Maintain coherence by using evidence that is relevant and sufficient.
Use evidence that points to one claim and gives enough detail to make that claim believable.
Core Idea
Evidence should pull in one direction. A paragraph becomes coherent when every example is clearly relevant and the writer uses enough support to prove the point without scattering attention.
Understanding
A coherent paragraph gives the reader one line of proof to follow. The evidence should point in the same direction and be substantial enough to make the claim believable.
- Relevant evidence: directly addresses the paragraph's claim.
- Sufficient evidence: gives enough detail or explanation for the reader to trust that claim.
- Revision move: write the paragraph claim in the margin, then test each example against it. If one example points somewhere else, cut it or move it. If every example is thin, deepen the best one instead of adding more clutter.
One paragraph with one strong chain of proof is usually more persuasive than three rushed examples competing for attention.
Step by Step
- Match every example to one paragraph claim.
- Explain the strongest piece of evidence before adding another.
- Remove details that do not strengthen the exact point the paragraph is proving.
Worked Example
A paragraph argues that internship programs help students make better career decisions. Which evidence set is most coherent and sufficient?
Select an answer to see the explanation