember that “AND” is a linking word and generally two short sentences are often best connected together with this useful little word. 

Despite this, using this word too often can have a negative effect on the cohesion of your writing.

So let’s have a look at a small collection of cohesive devices for providing examples that you can experiment with and use in your writing.

I have grouped each word list according to a category but none of the words are completely synonymous.

In other words, you cannot always directly replace one word with another.

You may also find their position in a sentence may vary; this is where extensive reading and a good dictionary come in.

Cohesive phrases to introduce examples or evaluation

For example 

There are many foods that are regarded as healthy, for example, fruits and vegetables.

For instance

A feature of a poor diet is, for instance, high sugar intake or a high fat diet.

As follows

A simplified explanation for the financial failure is, as follows, poor budgetary management and increasing high interest rates.

That is

The government’s economic policy has led to increased consumer consumption, that is, low interest rates have stimulated consumer demand.

In this case

Pollution in cities is a global problem, however, in this case, it is directly related to diesel emissions from cars.

Namely

In other words

According to Rant, human beings are basically all the same, in other words; national differences are not significant features that distinguish people as a race.

In conclusion

As I hope you can see, gaining a working knowledge of a good range of cohesive devices can really make your ideas more effective, and your writing clearer and easier to read.

Another advantage is that when it comes to IELTS reading, you will be better placed to process and comprehend the ideas rather than struggle with unfamiliar signalling words

 

Sentence and Paragraph Structure for Cohesion

Finally, you can review a working-example worksheet that I use with advanced IELTS and English for Academic Purposes students who are already at university.

It helps explain how good sentences are formed and how cohesion is created in both sentences and in paragraphs.

Sentence Structure

Sentence structure for IELTS and EAP Ielts-Jonathan

Paragraph Cohesion

Paragraph structure for IELTS and EAP Ielts-jonathan

The Best Approach to Task 2 Writing

Paragraphing in Task 2 Writing

Strong Arguments for Task 2

Writing the Introduction

Writing a Line of Argument

Cohesion for Task 2 Writing

Writing – Benefits of a Foreign University Education