Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)
-
Understand the concept of textual cohesion: students should be able to define and understand what textual cohesion is, recognizing its importance for the construction of a cohesive and coherent text. They should also be able to identify the main elements of textual cohesion.
-
Identify and use the main elements of textual cohesion: students should be able to identify and correctly use the main elements of textual cohesion, such as pronouns, conjunctions, adverbs, and prepositions. They should understand how these elements contribute to the cohesion and coherence of the text.
-
Recognize the importance of textual cohesion for text comprehension: students should be able to perceive how the lack of textual cohesion can hinder text comprehension. They should understand that textual cohesion is essential for the text to be clear and easily understandable.
Secondary objectives:
-
Develop reading and textual interpretation skills: through the study of textual cohesion, students should improve their reading and textual interpretation skills, as the understanding of these elements contributes to the overall understanding of the text.
-
Promote cohesive writing practice: by identifying and using the elements of textual cohesion, students should be encouraged to practice cohesive writing in their textual productions.
Introduction (10 - 12 minutes)
-
Review of Previous Content: The teacher should start the lesson by briefly reviewing the concepts of text and types of texts already studied, as these concepts are fundamental for the understanding of the current topic. It should also briefly review the concepts of paragraph and clause, as the elements of textual cohesion are used to connect these textual units.
-
Problem Situations: The teacher can propose two problem situations to instigate students' curiosity and guide them to the topic of the lesson. First, they can present a fragmented text, where the parts are not well connected, and ask students what is missing for the text to make sense. Then, they can present a text with many word repetitions and ask students how they could improve the text's fluency without repeating so many words.
-
Contextualization: The teacher should explain the importance of textual cohesion in everyday life, highlighting that the ability to write cohesive and coherent texts is essential in many situations, such as in the production of essays for entrance exams and competitions, in the preparation of work reports, and even in communication via email or text message.
-
Introduction of the Topic: To introduce the topic and capture students' attention, the teacher can share two curiosities. The first is that textual cohesion can vary from one culture to another, and even between different types of texts within the same culture. The second is that, although textual cohesion is fundamental for text comprehension, it is not sufficient on its own. A text also needs to be coherent, that is, it needs to make sense as a whole, and not just as a sequence of well-connected sentences.
-
Capture Attention: To capture students' attention, the teacher can propose a challenge: ask them to rewrite a short text, maintaining the same meaning but improving textual cohesion and coherence. This will actively involve students from the beginning of the lesson and help solidify their understanding of the topic.
Development (20 - 25 minutes)
-
Theory (10 - 12 minutes): The teacher should present the theory of textual cohesion and coherence, explaining each concept and exemplifying with practical situations. In this stage, the teacher should:
-
Explain the concept of textual cohesion: The teacher should explain that textual cohesion is the logical connection between the parts of a text, promoted by cohesive elements, which can be words, expressions, phrases, or clauses. It should be emphasized that textual cohesion is essential for the text to make sense and be easily understood.
-
Present the main elements of textual cohesion: The teacher should present the main elements of textual cohesion, such as pronouns, conjunctions, adverbs, and prepositions, explaining how each of them contributes to the cohesion and coherence of the text. Examples of each element and how they are used to connect the parts of the text should be given.
-
Explain the concept of textual coherence: The teacher should explain that textual coherence is the relationship of meaning between the parts of a text, which makes the text understandable as a whole. It should be emphasized that textual coherence is related to the content of the text, that is, to the idea that the author wants to convey.
-
Differentiate cohesion from coherence: The teacher should clarify the difference between textual cohesion and coherence, reinforcing that cohesion refers to the connection between the parts of the text, while coherence refers to the relationship of meaning between these parts.
-
-
Practice (10 - 13 minutes): After presenting the theory, the teacher should propose practical activities for students to apply what they have learned. In this stage, the teacher should:
-
Activity of identifying elements of cohesion: The teacher should present some text excerpts and ask students to identify the cohesive elements present in each excerpt. The teacher should guide students to pay attention to the function of these elements, that is, how they contribute to the cohesion of the text.
-
Text rewriting activity: The teacher should propose that students rewrite some text excerpts, maintaining the same meaning but improving textual cohesion and coherence. This activity will allow students to practice using the elements of textual cohesion.
-
Textual production activity: Finally, the teacher should propose that students produce a short text, paying attention to textual cohesion and coherence. The teacher should guide students to use the elements of textual cohesion appropriately, in order to ensure the cohesion and coherence of the text.
-
-
Feedback (3 - 5 minutes): After the completion of the activities, the teacher should provide feedback to the students, highlighting what was well done and what can be improved. The teacher should take this opportunity to clarify doubts and reinforce the concepts of textual cohesion and coherence. The teacher should also provide examples of well-cohesive and coherent texts, so that students can compare them with the texts they produced.
Return (8 - 10 minutes)
-
Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes): The teacher should promote a group discussion for students to share their answers or solutions found during the practical activities. The teacher can start the discussion by asking students what were the main difficulties encountered in identifying and using the elements of textual cohesion, and how they managed to overcome them. The teacher should encourage the participation of all students and ensure that all viewpoints are heard and respected.
-
Connection with Theory (2 - 3 minutes): After the discussion, the teacher should make the connection between the practical activities and the theory presented. For example, the teacher can ask students how they applied the concepts of textual cohesion and coherence in rewriting the texts, and what were the results obtained. The teacher should emphasize the importance of textual cohesion for text comprehension and for the clear and effective transmission of ideas.
-
Individual Reflection (2 - 3 minutes): To conclude the lesson, the teacher should propose that students make a brief reflection on what they have learned. The teacher can ask questions such as:
- What was the most important concept learned today?
- What do you still not fully understand?
- How could you apply what you learned today in real situations?
The teacher should encourage students to write down their answers and to continue reflecting on them after the end of the lesson. This reflection will help students consolidate what they have learned and identify possible gaps in their understanding, which can be addressed in future lessons.
-
Teacher's Feedback (1 - 2 minutes): Finally, the teacher should give overall feedback on the lesson, highlighting the positive points and areas that can be improved. The teacher should praise the effort and participation of the students, and encourage them to continue studying and practicing the concepts of textual cohesion and coherence.
Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)
-
Summary of Contents (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should summarize the main points covered in the lesson, recalling the concept of textual cohesion and coherence, the importance of cohesive elements, the difference between cohesion and coherence, and how they contribute to the understanding and fluency of a text. The teacher should reinforce that textual cohesion is essential for the organization and fluency of ideas in a text, while textual coherence concerns the logic and meaning of ideas.
-
Connection of Theory with Practice (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should explain how the lesson connected theory, practice, and real applications of textual cohesion and coherence. It should be emphasized that the practice of identifying and using the elements of textual cohesion in rewriting and textual production activities allows students to apply theoretical concepts in a concrete and meaningful way. The teacher can also mention the importance of textual cohesion and coherence in everyday situations, such as in writing emails, text messages, and work reports.
-
Additional Materials (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should suggest additional materials for students to deepen their knowledge of textual cohesion and coherence. These materials may include books, articles, videos, and online exercises. For example, the teacher can recommend reading literary texts of different genres to observe how authors use the elements of textual cohesion to connect the parts of the text. The teacher can also suggest more writing activities to practice the application of textual cohesion elements.
-
Topic Importance (1 minute): Finally, the teacher should emphasize the importance of the topic studied for students' daily lives. It should be highlighted that the ability to write cohesive and coherent texts is not only important for academic success, but also for professional and personal life. The ability to express oneself clearly and organized in writing is a valued skill in various areas, from business communication to writing texts for the internet. In addition, competence in textual cohesion and coherence also contributes to the development of reading and textual interpretation skills, which are fundamental for learning in all disciplines.