6. Coherence II
Contents |
Chapter Summary
The sixth chapter of Joseph M. Williams's Style is interpreted by Group Seven: Nick, Danielle, Krista, Carl, and Charlotte.
Intentions and Points
When a reader encounters a paragraph, they look for two things. The first is called the issue, a short segment that opens the paragraph and briefly introduces what is going to be discussed. The second thing is an announcement of new topics and ideas that will be explored in the longer segment following the paragraph, referred to as the discussion. This announcement of ideas is generally found at the end of the issue.
In this chapter, we will be adding on to the issue and discussion with two more principles of organization.
What's the Point?
One of the ways writers can display coherence in their writing is to have a sentence in every paragraph that states the reason behind the paragraph. Most writers that do not have this thesis statement claim that the meaning of a paragraph (or a piece of work in general) was obvious based on the information given. This means that the writer assumes readers have the same assumptions or opinions about the data given as they do, which is not always the case. Having a sentence containing the point about the paragraph will increase coherence, as illustrated in the following principle:
Principle 4: A reader will feel that a paragraph is coherent if he or she can read a sentence that specifically articulates its point.
Where's the Point?
There are a few places to locate the point of the article, but for the most coherence, the point should be placed at the end of the issue or at the end of the discussion/paragraph.
The point is usually placed at the end of the issue because the readers expect to find the point there, whether the issue is of a paragraph, a section, or a whole document. Putting the point at the end of the issue also allows the sentences before it to provide transitions, make a general claim that will be narrowed into the point, or make a preliminary claim that the point rejects.
The point can also be placed at the ends of discussions and still be coherent. If the writer uses a paragraph to introduce an entire document, then the point can be located at the end of that paragraph. However, if the opening of the article consists of more than one paragraph, then the main point will most likely appear at the end of the entire opening. In most cases, it is best to avoid putting the point at the end of the discussion, but some reasons for doing this are politeness (giving a soft build to bad news), discovery (letting the readers work through the argument to experience the sense of discovery), convention (the writer can announce a problem that no one has expected then work through the problem to the main point), and failure to revise (sometimes when the writer starts the draft they don't really know where they are going). It is not recommended to put the point last. If it is done, the reader should make sure to 1)offer an anticipatory point that clearly promises a main point coming, and 2)towards the end of the anticipatory point include themes and topics that you will pursue.
Where the point is located is demonstrated in the following principle:
Principle 5: A reader will feel that a paragraph is coherent if he finds the Point sentence in one of two predictable places in the paragraph: 1)at the end of its issue, or 2) at the end of its discussion, at the end of the paragraph (or section or whole document).
The Model Entire
We now have gained a better understanding of discussion, issue and point and are ready to add three principles to them in order to obtain clarity and coherence.
1.Within issue, introduce key themes and topical words.
2.In the discussion, keep strings of topics consistent.
3.In the discussion, repeat those thematic words or words related to them.
Keeping consistency within the discussion, using topical language that is repeated or related to your preceding language will assist the reader in creating familiarity within the text. We can use these principles to assist in eliminating confusion in favor of obtaining clarity. The key is finding a balance in order to make your reader feel comfortable and at ease while they absorb your writing.
These principles can serve as a guide to help us determine when our readers might judge our writing as muddled and confusing. These guidelines may also help us avoid generic clarity. We are constantly searching for ways to inject our style into our prose without creating confusion within our reader, while at the same time retreating from the ordinary presentation.
Every line in every paragraph need not be a work of art. Readers are at times unaware that they are reading clear writing because they are not thinking about how clear said writing is. The reader is instead focused on the content due to the clarity of the piece as the writer has intended.
Parts of a Prose Paragraph
Below is an example paragraph, followed by a brief explanation of how issue, discussion, and point interact within the prose paragraph.
But extreme poverty is not only a condition of unsatisfied material needs. It is often accompanied by a degrading state of powerlessness. Even in countries that are democracies and are relatively well governed, respondents to the World Bank survey described a range of situations in which they had to accept humiliation without protest. If someone takes what little you have, and you complain to the police, they may not listen to you. Now will the law necessarily protect you from rape or sexual harassment. You have a pervading sense of shame and failure because you cannot provide for your children. Your poverty traps you, and you lose hope of ever escaping from a life of hard work for which, at the end, you will have nothing to show beyond bare survival (from The Life You Can Save, by Peter Singer, pg. 6).
The first two sentences act as the issue, as they cover the topic of the paragraph. They open the paragraph and briefly introduce what is going to be discussed. Everything after the issue is part of the discussion, as they bring up new topics and ideas against a background of repeated topics and themes. The last sentence of the issue – in this case, the second sentence – is referred to as the point, which states the reason and purpose of the paragraph. “It is often accompanied by a degrading state of powerlessness” is the point, or, the claim that the writer wants the reader to accept. If one were to read the discussion and ask, “What’s the point?” the point sentence would be the response.
Headings as a Test for Coherence
Headings are an excellent way for readers and writers alike to separate points of importance because they give a general idea about the content of the section they head. Whether the headings remain in the final draft or not, they allow the writer to clearly locate the issue, discussion, and main points of a document. If you decide, as a writer, to keep the headings in your final draft, be sure that they state the new and central topics and themes of the sections they address. If it is difficult to place or name headings in the document, this probably proves that the writing is not coherent enough and that the reader will be at least mildly confused.
A Final Note on Drafting
While it is important to examine what you have already written, it is also helpful to know a few things that can help you get off to the right start before you even begin a draft. Consider the following:
1. List your main characters.
2. List several central topics that you anticipate will run through your entire text.
3. If you you know exactly what needs to go into your point sentence, write it out.
4. Subdivide your writing problems into manageable segments.
5. Decide right away whether your document is going to be point-early or point-last.
6. If point-last, write an anticipatory point sentence to get started.
7. As you are writing, remind yourself of your thematic and topic strings.
8. If you don't know your point, start writing anyway.
9. Once you've written a first draft, check to see if you have written a new point sentence that doesn't match up with the one you initially wrote.
10. If these two point sentences are different, decide which one works better and stick with it.
11. Begin revising.
Application to Twitter
This was collaboratively written by Group Two.
Intentions and Points
When a tweeter encounters a tweet, they look for two things: the issue and the discussion (for definitions of these terms, see #Twitter Jargon and the chapter summary, above).
In general, every tweet can be considered an issue and a fragment of discussion because it is a short statement (140 characters) that announces both the topic at hand and the author's opinion, argument, or idea. Using different techniques, tweeters can find responses to this specific fragment or to a broader, more specific discussion. Tweeters can also contribute to the discussion in any manner they choose or even branch off into a related topic by using multiple hashtags.
Issues in a tweet can often be made clear using a hashtag. This tag makes the issue(s) being discussed in the remainder of the tweet clear and also serves to link individual tweets to the greater conversation about the specific topic being discussed.
By applying a hashtag, Tweeters can look for and add to a discussion of an issue in any number of ways, including:
- making or searching for a response/mention of the tweet's author ("Twauthor"?) using the '@' sign
- clicking on the author's profile to see their bio and tweet history
- clicking on the hashtag to see real-time tweets on the issue
- finding or creating a Twitter group related to the topic
- or searching (via Twitter, related apps, web searches, or even non-digital resources) for more on the issue
Outside of an individual tweet, tweeters can find such topics in the Trending Topics sidebar of Twitter (reserved for that moment's most popular issues), by using the search function, or via third-party applications Sometimes, if a tweeter likes what another one of his/her fellow tweeters posted and would like to share it on their own wall, they have the ability to “retweet”. By putting the letters RT before the sentence/phrase/word, fellow tweeters know that the sentence/phrase/word has been taken from another user.
An example would be: RT @yourpalval: Last day to sign up for the Breast Cancer Marathon! Let’s walk to find a cure!!
What's the Point?
An important way to show coherence in tweeting is to make use of the hashtag in tweets that connect to a broader conversation on Twitter. If tweeters do not use the hashtag, they assume their tweet will be within the broader conversation based on the information given, but this is not necessarily the case. To have a tweet containing the hashtag which, through convention, is designated to the topic, will increase coherence of the discussion and allow the tweeter and follower to take part in the topic being discussed.
The importance of the hashtag and mentions are vital when discussing a particular topic with others. How are the readers supposed to know that your tweet is in connection with another person or group without the hashtag or a mention of that group/user? Adding this will only increase the awareness and understanding of the individuals following the topic.
Where's the Hashtag?
According to Twitter Support, hashtags can be placed anywhere in the tweet.
In order to make the topic known immediately, many people use a hashtag at the beginning or end of a tweet. However, many times both hashtags and mentions will occur grammatically where the word itself would occur in a sentence.
Examples:
- Beginning:
- #beatcancer Come to the fundraiser today!
- #musicmonday My fav song right now is New York State of Mind
- End:
- Please help find a cure #beatcancer
- @twittorician What is going on in class tomorrow? #eng328
- In sentence:
- Help us #beatcancer today at the student center
- Is anyone going to the #twakeover #halloween party Saturday?
- Non-cohesive:
- You should call your senator #CallCongress today (you, @bobdole) about reform!
- Cohesive:
- @bobdole You should #CallCongress today about the #healthcarereform
While hashtags can occur anywhere, it may be wise to think about their placement, for the sake of space and readability.
Similarly to the issue sentence in a paragraph, you may wish to start with the issue and then provide information or opinion, lead up to the issue hashtag, or simply tag the issue itself in the piece of discussion you contribute to it.
There are a few places to locate hashtag discussions, but for the most coherence, see #Resources for Coherent Tweeting.
The Model Entire
We now have gained a better understanding of hashtags and are ready to add three principles to them in order to obtain clarity and coherence.
- Attach the hashtag symbol to the beginning of a word or topic to join the Twitter discussion about particular themes and topics.
- In the 140 character tweet, maintain relevance to the topic.
- Follow and participate in the discussion, in one of the methods listed in Where's the Hashtag?
Adding the hashtag to your tweet will not only allow you to join in the Twitter discussion about specific topics, but will also send your tweet directly to the discussion board, thereby getting your comment/idea to the other tweeters involved.
Since Twitter only allows 140 characters per tweet, the issue should be stated as clearly as possible. Provide the correct hashtag to insure maximum understanding of each tweet.
By following and participating in one of the discussions using the aforementioned sites, a better understanding of the topics is gained and each tweeter can also become more familiar with Twitter and the sites associated with it.
These principles can serve as a guide to help us participate in coherent discussion using Twitter. They may also help to avoid the stream of arbitrary tweets that the Twitter community is often subject to.
Parts of a Tweet "Paragraph"
Below is an example tweet, followed by a brief explanation of how issue, discussion, and point interact within the tweet "paragraph".
The JayZ concert last night was amazing. #JayZ
The first sentence acts as the issue, as it opens the tweet “paragraph” and briefly introduces what is to be discussed. Everything after the issue – the hashtag, in other words – is part of the discussion. It brings up new topics and ideas, such as other comments about Jay-Z, against the background of the topic or theme brought up in the issue. The issue, in this case, is also the point, as it states the purpose of the tweet “paragraph”. “The Jay-Z concert last night was amazing” is the point, or, the claim that the writer wants the reader to accept. If one were to read the discussion (the #JayZ hashtag in this case) and ask, “What’s the point?”, the point sentence would be something akin to "What do people on Twitter think of JayZ?".
Hashtags as a Test for Coherence
Hashtags provide an excellent way for tweeters to follow, and participate in, topics of importance because they connect all those participating in the discussion. This is a great way to stay in contact with others who have similar interests similar and also to provide up-to-date information on a particular subject. The use of hashtags make tweeting easier and more fun because they provide a quick way for others to see an individual tweeter's thoughts without having to visit personal homepages. While hashtags may not be necessary to create a coherent tweet or to participate in a Trending Topic, being unable to find or create a relevant hashtag for your Tweet may indicate that the topic it is addressing is not as cohesive as it could be.
A Final Note on Tweeting
While it is important to examine what has already been tweeted, it is also helpful to know a few things that can help you get off to the right start before you even begin a tweet. Consider the following:
- Who are you replying to or re-tweeting? What other tweeters could be mentioned?
- Think of several other tweets you've seen addressing your topic and the hashtags they used. You may want to check the current stream on these hashtags to see if your point has already been addressed. See #Resources for Coherent Tweeting.
- If you you know exactly what needs to go into your tweet, write it out.
- If need be, split your tweet into several tweets, linking them with a hashtag.
- Decide where you will place the hashtag. (See #Where's the Hashtag?)
- As you are tweeting, remind yourself of your topic and relevant hashtags.
- If you don't know a hashtag to use, start writing anyway.
- Once you've written your tweet, check to see if you have written something that applies to a hashtag/Trending Topic/tweeter that doesn't match up with the one you initially intended to tweet about.
- If these two hashtags/topics/mentions are different, decide which one works better and stick with it OR make sure to include all that are relevant.
- Begin revising. Keep in mind you can delete a tweet you've already posted to rewrite, but many people may have already seen and replied to it.
Additional Notes and Resources
Twitter Jargon
Tweet - An individual update on Twitter.
Tweeter - A user of Twitter. Could be either an author or reader of a given tweet.
Hashtag - A symbol '#' preceding a word or compound of words that, in Twitter, create a link to a broader stream of tweets.
Mention/Reply - A mention or reply uses the '@' sign prefixing a Twitter username and is used to either directly address or reply to that person. It can also be used to mention the user when making a reference to the him/her, a group, etc.
Retweet - When someone reposts another user's Tweet, usually prefaced with "RT @(originaltweeter)".
Resources for Coherent Tweeting
Twitter Groups - Information on Twitter Groups.
Twemes - A site to track memes on Twitter.
Tweetchat - Creates a Twitter 'chatroom' based on hashtags.
TweetGrid - Allows you to search for up to 9 topics and follow them in real-time.
Twitterfall - Allows you to view tweets by hashtag, search, geographical location, etc. in real-time.
TweetStats - Allows you to view statistics and graphs relating to Twitter, including trending topics.
Twitscoop - Auto-updates Twitter stream, trends, stats, search, etc.
Twitter Support - Twitter's help site.
