Module 1 — Effective
writing: Strategies
and principles
| Course Guide | Module 1 | Module 2a | Module 2b |
Paragraph and document flow
Paragraphs with flow are easier for the reader to follow. In documents, effective flow comes when each paragraph seems to flow on from the one before and where the relationship between the paragraphs is perfectly clear. In paragraphs with flow, each sentence flows from the one before in a discernible pattern. The topic sentence and controlling idea give the roadmap for the paragraph. Coherence is achieved by skilful use of:
- transitional words and phrases
- pronoun references
- repeated words
- parallel construction
Compare the following three paragraphs and consider their “flow.”
Paragraph 1 |
The most important evidence of the success of the programme is the capacity of the partner communities, government agencies, and NGOs to sustain the results achieved. This success can be attributed mainly to the effective use of the community-driven participatory approach. The approach, which is primarily anchored on sustainable indigenous or traditional knowledge systems and practices, enables communities to take the lead in their own development processes and limits development agencies only to the provision of facilitative support services. |
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The most important evidence of the success of the programme is the capacity of the partner communities, government agencies, and NGOs to sustain the results achieved. This success can be attributed mainly to the effective use of the community-driven participatory approach. The approach, which is primarily anchored on sustainable indigenous or traditional knowledge systems and practices, enables communities to take the lead in their own development processes and limits development agencies only to the provision of facilitative support services. This paragraph, which focuses on the controlling idea of the programme's success, flows easily from one sentence to the next. This is primarily because each sentence refers to the one previous in order to build on the controlling idea. |
Paragraph 2 |
The ILO's crisis work is still internally and externally seen as primarily employment-themed. The next programme phase would be raising appreciation of ILO's broader agenda by assuming additional crisis-response competencies within the ILO. The programme could be moved to a more cross-cutting position within the Office. There is a chance to demonstrate the integrated and field-oriented nature of ILO's crisis programme. |
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This paragraph really doesn't demonstrate flow. There is a disconnect between the first and second sentence. They are in fact in contrast to each other. Look below at the same paragraph, with the appropriate joining words and phrases used to give the paragraph flow: The ILO's crisis work is still internally and externally seen as primarily employment-themed. While recognizing this, a reasonable step for the next programme phase would be raising appreciation of ILO's broader agenda by assuming additional crisis-response competencies within the ILO. Facilitating this may require moving the programme to a more cross-cutting position within the Office, which would demonstrate the integrated and field-oriented nature of ILO's crisis programme. |
Paragraph 3 |
The ILO has been helping countries in the region to establish the rule of law and rights at work in a number of ways. Firstly, on the legislative side, ratification by the member States of the ILO's eight fundamental Conventions has risen. For example, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen have ratified all eight core Conventions. In addition, China has declared all fundamental Conventions applicable to the Macau Special Administrative Region, China. Finally, with the announcement in March 2005 by its Parliament that it had approved the proposal to ratify Conventions Nos. 29 and 105, Mongolia will join the countries that have ratified all eight core Conventions. |
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The ILO has been helping countries in the region to establish the rule of law and rights at work in a number of ways. Firstly, on the legislative side, ratification by the member States of the ILO's eight fundamental Conventions has risen. For example, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen have ratified all eight core Conventions. In addition, China has declared all fundamental Conventions applicable to the Macau Special Administrative Region, China. Finally, with the announcement in March 2005 by its Parliament that it had approved the proposal to ratify Conventions Nos. 29 and 105, Mongolia will join the countries that have ratified all eight core Conventions. This paragraph also flows well, primarily because it uses specific markers to alert the reader to the direction of the paragraph. |