Grammar C2 - Advanced Cohesive Devices
Here is a summary of the video on advanced cohesive devices in writing:
- Analogy for Writing: Writing a complex essay without cohesive devices is like building a dry stone wall without mortar; using advanced cohesive devices creates a solid, smooth structure connecting ideas rather than just words.
- Advanced Reference:
- Words like "this" can act as a container to refer back to entire complex situations or ideas rather than repeating a whole phrase.
- When comparing two distinct subjects, using terms like "the former" and "the latter" helps direct the reader to specific subjects without repeating their names.
- Lexical Cohesion:
- To avoid sounding repetitive, writers can use word chains by switching to synonyms (e.g., car to automobile) or broader categories (e.g., vehicle, mode of transport).
- Antonyms (e.g., mentioning failure when discussing success) can also be used to maintain the thematic focus of a piece.
- Logical Hinges:
- Heavy-duty conjunctions and phrases—such as "provided that" or "inasmuch as"—allow writers to express strict conditions, degree, and nuanced logical relationships beyond basic conjunctions like "if", "because", or "but".
- Conclusion: Combining directional pointers, vocabulary chains, and logical hinges transforms separate sentences into a unified, sophisticated essay.
Related notes
- Grammar C2 - Choosing Subjects for General Statements
- Grammar C2 - Phrasal Prepositional Verbs
- Grammar C2 - Fronting
- Grammar C2 - Reduced Clauses
- Grammar C2 - Using Auxiliary Verbs
- Grammar C2 - Collocation
- Grammar C2 - Alternatives to If
- Grammar C2 - Inversion
- Grammar C2 - Modal Verbs
- Grammar C1 - Advanced Discourse Markers
- on-the-other-hand — contrast discourse marker
- in-other-words — clarification discourse marker
- for-example — illustration discourse marker
- first-of-all — sequencing discourse marker
- by-the-way — incidental topic discourse marker