COHERENCE

Logical Order
 Goals and Objectives
■ Recognize the different types of logical order
used in developing paragraphs
■ Express ideas effectively through the correct
order or sequence of ideas
■ Use transitional words or phrases to show
connections among details
■ Compose a one-paragraph coherent
paragraph about the topic given
■ Participate actively in the classroom
discussion
 Develop the ability to organize
ideas in logical order to clearly
express their thoughts, feelings,
and opinions to communicate
properly.
 COHERENCE
■ It refers to the logical order or sequence
of ideas in a paragraph.
■ Each sentence in a paragraph should lead
to the next and transitional words and
phrases should emphasize the
relationship between the sentences.
■ All the details in the supporting sentences
should relate to the topic.
Types of Logical Order
Chronological Spatial Order
Order

Order of
Importance

Comparison and Developmental

Contrast Order Order
 Chronological Order
■ arranges details or events from the beginning
to end.
■ use to tell a story, to explain a process, or to
recount a historical event.
■ the sequence of events should be indicated
by dates and time-related transitional words
or phrases such as the following:
■ first, second, then, next, finally, before, after,
at the same time, later, immediately, soon,
daily, frequently, recently, when, at first, in
the beginning
 Example:
Before a bill becomes a law in the United States, it must go
through a complicated process. First, the bill must be introduced to
one of the houses of Congress, either the Senate or the House of
Representatives. Then the bill is assigned to a committee that
specializes in bills about one specific subject, such as transportation
or education. Next, the committee studies the bill and decides
whether to recommend the bill as it is, to recommend the bill with
changes, or to stop the bill from going any further. If the bill is
recommended, the members of the Senate or the House of
Representatives discuss the bill then vote for it. The bill passes if a
majority of the members vote for it. After the bill passes in one
house, it must follow the same procedure in the other house of
Congress. If the members of the two houses do not agree on the
same form of the bill, members from both houses meet in a
conference committee to work out their disagreements. Finally, the
bill must be signed by the President. If the President does not sign it,
the bill may still become law if two-thirds of the members of both
houses vote to overrule the President. Because the process is so
complicated, some bills take months to become a law.
 Spatial Order
■ arranges details in space or by position like
from top to bottom, left to right, front to back,
side to side, foreground to background, or
near to far.
■ use spatial transitional words or phrases to
emphasize the order.
■ above, behind, beside, inside, next to, over, to
the side of, under, through, below, in front of,
connected to, north, south, outside, centered,
middle, on, at the top of, at the bottom of
Example:
Because the new subway line near my house was
constructed in a large ditch, I could see all of the features
that are now hidden under tons of dirt. At the top of the
enormous ditch, I could see layers of pavement from
times when the road was resurfaced. Under the
pavement were the cobblestones from the high school
street. Below the cobble were smooth, concrete walls that
cover the sides of the ditch. Halfway down one wall, I saw
a partly finished stairway, which now carries passengers
to and from the street. At the mud-filled bottom of the pit,
I could see two rectangular concrete tunnels, one for
subway traffic in each direction. Now, every time that I
walk down into the subway tunnel, no, I remember how
different it looked when it was under contraction.
 Order of Importance
■ arranges details according to their
significance or value, like from least
important to most important or from least
expensive to most expensive, etc.
■ this order is useful for arranging a series of
reasons, causes, effects, or
accomplishments.
■ common transitions used
– finally, first, least important, more
important, best of all
Example:
Researchers at the Beltsville Agricultural Center near
Washington D.C., are working with satellite photographs of
fields of crops. The photographs may be used for several
purposes. First, by monitoring the color of the fields as
seen from above, researcher can tell how effective various
watering and fertilizing schedules are. More important, the
photographs can help researchers to predict what crop
yields will be. Most important, the photographs can be
used to save crops. From aerial views researchers can
detect sooner and more clearly any problems created by
drought and insect infestation. In this way, these conditions
can be corrected before the crops are lost. Before long,
farmers throughout the country will benefit from the
research with satellite photographs.
Comparison and Contrast Order
■ arranges details by presenting first the
similarities and differences of two ideas
being compared or contrasted.
■ comparison and contrast transitional words
and phrases:
■ along with, together with, as well as, also,
by the same token, similarly, although,
though, however, despite, yet, but, on the
other hand, in contrast, except for,
comparative and superlative form of
adjectives
Example:
Although some people prefer to see a stage play
rather than a film when they have the chance, both
plays and films have their good points. Seeing the
performers in person makes the dialogue and action
of a play more convincing. The action of the play,
however, is limited to the stage. It may be hard to
imagine the stage as a beach or a crowded street. In
contrast, the action of a film can move from real
beach to a real city street. In addition, a film can
emphasize an emotion or an idea by focusing on one
face or object. Playgoers lose that advantage but gain
the advantage of being able to focus on the
performer or object that interests the most. Thus,
although films and plays do have important
differences, neither of them is better than the other.
Developmental Order
■ arranges details in more logical/ creative
ways or can be combination of the previous
four logical orders.
■ This may also be used in cause-effect
paragraphs, definition, or other methods of
paragraph development.
■ common transitional words that show
logical relationship
■ if, whether, unless, therefore, thus, hence,
henceforth, in fact
Example: (Cause-Effect paragraph)
Squeaks and creaks are not generally a matter for
police. They are most likely the sounds of your house
setting down for the night. During the day, the house
heats up. The materials in the house expand when they
are heated. After dark the house cools off, and the
materials in the house shrink. The results of this
expanding and shrinking are heard as pops and creaks
and squeaks. The reason you hear them only late at
night is that in most houses, the noises from the activity
of the day drown them out. Also, may be late at night you
are listening a little harder for strange noises. If you
listen, you may notice that you house makes strange
noises all day long. Some houses make such regular
noises that you can tell the time of the day by the sound
of expansion and shrinking—the creaks act like a clock.
 Group Activity

■ Identify what type of logical order

can be used to developed the
topic sentences into paragraph.
1. Melvin and Arnold are alike and different in some
ways.
2. Faith, hope, and love are Christian values, yet the
greatest of these is love.
3. After hearing Daddy’s car’s honk, Toby ran to the
gate, opened it, and waved to Daddy.
4. Haiyan or typhoon Yolanda devastated provinces in
the Visayas.
5. The onlookers stand in awe upon seeing the snow-
capped mountain. As they gradually look at the
midsection of it, the more they become amazed of
its scaffold that looks like a giant’s outstretched
arms extending at the left and right wings of such
wonder of nature.
 Answer:
1. Melvin and Arnold are alike and different in some ways.
- comparison and contrast
2. Faith, hope, and love are Christian values, yet the greatest of
these is love.
- order of importance
3. After hearing Daddy’s car’s honk, Toby ran to the gate, opened
it, and waved to Daddy.
- chronological order
4. Haiyan or typhoon Yolanda devastated provinces in the Visayas.
- developmental order
5. The onlookers stand in awe upon seeing the snow-capped
mountain. As they gradually look at the midsection of it, the
more they become amazed of its scaffold that looks like a
giant’s outstretched arms extending at the left and right wings
of such wonder of nature.
- spatial order
 What
have you
learned?
 It is
writing
time!
Choose one of the five types of logical
order and write a one-paragraph essay
about one of the following topics:
One of their childhood experiences
 Participating in sports
Taking photographs
How to go to their place (or from one place
to another)
Participating in club/s
Doing volunteer work
 CRITERIA 4 3 2 1 Score

Writing All the writing Two-three Only one Writing x2

Conventions conventions writing writing conventions
(Grammar, are correct conventions convention are neither
Spelling and and are correct but is correct correct nor
Punctuations) effectively some are not but not effectively
used. effectively effectively used.
used. used.

Content and The ideas are The ideas are The writing The writing is x3
Organization arranged arranged is arranged not logically
logically. They logically and logically organized.
flow smoothly are linked to although Frequently,
from one to each other. For occasionally, ideas fail to
another and the most part, ideas fail to make sense
are clearly the reader can make sense together. The
linked to each follow the line together. reader
other. The of reasoning. The reader cannot
reader can is fairly clear identify a line
easily follow about what of reasoning
the line of the writer and loses
reasoning. intends. interest.