unity in an essay

Pasco-Hernando State College

• Unity and Coherence in Essays
• The Writing Process
• Paragraphs and Essays
• Proving the Thesis/Critical Thinking
• Appropriate Language

Test Yourself

• Essay Organization Quiz
• Sample Essay - Fairies
• Sample Essay - Modern Technology

Related Pages

• Proving the Thesis

Unity is the idea that all parts of the writing work to achieve the same goal: proving the thesis. Just as the content of a paragraph should focus on a topic sentence, the content of an essay must focus on the thesis.  The introduction paragraph introduces the thesis, the body paragraphs each have a proof point (topic sentence) with content that proves the thesis, and the concluding paragraph sums up the proof and restates the thesis. Extraneous information in any part of the essay which is not related to the thesis is distracting and takes away from the strength of proving the thesis.

An essay must have coherence. The sentences must flow smoothly and logically from one to the next as they support the purpose of  each paragraph in proving the thesis. .

Just as the last sentence in a paragraph must connect back to the topic sentence of the paragraph, the last paragraph of the essay should connect back to the thesis by reviewing the proof and restating the thesis.

Example of Essay with Problems of Unity and Coherence

Here is an example of a brief essay that includes a paragraph that  does not  support the thesis “Many people are changing their diets to be healthier.”

     People are concerned about pesticides, steroids, and antibiotics in the food they eat.  Many now shop for organic foods since they don’t have the pesticides used in conventionally grown food.  Meat from chicken and cows that are not given steroids or antibiotics are gaining in popularity even though they are much more expensive. More and more, people are eliminating pesticides, steroids, and antibiotics from their diets.

    Eating healthier also is beneficial to the environment since there are less pesticides poisoning the earth. Pesticides getting into the waterways is creating a problem with drinking water.  Historically, safe drinking water has been a problem. It is believed the Ancient Egyptians drank beer since the water was not safe to drink.  Brewing beer killed the harmful organisms and bacteria in the water from the Nile.

     There is a growing concern about eating genetically modified foods, and people are opting for non-GMO diets.  Some people say there are more allergic reactions and other health problems resulting from these foods.  Others are concerned because there are no long-term studies which clearly show no adverse health effects such as cancers or other illnesses. Avoiding GMO food is another way people are eating healthier food.

See how just one paragraph  can take away from the effectiveness of the essay in showing how people are changing to healthier food since the unity and coherence are affected.  There is no longer unity among all the paragraphs.  The thought pattern is disjointed and the essay loses its coherence.

Transitions and Logical Flow of Ideas

Transitions are words, groups of words, or sentences that connect one sentence to another or one paragraph to another.

They promote a logical flow from one idea to the next and overall unity and coherence.

While transitions are not needed in every sentence or at the end of every paragraph, they are missed when they are omitted since the flow of thoughts becomes disjointed or even confusing.

There are different types of transitions:

Time – before, after, during, in the meantime, nowadays

Space – over, around, under

Examples – for instance, one example is

Comparison – on the other hand, the opposing view

Consequence – as a result, subsequently

These are just a few examples.  The idea is to paint a clear, logical connection between sentences and between paragraphs.

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11 Unity & Coherence

Preserving unity.

Academic essays need unity, which means that all of the ideas in an essay need to relate to the thesis, and all of the ideas in a paragraph need to relate to the paragraph’s topic. It can be easy to get “off track” and start writing about an idea that is somewhat related to your main idea, but does not directly connect to your main point.

All of the sentences in a paragraph should stay “on track;” that is, they should connect to the topic. One way to preserve unity in a paragraph is to start with a topic sentence that shows the main idea of the paragraph. Then, make sure each sentence in the paragraph relates to that main idea.

If you find a sentence that goes off track, perhaps you need to start a separate paragraph to write more about that different idea. Each paragraph should generally have only one main idea.

As you pre-write and draft an essay, try to pause occasionally. Go back to the assignment prompt and re-read it to make sure you are staying on topic. Use the prompt to guide your essay; make sure you are addressing all of the questions. Do not just re-state the words in the prompt. Instead, respond to the questions with your own ideas, in your own words, and make sure everything connects to the prompt and your thesis.

Activity A ~ Finding Breaks in Unity

Consider the following paragraphs. Is there a topic sentence? If so, do all of the other sentences relate to the topic sentence? Can you find any sentences that don’t relate?

     The planned community of Columbia, Maryland, was designed as a city open to all, regardless of race, level of income, or religion. When Columbia began in 1967, many cities in the U.S. did not allow people of certain races to rent or buy homes. Its developer, James W. Rouse, wanted to build a new city that had fair and open housing options for everyone. HCC has a building named for James W. Rouse. Today, the city’s nearly 100,000 remain diverse, as shown by recent census data. *****

    College can be expensive and difficult. Critical thinking is a very important skill for college students to develop so that they can be successful in their careers. Employers look for graduates who can understand information, analyze data, and solve problems. They also want employees who can think creatively and communicate their ideas clearly. College students need to practice these skills in all of their classes so that they can demonstrate their abilities to potential employers. ***** Bananas are one of Americans’ favorite types of fruit. The Cavendish variety, grown in Central and South America, is the most commonly sold here in the U.S. Recent problems with a fungus called Panama disease (or TR4), however, have led to a shortage of Cavendish bananas. Similar problems occurred a few years ago in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Because the fungus kills the crop and contaminates the soil, scientists are concerned that the popular Cavendish banana could be completely eradicated. Bananas contain many nutrients, including potassium and Vitamin B6. *****

Whether you choose to include a topic sentence or not, all of the sentences in your paragraph need to relate to the one main idea of the paragraph.

Another way to think about unity in a paragraph is to imagine your family tree. Draw a quick sketch of your family tree in your notebook. If you were writing an essay about your family, you might write a paragraph about close family members first. Next, you might branch out into another paragraph to write about more distant relatives. You might even include a paragraph about very close family friends, or pets. Each paragraph would have just one main idea (immediate family, more distant relatives, close family friends), and every sentence in each paragraph would relate to that main idea.

Activity B ~ Preserving Unity in Your Own Writing

Examine a composition that you have written for this class. Do all of your paragraphs have unity? Can you find any sentences that don’t relate to the topic of each paragraph? Exchange papers with a partner to peer review.

Ensuring Coherence

There are several ways to create connections between ideas in your essay. Here are some suggestions:

1. Repeat key words and phrases. This can be a powerful way to make a point. Consider this excerpt from Rev. Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, in which he uses parallel structure :

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

2. Use synonyms , as in this example, where King uses both repetition (“Let freedom ring”) and synonyms (for “mountains”):

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

3. Use pronouns to refer to antecedents , as King does here; this can be more elegant than just repeating the key words and phrases:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

4. Use demonstratives ( this, that, these, those ) as adjectives or pronouns, as King does here:

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”…. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.  

Questions to Ponder

Pause for a moment here to think about the examples above. Think about audience, purpose, and context of an academic essay. Would you use the techniques for coherence in the same way that Dr. King did in his speech, or would you use the techniques in a different way? Discuss with a small group.

5. Use transitions. Transition words and phrases will help you to make sure your essay has coherence. Also called signal words/phrases or signposts, these help to guide your readers.

Transitions connect your related ideas; they can also show your reader that you are starting a new topic, giving an example, adding information, explaining causes and effects, and so on. Using the correct transition word or phrase in a sentence can make your writing much clearer. Try the activity below to think of possible transitions.

Activity C ~ Transition Words & Phrases

With your partner, brainstorm a list of transition words and phrases for each of the categories below.

Can you think of other transition words and phrases? What other categories do they belong to?

After you have completed these activities with your partner, consult  Transition Words & Phrases ~ Useful Lists for more on compare/contrast, addition, cause/effect, and other transitions to try.

Activity D ~ Ensuring Coherence in Your Own Writing

Examine a composition that you have written for this class for coherence. Find and mark examples of places where you used repetition, synonyms, pronouns or demonstratives to build connections between ideas.

Underline your transition words and phrases. Did you use the strongest signal words? Can you find examples where you need to add a transition? Or, did you use too many transitions? Exchange papers with a partner to peer review.

Consult our chapter on Transitions for more inspiration on achieving coherence and cohesion in your writing. Challenge yourself to use some new transitions in your next composition.

Is this chapter:

…about right, but you would like more examples? –> Read “ Cohesion and Coherence ” from George Mason University’s Writing Center.

…too easy, or you would like more examples? –> Read “ ESL: Coherence and Cohesion ” from the Writing & Communication Center at the University of Washington/Bothell

Note: links open in new tabs.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 28 August 1963. Washington, D.C. Speech.

to start to do something different

short piece or sample, for example a direct quote in writing or a few measures of a musical composition

to think about

ENGLISH 087: Academic Advanced Writing Copyright © 2020 by Nancy Hutchison is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Unity in Composition

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In composition , unity is the quality of oneness in a paragraph or essay that results when all the words and sentences contribute to a single effect or main idea; also called wholeness .

For the past two centuries, composition handbooks have insisted that unity is an essential characteristic of an effective text . Professor Andy Crockett points out that the " five-paragraph theme and  current-traditional rhetoric 's emphasis on method reflect further the expediency and utility of unity." However, Crockett also notes that "for rhetoricians , the achievement of unity has never been taken for granted" (Encyclopedia of Rhetoric and Composition, 1996.)

Pronunciation

From the Latin, "one."

Observations

• "Most pieces of effective writing are unified around one main point. That is, all the subpoints and  supporting details are relevant to that point. Generally, after you have read an essay, you can sum up the writer's main point in a sentence, even if the author has not stated it explicitly. We call this summary statement a thesis ." (X. J. Kennedy, Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Marcia F. Muth, The Bedford Guide for College Writers, 8th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008)
• Unity and Coherence "A good check on unity is to ask yourself if everything in your paragraph or essay is subordinate to and derived from the controlling idea. Make sure that your controlling idea—the topic sentence or thesis—indicates the subject and the focus on that subject..."​ (Lee Brandon and Kelly Brandon, Paragraphs and Essays With Integrated Readings, 12th ed. Wadsworth, 2012)

Rules of Thumb for Writing Unified Paragraphs

• Be sure your paragraphs focus on one idea and state that idea in a topic sentence.
• Place your topic sentence effectively within your paragraph. Let the purpose of your paragraph and the nature of your evidence guide you.
• Let your paragraph's evidence —the selected details , the examples — illustrate or clarify the idea expressed in your topic sentence.
• Make sure you explain the relationship between your evidence and your idea so that it is clear to readers.
• Think about unity among paragraphs when writing essays. Be sure your paragraphs are related, that they fit together and clarify your essay's idea.​ (R. DiYanni, Scribner Handbook for Writers. Allyn & Bacon, 2001)

A Note on Topic Sentences

• "Paragraphs may not have a topic sentence, but they must have unity and purpose . All the ideas in a paragraph should relate to a clear point readers will easily understand." (Mark Connelly, Get Writing: Paragraphs and Essays. Thomson Wadsworth, 2009)

Counterviews on Unity

• " Unity is the shallowest, the cheapest deception of all composition ... Every piece of writing, it matters not what it is, has unity. Inexpert or bad writing most terribly so. But ability in an essay is a multiplicity, infinite fracture, the intercrossing of opposed forces establishing any number of opposed centres of stillness." (William Carlos Williams, "An Essay on Virginia," 1925)
• Definition and Examples of Body Paragraphs in Composition
• Development in Composition: Building an Essay
• Paragraph Writing
• How to Structure an Essay
• Definition and Examples of Paragraphing in Essays
• The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay
• Supporting Detail in Composition and Speech
• How To Write an Essay
• Paragraph Unity: Guidelines, Examples, and Exercises
• What an Essay Is and How to Write One
• Understanding Organization in Composition and Speech
• An Essay Revision Checklist
• Definition and Examples of Analysis in Composition
• What Is a Topic Sentence?
• Thesis: Definition and Examples in Composition
• Best Practices for the Most Effective Use of Paragraphs

Paragraph Unity, Coherence, and Development

In each paragraph of an essay, one particular idea or topic is developed and explained. In order to successfully do so, however, it is essential that the paragraph be written in a unified and coherent manner. 

A unified paragraph must follow the idea mentioned in the topic sentence and must not deviate from it. For a further explanation on topic sentences, see the Write Right on Topic Sentences .

A coherent paragraph has sentences that all logically follow each other; they are not isolated thoughts. Coherence can be achieved in several ways. First, using transitions helps connect ideas from one sentence to the next. For more on transitions, see the Write Right on Transitions . Second, ordering thoughts in numerical sequence helps to direct the reader from one point to the next. Third, structuring each paragraph according to one of the following patterns helps to organize sentences: general to particular; particular to general; whole to parts; question to answer; or effect to cause. 

Remember that a paragraph should have enough sentences so that the main idea of the topic sentence is completely developed. Generalizations should be supported with examples or illustrations. Also, details and descriptions help the reader to understand what you mean. Don't ever assume that the reader can read your mind: be specific enough to develop your ideas thoroughly, but avoid repetition

An effective paragraph might look like this:

It is commonly recognized that dogs have an extreme antagonism toward cats. This enmity between these two species can be traced back to the time of the early Egyptian dynasties. Archaeologists in recent years have discovered Egyptian texts in which there are detailed accounts of canines brutally mauling felines. Today this type of cruelty between these two domestic pets can be witnessed in regions as close as your own neighborhood. For example, when dogs are walked by their masters (and they happen to catch sight of a stray cat), they will pull with all their strength on their leash until the master is forced to yield; the typical result is that a feline is chased up a tree. The hatred between dogs and cats has lasted for many centuries, so it is unlikely that this conflict will ever end.

This paragraph is effective for the following reasons:

• The paragraph shows unity. All the sentences effectively relate back to the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph. 
• The paragraph shows coherence. There is a flow of thoughts and ideas among the sentences in this paragraph. There are good transitions employed in the paragraph. The writer also presents her sub-topics in an orderly fashion that the reader can follow easily.
• The paragraph is developed. The writer gives herself enough space to develop the topic. She gives us at least two reasons to accept her argument and incorporates some examples in order to give those reasons more validity.

Reference: Strunk, Wiliam Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style . 4th ed., Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

Copyright © 2009 Wheaton College Writing Center

Achieving coherence

“A piece of writing is coherent when it elicits the response: ‘I follow you. I see what you mean.’ It is incoherent when it elicits the response: ‘I see what you're saying here, but what has it got to do with the topic at hand or with what you just told me above?’ ” - Johns, A.M

Transitions

Parallelism, challenge task, what is coherence.

Coherence in a piece of writing means that the reader can easily understand it. Coherence is about making everything flow smoothly. The reader can see that everything is logically arranged and connected, and relevance to the central focus of the essay is maintained throughout.

Repetition in a piece of writing does not always demonstrate cohesion.   Study these sentences:

So, how does repetition as a cohesive device work?

When a pronoun is used, sometimes what the pronoun refers to (ie, the referent) is not always clear. Clarity is achieved by  repeating a key noun or synonym . Repetition is a cohesive device used deliberately to improve coherence in a text.

In the following text, decide ifthe referent for the pronoun  it   is clear. Otherwise, replace it  with the key noun English  where clarity is needed.

Click here to view the revised text.

Suggested improvement

English has almost become an international language. Except for Chinese, more people speak it (clear reference; retain)  than any other language. Spanish is the official language of more countries in the world, but more countries have English ( it is replaced with a key noun) as their official or unofficial second language. More than 70% of the world's mail is written in English ( it is replaced with a key noun).  It (clear reference; retain) is the primary language on the Internet.

Sometimes, repetition of a key noun is preferred even when the reference is clear. In the following text, it is clear that it  refers to the key noun gold , but when used throughout the text, the style becomes monotonous.

Improved text: Note where the key noun gold is repeated. The deliberate repetition creates interest and adds maturity to the writing style.

Gold , a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewellery, coins and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 23 centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold -plated shields when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also its utility.

Pronoun + Repetition of key noun

Sometimes, greater cohesion can be achieved by using a pronoun followed by an appropriate key noun or synonym (a word with a similar meaning).

Transitions are like traffic signals. They guide the reader from one idea to the next. They signal a range of relationships between sentences, such as comparison, contrast, example and result. Click here for a more comprehensive list of Transitions (Logical Organisers) .

Test yourself: How well do you understand transitions?

Which of the three alternatives should follow the transition or logical organiser in capital letters to complete the second sentence?

Using transitions/logical organisers

Improve the coherence of the following paragraph by adding transitions in the blank spaces. Use the italicised hint in brackets to help you choose an apporpriate transition for each blank. If you need to, review the list of Transitions (Logical Organisers)   before you start.

Using transitions

Choose the most appropriate transition from the options given to complete the article:

Overusing transitions

While the use of appropriate transitions can improve coherence (as the previous practice activity shows), it can also be counterproductive if transitions are overused. Use transitions carefully to enhance and clarify the logical connection between ideas in extended texts. Write a range of sentences and vary sentence openings. 

Study the following examples:

Identifying cohesive devices

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8.6.1: Checking for Unity and Clarity

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Creating Unity and Coherence

Following your outline closely offers you a reasonable guarantee that your writing will stay on purpose and not drift away from the controlling idea. However, when writers are rushed, are tired, or cannot find the right words, their writing may become less than they want it to be. Their writing may no longer be clear and concise, and they may be adding information that is not needed to develop the main idea. When you reread your writing to find revisions to make, look for each type of problem in a separate sweep. Read it straight through once to locate any problems with unity. Read it straight through a second time to find problems with coherence. You may follow this same practice during many stages of the writing process. Reading your writing aloud will often help you find problems. Listen for the clarity and flow of your ideas. Identify places where you find yourself confused, and write a note to yourself about possible fixes.

When a piece of writing has unity, all the ideas in each paragraph and in the entire essay clearly belong and are arranged in an order that makes logical sense. The wording clearly indicates how one idea leads to another within a paragraph and from paragraph to paragraph. Sometimes writers get caught up in the moment and cannot resist a good digression. Even though you might enjoy such detours when you chat with friends, unplanned digressions usually harm a piece of writing.

When the writing has coherence, the ideas flow smoothly. Careful writers use transitions to clarify how the ideas in their sentences and paragraphs are related. These words and phrases help the writing flow smoothly. Adding transitions is not the only way to improve coherence, but they are often useful and give a mature feel to your essays. The following table groups many common transitions according to their purpose.

Writing Clearly and Concisely

Some writers are very methodical and painstaking when they write a first draft. Other writers unleash a lot of words in order to get out all that they feel they need to say. Do either of these composing styles match your style? Or is your composing style somewhere in between? No matter which description best fits you, the first draft of almost every piece of writing, no matter its author, can be made clearer and more concise.

If you have a tendency to write too much, you will need to look for unnecessary words. If you have a tendency to be vague or imprecise in your wording, you will need to find specific words to replace any overly general language.

Identifying Wordiness

Sometimes writers use too many words when fewer words will appeal more to their audience and better fit their purpose. Here are some common examples of wordiness to look for in your draft. Eliminating wordiness helps all readers, because it makes your ideas clear, direct, and straightforward.

• Sentences that begin with There is or There are.

Example: Wordy: There are two major experiments that the Biology Department sponsors. Revised: The Biology Department sponsors two major experiments.

• Sentences with unnecessary modifiers.

Example: Wordy: Two extremely famous and well-known consumer advocates spoke eloquently in favor of the proposed important legislation. Revised: Two well-known consumer advocates spoke in favor of the proposed legislation.

• Sentences with deadwood phrases that add little to the meaning such as in terms of , with a mind to , on the subject of , as to whether or not , more or less , as far as…is concerned , and similar expressions. You can usually find a more straightforward way to state your point.

Example: Wordy: As a world leader in the field of green technology, the company plans to focus its efforts in the area of geothermal energy. A report as to whether or not to use geysers as an energy source is in the process of preparation. Revised: As a world leader in green technology, the company plans to focus on geothermal energy. A report about using geysers as an energy source is in preparation.

• Sentences in the passive voice or with forms of the verb to be . Sentences with passive-voice verbs often create confusion, because the subject of the sentence does not perform an action. Sentences are clearer when the subject of the sentence performs the action and is followed by a strong verb. Use strong active-voice verbs in place of forms of to be , which can lead to wordiness. Avoid passive voice when you can.

Example: Wordy: It might perhaps be said that using a GPS device is something that is a benefit to drivers who have a poor sense of direction. Revised: Using a GPS device benefits drivers who have a poor sense of direction.

• Sentences with constructions that can be shortened.

Example: Wordy: The e-book reader, which is a recent invention, may become as commonplace as the cell phone. My over-sixty uncle bought an e-book reader, and his wife bought an e-book reader, too. Revised: The e-book reader, a recent invention, may become as commonplace as the cell phone. My over-sixty uncle and his wife both bought e-book readers.

Choosing Specific, Appropriate Words

College essays should be written in formal English suitable for an academic situation. Avoid slang terms, such as "guys" instead of "people," or clichés such as "better late than never." Avoid general words such as "thing," "nice," or "interesting" when more specific terms apply.

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This chapter contains an adaptation of English Composition 2 (opens in new window) : by Lumen Learning, and is used under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) (opens in new window) license.

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Now that you have an outline or idea of what you want to write, you can begin writing your draft. While you write your draft you should make sure that all of your main ideas (the thesis for the essay as a whole and the topic sentences for the individual paragraphs) have support that is unified in helping the reader understand that main idea. 

Unity is the idea that many parts combine together or are all connected to one idea. Writing has unity when the supporting sentences all work together to support the topic sentences and all the paragraphs work together to support the thesis statement.  Paragraphs that lack unity are confusing to the reader because some ideas do not seem to belong. 

Compare the examples below. The first paragraph has poor unity because there are sentences that do not support the topic sentence.

Example: Body Paragraph (Poor Unity)

       Chopin was a musical prodigy. While many people are aware of the great pieces he wrote, not as many people are aware of how young he was when he began his musical career. Chopin published one of his first pieces at the age of seven and one year later performed in a public concert (Plantinga & Hendley, 2018). At an astonishingly young age, he truly showed great musical talent in both of these things. While it may be hard to imagine, his interest in music may have begun even earlier. "In infancy Chopin was always strangely moved when listening to his mother or eldest sister playing the piano" (Plantinga & Hendley, 2018, "Life," para. 1). Many children show some response to music in their infancy. This early sensitivity may have helped his early desire to create and perform. It is clear that he was musically gifted very early in life.

Example: Body Paragraph (Revised for Unity)

When should i start a new paragraph.

1. When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always start in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own paragraph.

2. To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can serve to contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument, or any other difference.

3. When your readers need a pause. Breaks in paragraphs function as a short "break" for your readers—adding these in will help your writing more readable. You would create a break if the paragraph becomes too long or the material is complex.

4. When you are ending your introduction or starting your conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should always be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions have multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and the writer's purpose. 

https://www.palomar.edu/pages/eminamide/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2013/02/Crafting-Effective-Paragraphs.pdf

Unity In and Across the Parts of an Essay

You will need to have unity within paragraphs and between paragraphs. Having unity within paragraphs means that your supporting sentences in a particular paragraph all support the topic sentence of that paragraph. Having unity  between paragraphs means that your paragraphs all support the thesis statement of the essay. Consider how you can draft your essays to have unity within and between paragraphs as you read about drafting the parts of a cause/effect essay below. 

As you write your introduction, think about the information your reader needs to understand your topic so they feel ready for the thesis when they read it. Read the following thesis. What information would help a reader understand the general topic so he is ready for the thesis?  

TH: Positive urban development is the result of careful planning, wise investing, and a good understanding of the needs of the area.  

The reader needs to know what the author means by “positive urban development” so that when they read the thesis, they will be ready to learn about the causes of this type of development. The introduction may start discussing how cities change generally and then introduce the idea of positive changes like growth, stability, and safety. Then the reader should feel prepared for this thesis.  

The ideas in the background information are all connected to the topic of the thesis statement. They support the reader's understanding of the thesis statement. All of the background sentences should be unified with the main idea of the essay: the thesis statement. The introduction paragraph is unique; it has a hook, not a topic sentence. The main idea of the introduction is instead found in the thesis statement. That is the main idea the background information should connect to and prepare the reader to understand. 

As you write your body paragraphs, keep your focus on explaining how and why your topic sentences are true. It can be easy to get distracted when incorporating research into body paragraphs, but make sure everything you write supports the topic sentence.

If a detail doesn't obviously support the topic sentence of a body paragraph, add 1-2 sentences to explain how in your mind it does connect to and support the main idea OR delete it. If a whole body paragraph doesn't obviously support the thesis statement of the essay, revise the word choice, cohesive device choice, or source used to show how in your mind it does connect to and support the main idea OR delete the paragraph. If a sentence or paragraph doesn't support the main idea it will just confuse the reader.

Conclusion Paragraphs

As you write your conclusion paragraph, you should keep your focus on your restated thesis statement. It is the same idea as the thesis statement just in different words, so it is the same idea as the main idea of the whole essay. You maybe will summarize your essay which will focus on that main idea. Or, you may extend the essay in the conclusion to a broader community and the main idea's global impact, but your supporting sentences should still be about the main idea. Be careful not to lose that main idea at the very end. Even your concluding sentence should connect back to the restated thesis statement in some way. 

Exercise 1: Brainstorm Background Knowledge for an Introduction

What does the reader need to know before they encounter any of these thesis statements in an introduction paragraph? Write your ideas on the lines provided. 

1. TH: The imbalance of brain chemicals, personality and family relationships are important causes of depression.  

2. TH: Reading can help stimulate your brain, reduce stress, and increase knowledge.  

3. TH: Obesity in the US can be caused by lifestyle or genetics and it, in turn, causes a considerable number of people to develop diseases.  

Exercise 2: Analyze an Introduction Paragraph

Read the following introduction paragraph. Were you prepared for the thesis? Why? Or, why not?

        Climate change has become one of the major problems that the planet earth is facing. Scientists have observed changes in rainfall patterns, increase droughts in some inland areas, rising of sea level due to flooding from storms, and other unusual patterns in natural phenomena. Researchers have also discovered that the planet is increasingly heating up. Oceans and land are warmer than in the past. To illustrate this, scientists have discovered that there has been an increase of 1.71 degree in the temperature between the years 1880 and 2016 in both land and oceans (Pappas, 2017). The planet needs to maintain a certain temperature for its balance and for the benefit of all living creatures. As many wonder about the roots of this phenomenon on the planet, science has shown that human activities and natural events are causes of global warming.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

A student is writing a body paragraph for their essay on the effects of increasing solar power. The student already has a topic sentence from outlining and knows how he wants to conclude the paragraph. He is now trying to develop the idea. He found many different details on his topic while researching and brainstormed a few more.

Chose the details with the best unity with his main idea and use them to complete the paragraph below. Write your answer in complete sentences. Use in-text citations if needed. 

Possible Ideas:

[topic sentence]

.................

[concluding sentence]

Exercise 4: Analyze a body paragraph

What kind of advice would you give the author of this body paragraph?  

       Growing up bilingual has cognitive benefits. Humans have the capacity to learn lan guages. How much we develop this capacity relies on the context and experiences each person has in his/her life. Dr. Bialystok in her research assessed a group of monolingual and bilingual children with specific tasks. Children needed to have flexibility in problem solving, inhibit irrelevant information, and recognition. When the rules changed, the bilingual children were outstanding in their tasks. She attributed the bilingual children’s abilities in these tasks to their ability to switch between languages and select the appropriate words to use, due to their cognitive development. Bilingual people have the ability to hold two different things in their brain at the same time, and switch between them when they need it. Bialystok (2012) cited several studies that found bilinguals perform better in the cognitive and metalinguistic measures, divergent thinking, and creativity. She explained these advantages are because bilingual have mutual interference between languages to force them to adopt strategies that accelerate cognitive development.  

Exercise 5: Write a body paragraph

Return to the research about the causes of volcanic eruptions. Use the sources to develop a body paragraph that begins with this topic sentence:  

• A difference in density or air pressure can cause a volcanic eruption.  

Exercise 6: Concluding Sentences

 Read the titles of cause/effect essays below. Pretend you have written essays except for the very last sentence for each of these. Consider the topic of the essay, and then write a memorable concluding sentence for that essay.

1. The Calming Effects of Art

2. The Causes of Tooth Decay

3. Gas Prices 

Exercise 7: Write a conclusion

Read the following introduction paragraph for an essay about effects of sugar consumption. Write a conclusion paragraph for this essay.  

       It is not surprising that sugar can trigger negatives consequences in our body. For that reason it is natural that people are concerned about sugar consumption. In 2008, Americans were consuming over 60 pounds of added sugar per year, which is equivalent to 19 teaspoons or 306 calories. (Gunnars, 2017). This habit has taken hold of the conscience of the whole world. According to Gunnars, sugar consumption went down by 23% between the years 2000 and 2008, but ongoing intake levels are still way too high and are the principal factor in making people unhealthy (2017). Sugar in great quantities can lead to health problems, such as obesity, addiction and changes in your mood.  

This content is provided to you freely by BYU Open Learning Network.

Access it online or download it at https://open.byu.edu/up_writing_winter/ce_writing .

Table of Contents

Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, coherence – how to achieve coherence in writing.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - University of South Florida

Coherence refers to a style of writing where ideas, themes, and language connect logically, consistently, and clearly to guide the reader's understanding. By mastering coherence , alongside flow , inclusiveness , simplicity,  and unity , you'll be well-equipped to craft professional or academic pieces that engage and inform effectively. Acquire the skills to instill coherence in your work and discern it in the writings of others.

What is Coherence?

Coherence in writing refers to the logical connections and consistency that hold a text together, making it understandable and meaningful to the reader. Writers create coherence in three ways:

• logical consistency
• conceptual consistency
• linguistic consistency.

What is Logical Consistency?

• For instance, if they argue, “If it rains, the ground gets wet,” and later state, “It’s raining but the ground isn’t wet,” without additional explanation, this represents a logical inconsistency.

What is Conceptual Consistency?

• For example, if you are writing an essay arguing that regular exercise has multiple benefits for mental health, each paragraph should introduce and discuss a different benefit of exercise, all contributing to your main argument. Including a paragraph discussing the nutritional value of various foods, while interesting, would break the conceptual consistency, as it doesn’t directly relate to the benefits of exercise for mental health.

What is Linguistic Consistency?

• For example, if a writer jumps erratically between different tenses or switches point of view without clear demarcation, the reader might find it hard to follow the narrative, leading to a lack of linguistic coherence.

Related Concepts: Flow ; Given to New Contract ; Grammar ; Organization ; Organizational Structures ; Organizational Patterns ; Sentence Errors

Why Does Coherence Matter?

Coherence is crucial in writing as it ensures that the text is understandable and that the ideas flow logically from one to the next. When writing is coherent, readers can easily follow the progression of ideas, making the content more engaging and easier to comprehend. Coherence connects the dots for the reader, linking concepts, arguments, and details in a clear, logical manner.

Without coherence, even the most interesting or groundbreaking ideas can become muddled and lose their impact. A coherent piece of writing keeps the reader’s attention, demonstrates the writer’s control over their subject matter, and can effectively persuade, inform, or entertain. Thus, coherence contributes significantly to the effectiveness of writing in achieving its intended purpose.

How Do Writers Create Coherence in Writing?

• Your thesis statement serves as the guiding star of your paper. It sets the direction and focus, ensuring all subsequent points relate back to this central idea.
• Acknowledge and address potential counterarguments to strengthen your position and add depth to your writing.
• Use the genres and organizational patterns appropriate for your rhetorical situation . A deductive structure (general to specific) is often effective, guiding the reader logically through your argument. Yet different disciplines may privilege more inductive approaches , such as law and philosophy.
• When following a given-to-new order, writers move from what the reader already knows to new information. In formal or persuasive contexts, writers are careful to vet new information for the reader following information literacy laws and conventions .
• Strategic repetition of crucial terms and your thesis helps your readers follow your main ideas and evidence for claims 
• While repetition is useful, varying language with synonyms can prevent redundancy and keep the reader engaged.
• Parallelism in sentences can provide rhythm and clarity, making complex ideas easier to follow.
• Consistent use of pronouns avoids confusion and helps in maintaining a clear line of thought.
• Arrange your ideas in a sequence that naturally builds from one point to the next, ensuring each paragraph flows smoothly into the next .
• Signposting , or using phrases that indicate what’s coming next or what just happened, can help orient the reader within your argument.
• Don’t bother repeating your argument in your conclusion. Prioritize conciseness. Yet end with a call to action or appeal to kairos and ethos .

Recommended Resources

• Organization
• Organizational Patterns

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

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• Creating Coherence in Writing
• English Department

June 3, 2021

In this series, we’re discussing the way your essays will be evaluated in English 101, Southern’s first-year writing course. The five elements are unity, coherence, content, style, and correctness.

After seeing how to make your essay unified through the use of a good title, an organic first line, a specific thesis, and an interesting closing, let’s go to the next key element of writing, coherence.

Coherence is the quality of an essay that makes it easier to read. The technique can be described with many vivid analogies.

Essays should show natural structure, connectedness, flow, bridge-building, plot, thread, and harmony. Each of these expressions mean the same thing. As they read your essay, readers should have a strong sense of anticipation and sequence. They should be drawn forward toward your conclusion.

A coherent essay is a single unit with a beginning, middle, and end in the same way that an animal “unit” has a beginning, middle, and end. The cheetah has a particular sort of head, body, and tail which makes it perfect for what it does—chase down its prey. It all works together to that end.

Instead of being a disconnected collection of sentences and paragraphs, coherent essays contain sentences and paragraphs that work together for a common purpose. Without cohesion, readers are forced to make the connections between apparently disconnected ideas. Readers have to “write” the essay. You don’t want readers to do your work!

There are many techniques for creating coherence. Any element of an essay that points backward and draws forward will do the job. You can use synonyms, pronouns, paraphrase, and repetition to point forward and backward in an essay. An example of paraphrasing: “The Super Bowl lasted for six hours. This time broke a record.”

The music analogy is particularly potent. To make music, we have to arrange notes harmoniously. Random notes are not the kind of music we usually like. A note is beautiful only in context of other notes. An essay is a “tune,” perhaps even a symphony.

When you read professional writing, note how authors create coherence. There are two ways to learn the principle of coherence. Practice it consciously and identify it in the writing of others. You too can become a fine author.

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Is Maintaining Unity in Writing Important?

Unity is one of the primary characteristics of any effective writing . Unity means ensuring that all parts of your writing work together to convey a single, focused message. I find many of my students not that much concerned about maintaining unity in their writing. Therefore, their writings become less clear and effective.

In this article, I’ll discuss the importance of unity in writing and give you some essential tips and examples for achieving it.

Maintaining unity in writing is important because it ensures all components work together to convey a single, focused message. Unity in writing is the key to achieving the message’s clarity, improving comprehension, enhancing persuasiveness, and demonstrating professionalism.

You may try Fifty Ways to Practice Writing: Tips for ESL/EFL Students to practice and improve writing with pen and paper and typing. By applying these methods, you will write more, write faster, and write more correct and more interesting papers and letters.

Now let’s dive into the details about the significance of maintaining unity in writing. However, later in the post, I’ll also share some tips to maintain unity in writing.

Unity in Writing Is Crucial to Ensure the Clarity of Message

The core purpose of writing is to communicate an idea or a message. And maintaining unity in writing ensures that your audience can grasp your main argument quickly and easily. In addition, by ensuring that all your sentences and paragraphs contribute to the central theme, you reduce confusion and allow your readers to follow your line of thought effortlessly.

Suppose you are writing an essay about the benefits of exercise. You should focus on various aspects of exercise, such as improving physical health, boosting mental well-being, and increasing productivity. However, you should not bring in irrelevant topics, like the advantages of a specific diet. If you do so, it may distract from the central theme of the writing.

Unity Improves Comprehension of Your Writing

When your writing has unity, it becomes easier for your audience to understand your message. A well-structured and coherent piece of writing helps your readers make connections between ideas and understand their relationships. This ultimately leads to better comprehension and helps your audience keep the information more effectively.

Say, for example, that you are writing an essay on the impact of climate change on agriculture in Bangladesh. A unified approach would involve discussing the various aspects of this impact, such as changes in rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and the effects on crop yields.

By keeping your writing focused on these related topics, you help your readers understand the connections between them, leading to better comprehension.

Unity Can Enhance Persuasiveness of Your Writing

Maintaining unity can make your argument more compelling, whether writing an essay, an article, or a persuasive letter. By presenting a single, focused line of reasoning, your readers find it easier to understand your point of view. As a result, they become convinced by your arguments.

Let’s think for a moment that you are trying to persuade your local government to invest in renewable energy sources. In that case, your writing should focus on renewable energy’s benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, long-term cost savings, and job creation. You should not talk about irrelevant issues, such as the importance of tree plantation or traffic jams etc.

Unity in Writing Shows Your Professionalism

When you maintain unity in your writing, you showcase your professionalism and credibility as a writer. In addition, a well-structured, coherent piece of writing indicates that you have carefully considered your ideas and have the expertise to convey them effectively. This, in turn, can lead to increased trust and respect from your readers.

Tips for Maintaining Unity in Writing

To achieve unity in your writing, it’s important to follow specific strategies that help ensure your work remains focused and coherent. In this section, we will provide practical tips that can be applied to your writing process, making it easier to maintain unity and effectively convey your message.

#1 Define Your Main Idea

No matter what you write, before you start writing, take the time to identify your central theme or message. Having a clear understanding of your main idea will help you maintain unity throughout your writing, as it will guide your choice of supporting details, examples, and arguments.

A few days ago, I wrote an essay on improving writing skills. Let me share how I did it.

So, first, I tried to find out the main idea, which was “effective strategies to enhance writing abilities.” This central theme helped me focus on providing relevant tips, such as developing a writing routine, seeking feedback, and practicing editing skills.

#2 Create an Outline

An outline can help you ensure that your writing maintains unity. By organizing your ideas in a logical sequence, you can create a framework that supports your main idea. This outline will certainly guide you as you write and help you avoid introducing irrelevant or contradictory information.

Let’s return to the article about improving writing skills, my outline looked like this:

I. Introduction

A. Briefly explain the importance of writing skills

B. Introduce the main idea: effective strategies to enhance writing abilities

II. Develop a Writing Routine

A. Explain the benefits of a consistent writing routine

B. Describe strategies for setting up a writing schedule

C. Offer tips for overcoming writer’s block and staying motivated

III. Seek Feedback

A. Explain the importance of feedback in improving writing skills

B. Describe methods for obtaining feedback from peers, mentors, or writing groups

C. Offer tips for implementing constructive criticism and using it to grow as a writer

IV. Practice Editing Skills

A. Explain the role of editing in improving writing quality

B. Describe common editing techniques, such as reading aloud and using editing software

C. Offer tips for developing strong self-editing habits

V. Conclusion

A. Summarize the main points

B. Encourage readers to try these strategies to improve their writing skills

#3 Keep Your Paragraphs Focused

Each paragraph should have a single, clear focus that relates directly to your main idea. You must start each paragraph with a good topic sentence that expresses the main point of the paragraph. Your topic sentence should be followed by sentences that provide supporting details, examples, or explanations.

So, how should topic sentences be? Let’s take the essay about improving writing skills as a case. In the essay, the paragraph on seeking feedback might begin with the topic sentence,

“Actively seeking feedback is crucial for writers who want to refine their writing skills.”

This sentence clearly establishes the focus of the paragraph and is directly related to the main idea of the post.

#4 Use Clear and Concise Language

Using clear and concise language can help you maintain unity in your writing. Avoid using overly complex vocabulary, jargon, or complicated sentence structures. These can obscure your main idea and make it difficult for your readers to follow your line of thought.

#5 Revise and Edit

Finally, always take the time to revise and edit your work . During the revision process, check for consistency and coherence, ensuring that all components of your writing contribute to your main idea. Eliminate any off-topic or contradictory information and confirm your writing flows smoothly from one paragraph to the next.

In Conclusion

Unity in writing is essential for clear and engaging communication. It helps your writing stay focused on one central idea, making it easier to understand and more enjoyable for your audience.

As writers, we should always aim for unity in our work. It leads to stronger connections with readers and more impactful writing overall.

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How to write a complaint letter: with comprehensive examples, a guide to the proper business letter format with examples, how to use a semicolon in a sentence: a complete guide, how to write a personal letter in english: the ideal format, niaj a a khan.

Niaj A A Khan is an ESL Instructor with over 8 years of experience in teaching & developing resources at different universities and institutes. Mr. Khan is also a passionate writer working on his first book, "Learn English at Ease."

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Study Today

Largest Compilation of Structured Essays and Exams

Essay on Importance of Unity in Life

January 7, 2018 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

We live in a cosmopolitan society where people vary in their opinions, judgments, view points, outlooks, perspectives and beliefs. It is quite often said that no two people can think and act in the same way.

People look at things in a certain way and create opinions of their own, based on their knowledge, circumstances, upbringing, culture, mind sets, etc. Based on these factors and many more, they vary in their perspectives and decision making abilities.

A new hoarding put up across the road side drew different opinions from different people. Some saw it as a sheer waste of space and utility, some smiled at the model displayed in the hoarding, some thought of having a second look at the hoarding, some passed it off as just another thing.

So we can see that basically people have different views over different things and issues. Nobody can think and act similarly and in the same fashion.

Table of Contents

Unity within the Family

So in what context does the term ‘unity’ relate to? Let’s explore more. Suppose a five member family is planning a vacation for their holidays. The children prefer going to an amusement park. Their parents like visiting a cool hill station.

The elders of the house consider religious spots as their favorites. So how then the vacation should be planned. If three different batches set out on three different trips, the whole concept of enjoying the vacation is ruined. Enjoyment comes when all three sets of people agree to go to a common place and spend time together.

But disagreements over deciding the place are bound to be there. So, in that case, with mutual understanding within the family, it is possible for the entire family to plan a trip to travel together and have fun in the vacation. The feeling of mutual understanding brings about closeness to the topic of unity.

When there was unity in planning the trip, it was actually worked out and probably executed successfully. If there was no unity in planning for the trip, it would have become a miserable disagreement.

Perspective of Unity

So where does unity lie, within the people, in their jobs or in their minds, let us look into it now. Unity is a feeling that springs out of mutual respect and mutual understanding between a group of people, in order to bring about goodwill and a feeling of mutual agreement with all the parties involved.

Large families existed in olden days, because there was unity among the family members and they had the feeling of preserving the unity for the next generations. In these days, people are hell bent on disagreements; nobody seems to have a mutual consent over matters related to the house.

This leaves a gap in their thinking and leaves no room for co-operation and integration of the full family. Hence, we find many broken families these days. Every person stands in a hurry to bring out and glorify his opinions over others and seems totally impatient to lend an ear to what others also have to say.

There is hardly any room for a unified thinking approach here. Families can sit together, discuss openly and sort out issues before it’s too late. That way, the concept of staying together as a big unit with the feeling of unity in everybody’s hearts and not anywhere else, can be certainly achieved.

Unity in Diversity

In our country, we often hear what has been followed since ages and that is ‘ Unity in diversity ’. How that is achieved in our country lies the big question. Unity in big terms here means co-operation and harmony among all citizens though they preach and practice different religions of their choice.

In a multi –cultural and multi-linguistic society as ours, the amount of differences that can crop up between any two groups of people can never be imagined. In a big country like ours, we find politicians debating every other day about issues that seem smaller to some, major for a few others and critical to the ones affected by them.

Execution of schemes depends on various political parameters and crossing various voices of dissent. If there was a shout of consent in every legitimate scheme brought up by the government, our nation would have become a super power by now.

But differences within various political groups, dissuasion’s within persons belonging to the same political party, using politics for their personal gains and the endless blame-games have thrown apart the concept of unity. Political leaders no longer work with unity to see the country progress and achieve its dream of becoming a super power nation.

When something new is launched, instead of showing unity in executing and achieving its goal, people start protesting against it and draw voices of dissent over them. This leads to the situation breaking down unnecessarily.

With no signs of unity or support anywhere, things get delayed in execution since they have to cross many a hurdles along their path. Hence, the country becomes sluggish in its development and progress naturally takes a back seat.

Japan is a super power nation that was devastated by nuclear bomb blasts, not once but twice over. But the people who suffered and survived the explosions did not sit back watching destiny to show them the path. They started working in unity; they formed groups of their own.

Their only goal was to bring back the prestigious position that the nation once held and they were really very successful in doing so. They rose from the shackles; it was not a one man’s decision, but a collective and united decision that worked in their favor.

They were determined to prove themselves to the world and did not stretch their arms for help. Instead, they started building ideas together and reconstructing their own nation with their own hands.

The results are there for us to see. Not only did the nation emerge as one of the super power countries of the world, but also stood as a great inspiration to many other nations to stand up and show unity to achieve the desired result.

When a dance troupe performs on stage, the success of the dance is directly dependent on every person’s right moves. With one wrong move thrown awkwardly by any dancer, the whole troupe would suffer setbacks. Here comes the show of unity.

When every person performs with perfect synchronization with the rest of the team, the show is bound to be a success. Success here cannot be credited to just one person, but it’s the collective effort of the entire team. The unity and uniformity shown by all the team members certainly puts up a great show.

So why is that we consider unity as such an important factor in our lives though we know each one of us are different in our own ways. When a mother prepares food for the family, she keeps in view the food choices of the entire family.

She makes sure to tend to every person’s taste buds and not disappoint any member of the family, especially children. The reason she does that is to see her family sit together and have lunch happily. There is show of unity, balance and harmony between the family members of the house.

In case, she prepared food that was only liked by her, then probably the rest of the house members would complain about her food choices and may prefer to eat something else. Here, we can find the disintegration of the family.

Values are another important aspect of bringing about unity within family. There should be a desire in people’s minds to lead a harmonious life by co-operating with each other. Sometimes, compromises in life are essential to set the situation right.

It’s perfectly alright to set back for a while and allow others to take the front seat if that is going to bring in a happy cheer on the family members. Unity is not allowing one’s opinions to be subdued or not letting oneself to shut down her voice to falsely push oneself to buy somebody else’s belief.

It’s a kind of feeling that arises out of mutual respect for each other and leads one in the way of happiness and contentment.

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• Unity in Diversity Essay

Essay on Unity in Diversity

The concept of being united despite many differences is called Unity in Diversity. These differences can be of many types - religious, cultural, caste, creed, language, regional differences, and a host of other such things in society. It is of utmost importance to rise above these differences and remain united. In our childhood, we read the story where the father teaches unity. He shows how one stick is easy to break, while a bunch of sticks is hard to break. We need unity to remain strong at the societal, communal, and national levels.

Sadhguru, in one of his lectures, once said that India is successful to remain largely unharmed despite so many foreign invasions because of its diversity. The foreign enemies could not wrap their heads around how to rule such a diverse country. Their tactic to rule North India did not work in the South. Their clever policies to destroy Western India did not work in the East. As a result, nobody could destroy India as a whole.

Today, India is home to many cultures, religions, castes, and creeds. The same moon that the Hindu women see to break their fasts on Karva Chauth is also seen by the Muslims to break their fasts on the last day of Ramzan. We eat Bengal’s Rasgullas after finishing Hyderabadi Biryani. We dance to Punjabi foot-tapping tunes wherever we may live. India is progressing scientifically, culturally, and spiritually because of this unity.

India got independence in 1947. Despite that, she has grown rapidly. This would not have been possible if India was not united. On one hand, the Punjabis protected the country from Pakistan and China, on the other, Bengal and Bombay proved India’s cultural superiority. When the politicians from central India were busy fending off Chinese and American diplomatic obstacles, then, the Tamil scientist C.V. Raman and the Parsi Physicist Homi Bhaba showed the world that India is not a country to be underestimated. Later with APJ Abdul Kalam’s leadership, India became a Nuclear-armed country and no country dared to cross swords against India ever since.

India is strong because of the combined ideas of people belonging to different cultures, religions, and regions.  If one part of India gets wounded there are other parts to provide bandages. 

The biggest challenge faced by the unity of India is religious enmity. Today there are people in politics, in society, and in our neighbouring countries who want to see chaos because of the religious riots. They all have their agendas. A broken country is easy to destroy. It is also good for vote-bank politics also.

Again, some states want to get separated from India despite so many years passing after independence. These demands are fuelled by both the neighbouring country’s invitation and by the negligence of the political leaders and their failure. 

India is growing not because of any particular group of people - it is growing because of the combined work of the people of Punjab, Sindhu, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida, Utkala, and Banga. Very often we forget to mention the contribution made by the people of the North East and Kashmir. The apples from Kashmir, the scenic beauty of Kashmir and the North East, the sweet songs are sung by the North Eastern people are all India’s pride. Let us rise above petty politics, let us rise above religious extremism, let us welcome the regional differences. Let us be ONE.

Important Tips To Write An Essay

Make a heading for your writings that is both interesting and relevant. It will help to pique the reader's curiosity and captivate their attention.

It should have a word count of 300 to 500 words. This is the ideal length; however, you may make it longer or shorter by using your creativity.

In your writing, use a clear and straightforward tone. The sentence's flow is disrupted by unneeded complex and difficult terms.

Use appropriate punctuation and spelling instead of making grammatical errors. The reader will be drawn away from the text if this is not done.

Gather your thoughts and create a basic framework before you begin writing the essay. This way, you can ensure that the story moves along smoothly and isn't a jumbled mess.

This is an excellent essay format of the topic compiled by the experts of Vedantu. Log on to this website to find out more about other topics and learn how to compile on your own. Get the best material to study about different essays and become better at essay writing. 

FAQs on Unity in Diversity Essay

1.What do you understand by diversity?

Understanding that each person is unique and appreciating their differences is what diversity entails. These distinctions can be based on race, gender, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. Diversity is more than just accepting differences; it is a set of deliberate behaviours that include:

Understanding and valuing humanity's, civilizations', and natural environment's interconnection.

A mutual appreciation for differences in personality and life experiences.

Recognize that variety comprises not just various ways of being, but also various approaches to comprehending.

Understanding how personal, cultural, and systemic prejudice shapes and benefits certain people while creating and maintaining disadvantages for others.

Creating varied connections so that we can all work together to end bias of any kind.

2.What do you mean by "Unity in Diversity"?

Unity in Diversity is the concept of being together despite many variances. Religious, cultural, caste, faith, language, regional differences, and a variety of other factors in society can all contribute to these variations. We must rise above our disagreements and remain unified. We all remember reading as children a story about a father who teaches his children the value of unity. He demonstrates how one stick is simple to break, but a group of sticks is difficult to break. To remain strong at the societal, communal, and national levels, we need unity. Read this essay and understand the meaning of this topic better. Log on to Vedantu to seek professional mentoring from the top experts online.

3.What are the obstacles in the path to unity?

The greatest challenge to India's unity is religious hatred. People in politics, society, and our neighbouring countries now want to see turmoil as a result of the religious riots. They're all on their schedules. It is simple to destabilize a fractured country. It's also beneficial to vote-bank politics. Despite the passage of time since India's independence, several states still aspire to secede from the country. These demands are fueled by both the invitation from a neighbouring country and the political authorities' carelessness and failure.

4.What is the format for essay writing?

Introduction

This is your essay's first paragraph. The writer introduces his topic in this section. In the introduction paragraph, you can give a very quick summary of your essay. Some paragraph writing skills may be useful in this situation. It is usually not very long, perhaps 4-6 lines.

The body of your essay is the most important part. The body of your essay is the meat that sits between the introduction and the conclusion. As a result, the essay's most crucial substance will be found here. This does not have to be contained inside a single paragraph. Depending on the content, it may run into two or more paragraphs.

This is the essay's final paragraph. Although a conclusion may just repeat the introduction paragraph, make sure the wording and syntax are distinct. A conclusion is also a good location to wrap up a story or a debate. You might conclude your essay by stating a moral or concluding a story. Make sure your essays are finished with a conclusion and no loose ends.

5. What are the quotes we can use in the essay "unity in diversity"?

These quotations on diversity and togetherness will remind you that we have a lot more in common than we realise.

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” – J.K. Rowling, ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’

“Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” – Gwendolyn Brooks

“We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end.” – Woodrow T. Wilson

“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” – Winston S. Churchill

Essay on Unity in Diversity for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Essay on Unity in Diversity: “ Unity in Diversity ” is a phrase implying unity among people with diverse cultural, religious and other demographic differences. The origin of phrase dates back to ancient times and has since been used by various political and social groups to demonstrate unity among different individuals or community. People of varying cultures, religious beliefs and social status, living together in peace and harmony is a perfect example of “ Unity in Diversity ”.

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Long and Short Essay on Unity in Diversity in English

Unity in diversity is a famous concept which best fits on India. Essay on Unity in Diversity is the most common topic which students may be assigned to debate during discussion and write an essay during exams or essay writing competitions in their school. Variety of Unity in Diversity essay under various words limit are given below especially for the students.

Unity in Diversity Essay 1 (100 words)

The phrase “ Unity in Diversity ” implies unity among dissimilar people. It is an ancient phrase that was first used by some societies in North America and China, sometimes around 500 B.C. The most obvious example providing credence to the phrase is that of a democratic nation.

A democratic nation has people having different religions, cultures, beliefs, sects, languages, and other demarcations, but they all live in unity and harmony, following a uniform law. India as a nation is the best example of “Unity in Diversity” with people of different religions and culture living together following the rule of land as per the parameters laid by the Constitution of India .

Unity in Diversity Essay 2 (150 words)

The meaning of unity in diversity is the existence of oneness even after various differences. India is the best example of this concept of unity in diversity. We can see very clearly here that people of different religions, creeds, castes, languages, cultures, lifestyle, dressing sense, faith in God, rituals of worship, etc live together with harmony under one roof means on one land of India.

People living in India are the children of one mother whom we call Mother India. India is a vast and most populated country where people of different religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity, and Parsees, live together. Still, everyone believes in one theory of Dharma and Karma. People here are god-fearing in nature and believe in the purification of the soul, rebirth, salvation, the luxury of heaven, and punishments of hell. People here celebrate their festivals ( Holi , Diwali , Id , Christmas , Good Friday , Mahavir Jayanti , Buddha Jayanti , etc) very peacefully without harming other religious people.

Unity in Diversity Essay 3 (200 words)

India is a well known country of oldest civilization in the world where people of many ethnic groups live together for years. India is a country of diverse civilization where people used almost 1650 spoken languages and dialects according to their religion and choice. In spite of being related to different cultures, traditions, religions, and languages, people here respect each other and live together with lots of love and a feeling of brotherhood.

People living here and there all over the Indian land are joined together by one faith of brotherhood. Unity in Diversity has been one of the great characteristic of our nation, which has bind people of all religions together in one bond of humanity.

We can never forget the freedom movements run by the people of all religions of India to make India an independent country. The struggle for freedom is the great example of unity in diversity in India.

Unity in diversity concept in India gives everyone a strong message that nothing is without unity. Living together with love and harmony provides the real essence of life. Unity in diversity in India shows us that we all are born, cared and nourished by one Supreme God.

Unity in Diversity Essay 4 (250 words)

It is the oneness in differences. India is a country which proves better the concept of unity in diversity. India is a highly populated country and famous all over the world because of the characteristic of unity in diversity. Unity in diversity is the strength and power of India. It has now been the most important feature identifying India.

Unity in diversity has given rise to the great national integration characteristic to the country which has become the foundation of strong and prosperous India even after lots of corruption, extremism and terrorism. People living in various states are generally differ in their speaking language, culture, traditions, clothes, festivals, looks, etc., (known to be like Bengalis, Maharashtrians, Punjabis, Tamilians, etc); however, they tell themselves Indian which shows their unity.

Humanity and people’s likelihood help them maintain unity in diversity here. People in India give high importance to spirituality, Karma, and Sanskar instead of their material wealth, which brings them closer. People here have religion tolerance power as their unique feature which helps them to feel no difficulty on the occurrence of different religions.

Majority of people in India are related to the Hinduism who has more capacity to welcome and absorb all other good cultures in their land. All such features in the Indian people help make India famous for the concept of unity in diversity.

Unity in Diversity Essay 5 (300 words)

Introduction.

India is a country proving the fact of unity in diversity. People of various religions and castes have managed to live together for many years without any problem. India is decorated by the high mountains, valleys, oceans, famous rivers, streams, forests, deserts, ancient culture and tradition, and most importantly unity in diversity. People here belong to their own race, religion, and language; however, they all have similar characteristic of humanity, which makes them able to live together. Following are the importance of unity in diversity:

Importance of Unity in Diversity:

• Unity in diversity boosts morale of people at workplace, organization, and community.
• It helps in enhancing esprit de corps, relationships, teamwork among people, thus improving performance, quality of work, productivity and lifestyle.
• It makes communication effective even in a bad situation.
• Keeps people away from social problems and help to manage conflicts easily.
• It improves healthy human relations and protects equal human rights for all.
• Unity in diversity in India provides a source of tourism. People of diverse cultures, traditions, cuisines, religions and clothing attract more visitors and tourists from all across the world.
• It gives rise to the habit of national integration among people of the country even after being diverse in various ways.
• gives value to the rich heritages of country as well as strengthens and enriches the cultural heritage of India.
• It helps to be rich in the agricultural area through different crops and thus economic growth.
• Source of skilled and advanced professionals in various areas of the country.

There may be some disadvantages too, which are mentioned below:

• It may give rise to the various social tensions among people of different states and linguistic origin.
• gives rise to the growth of corruption and illiteracy in many areas of the country.
• It may reason of poor lifestyle in various rural regions because of underdeveloped infrastructures, lack of electricity, etc.

Unity in Diversity Essay 6 (400 words)

India is a country of various cultures, races, languages, and religions. It is a land of unity in diversity where people of different lifestyles and manners live together. They belong to different religions, beliefs and faiths in God. In spite of all this diversity, they live together with the bond of humanity and brotherhood. Unity in diversity is the distinct feature of India which makes it famous all around the world.

Generally, people in India are following the great old Indian culture of being tolerant and absorbing which make them assimilating in nature. Unity in diversity in almost all aspects of society has become a source of strength and wealth all throughout the country. People of all religions do worship in different ways by following their own rituals and beliefs which represents the existence of underlying uniformity. Unity in diversity promotes spirit of harmony and brotherhood among people beyond their considerations of various diversities.

India is famous for its rich cultural heritages because of people of various religions. People who belong to various cultures give rise to various lifestyles on the basis of their interests and belief. It again give rise to the growth in various professional areas like music, fine arts, drama, dance (classical, folk, etc.), theater sculpture, etc. Spiritual tradition of the people makes them more piety to each other. All the religious Indian scriptures are a great source of spiritual wisdom to the people. There are rishis, maharishis, yogis, priests, fathers, etc., in almost all the religions following their own spiritual traditions according to their religious scriptures.

Hindi is a mother language in India; however, many other dialects and languages are spoken by the people of different religions and regions (such as English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Bhojpuri, Bihari, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, Odiya, Gujarati, Kashmiri, etc.); however, everyone feels proud to be the citizen of great India.

Unity in the diversity of India is especially for which it is well known all over the world. It attracts tourism in India to a great level. As Indians, we all should understand our responsibility and try to retain its unique feature at any cost. Unity in diversity here is the real prosperity and the way to progress in the present and future.

Long Essay on Unity in Diversity – Essay 7 (800 Words)

Unity in Diversity is a concept that signifies the uniformity among people of different cultures and dissimilar thoughts and ideologies. It shows that though people follow different religions, castes, cultures and traditions but they are bound together with a string of humanity, love and respect. Unity in diversity could also be explained through a garland where the flowers which belong to different varieties and colors are strung into a garland which not only enhances the beauty of the flowers, but also increases their value.

Why is Unity in Diversity Important?

Unity in diversity is very important for a country in the following ways:

For National Unity

Unity in diversity is very important for a country because it is easy to disintegrate people with different thoughts and ideologies. If there is unity among people despite their differences, it will always be impossible for a force to disintegrate the nation. Unity of the citizens plays a significant role in maintaining peace and prosperity in a country.

For Growth & Development

Unity in diversity plays a crucial role in the country’s development as the country which is integrated within will always prosper and progress on the path of growth and development. It will also face less internal issues as compared to the country which is socially unstable and is divided on various terms.

Global Recognition

A country which is diverse but still remains united will not only adds value to the nation but it also gets respected on international platforms. It sets an example globally by showcasing the values and ethics of the citizens of a country who respect and support each other despite being from different backgrounds and cultures.

For Peaceful Coexistence

Diversity could be also be reason for internal conflicts but unity in diversity plays a very crucial role in maintaining a peaceful coexistence with the people with diverse culture and background. It helps them to stay together and stay united despite their dissimilarities.

What is the difference between Unity and Diversity?

Unity is the feeling of togetherness and integration. It is the feeling which holds the people together and a bond which imply a sense of oneness. Unity stands for the ties between different groups which binds them into a single entity. Defined as absence of differences between people belonging to diverse sections based on religious or racial aspects.

In contrast, diversity refers to differences or dissimilarities. It could defined as the collective differences between diverse groups based on religion, race, language, etc. It is the variety of sections and groups residing at a geographical area with different cultures, traditions and backgrounds. Diversity is a natural phenomenon that also helps to bring different ideas, experiences, and acceptances among people.

Unity is the condition of being one, whereas diversity is the condition of being different or dissimilar. In a family, people with different thoughts, interests, or preferences might showcase their diversity in many aspects. Still, as a family, they exhibit a sense of unity among them.

Why India considered as best example of Unity in Diversity?

India, the 5000 years old civilization, is the land of diversities, be it religion, caste, race, culture, or language. There are several diversities in the country. There are 29 states, and each has its own culture, tradition, and language. More than 30 grand festivals of different communities celebrated every year in the country. Around a thousand languages and dialects spoken in India across the country.

Despite so much of differences, the people of India showcase the real sense of unity among themselves which exhibits the concept of unity in diversity. The unity in diversity culture of India considered unique in the world which surprises the global community. Because of age-old tradition of India which has taught the people importance of ethics, values, respects and tolerance.

Though people belong to diverse culture and communities. But they share the bond of humanity, love and respect and tied with a single string of nationalism. Constitution of India has also provided rights and freedom to each. And every citizen to live their life with dignity and respect without any interference, makes them united.

Unity in diversity teaches us that though we are from different caste, creeds these differences could not keep us apart. And also we always united for the betterment of our nation. It is the most unique phenomenon which showcased by our country. Difference in culture, customs and dance makes the country land of vibrancy, makes India an incredible country in world.

Here are Some helpful Resources

Unity in Diversity FAQs

What is meant by unity in diversity.

Unity in diversity refers to the coexistence of diverse cultures, religions, and traditions within a unified community or country, promoting tolerance and harmony.

Is India a unity in diversity?

Yes, India is a shining example of unity in diversity, with its rich cultural tapestry and people from various backgrounds living together as one nation.

What is one example of unity in diversity?

One example of unity in diversity is a multicultural team collaborating and celebrating each other's unique strengths to achieve a common goal.

How to do unity in diversity?

To foster unity in diversity, it's essential to promote open dialogue, respect differences, and embrace inclusivity in all aspects of life.

What is the importance of unity in diversity?

The importance of unity in diversity lies in building strong social cohesion, fostering mutual understanding, and creating a resilient society that thrives on collective strength.

An excellent example of unity in diversity can be seen during cultural festivals where people from different backgrounds come together to celebrate and appreciate each other's traditions.

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• Unity In Diversity Essay

Unity in Diversity Essay

500+ words essay on unity in diversity.

The term “Unity in Diversity” refers to the state of togetherness or oneness in spite of the presence of huge diversity. “Unity in Diversity” is based on the concept where the individual or social differences in physical attributes, skin colour, caste, creed, cultural and religious practices, etc., are not looked upon as a conflict. Instead, these differences are looked upon as varieties that enrich society and the nation as a whole. Unity in diversity is a very important principle because we all live in a diverse world. It is crucial to respect each other and support each other no matter what our culture, background, gender, orientation, or other differences may be. With the help of this ‘Unity in Diversity’ Essay, we will help students understand how we all stand together even though there exist many differences among us. Students can also practise essays on other topics to improve their writing skills.

Unity in Diversity in Indian Society

India is a land of unity in diversity. It is a vast country with numerous variations in races, cultures, languages and even geographical features. In many countries of the world, major geographical features divide international borders, e.g. Nepal and China are separated by the Himalayas. However, in India, we have learned to live in diversity, and our geographical features further solidify this bond. The Punjab region is known for being one of the most potent agricultural lands on earth. The Northern Mountainous region has come across different people and different languages. In the Rajasthan desert, we come across Rajasthani languages and culture, all part of India, yet distinct in their culture and language. To the further south come the people of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka, all distinctive languages and cuisines.

India is a plural society. Its unity and diversity characterize it. Despite several foreign invasions, Mughal rule and British rule, the nation’s unity and integrity have been maintained. It is this synthesis that has made India a unique mosaic of cultures. India fought against the British Raj as one unified entity. The existence of diverse languages, religions and cultures, foreign visitors and immigration from other parts of the world have made India’s culture tolerant. The sources of diversity in India may be traced in a variety of ways.

Post-Independent India is a nation united against several odds and obstacles. The idea of the unity of India is inherent in all historical and socio-cultural facts as well as in cultural heritage. India is a secular state, and it has a constitution providing guarantees for people belonging to diverse regions, religions, cultures and languages. It covers people belonging to all socioeconomic strata. The Five Year Plans and several other developmental schemes are geared to uplift the poor and weaker sections of society.

India has been able to project itself as a single territorial unit in the face of physical, political, social and economic contrasts. The Great Plains, which is between the Himalayan ranges on the one hand and Peninsular India on the other has a unifying role. Climatically, the monsoonal rhythm of seasons provides a strong element of uniformity. The concentration of monsoonal rainfall to a few months in a year and the associated agricultural activities occur in India. Many cultural traditions are strongly tied to the monsoons. Saints have spread the message of universal brotherhood, which has helped a great deal in uniting different sections of society in India and making the country a unified nation.

India’s vast diversity is matched by its geographical features and shows the strength of the country. The extraordinary characteristic of India is that in spite of all diversity in different fields-physical, social, linguistic, cultural and religious; there is a fundamental thread of unity.

In India, there are followers of different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity. All religions have their sects and sub-divisions. So, there is diversity not only in regard to religious, racial compositions and linguistic distinction but also in patterns of living, occupational pursuits, land tenure systems, lifestyles, inheritance and succession law. Even the practices and rites related to birth, death, marriage and various functions are performed differently by each religion.

In the book “The Discovery of India”, Jawaharlal Nehru says that Indian unity is not something imposed from the outside but rather, “It was something deeper and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and every variety acknowledged and even encouraged.” It was Nehru who coined the phrase “Unity in Diversity” to describe India.

We hope this essay on Unity in Diversity must have helped students in improving their writing section. For more study material and the latest updates on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive exams, keep visiting BYJU’S. Also, download the BYJU’S App for interactive study videos.

Frequently asked Questions on Unity in diversity Essay

Why should students be aware of this ‘unity in diversity’ concept.

It is not only enough for students and children to be aware of unity in diversity but should also practise the same. This is one of the base concepts in our preamble.

Can essay writing preparation be done at the last minute?

Essay writing requires a detailed understanding of the topic concerned and wide knowledge of current affairs. Having a good vocabulary will be an added advantage. It also requires regular practise in structuring paragraphs and arranging ideas logically.

Why is it necessary to practise essay writing questions before the Board exam?

Essay writing requires proper structuring and framing of paragraphs. Also, the continuity of information should be sequential. Therefore, adequate and prior practice in essay writing is essential.

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Unity is Strength Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on unity is strength.

In today’s time where there is cut-throat competition everywhere and every individual is trying to apply his or her method to reach on top, very few recognize the importance of proverb ‘Unity is strength’. Also, this proverb has now become confined to inspirational books and motivational lectures. So, very few people actually understand the importance and thus it’s application in their lives. But these people that are actually more satisfied as well as content in their lives that actually applies it. So, unity is strength essay is an insight into the increasing importance of unity in lives in the present world.

This proverb also applies when it comes to relationships. People nowadays are so blinded by the success and the power that they want to be ahead of their colleagues, relatives, and friends.

Thus, they get into professional as well as personal rivalries with each other most of the times so, they do not understand that they cannot move ahead as well as enhance their skills, knowledge, and help each other. Thus, when we go against our team-mates and start to compete with them in an office setting, then people from another team will benefit from the situation. 

Read 500+ Words Essay on Unity here

Also, another reason here people grow apart because of mistrust. This becomes true especially when it comes to the husband-wife relationship. Also, here we often see couples doubting each other always. So, they start to question small things and doubt them of lying or cheating.

So, outsiders take advantage of these type of situations. Also, they fuel the doubt and thereby create conflict between the two in order to fulfill their own motives. Also, this will not only have a negative impact on the two but also on the kids. So, if the wife and husband stay united and defend each other than no one can create the rift between the two. 

To Societies and Nations

The proverb also holds true when it comes to society and the nation as a whole. The societies and localities where people stay united are loved by everyone.

Thus, people living here meets as well as greets their neighbors with a smile, guard their neighbor’s house, help out each other in crisis, etc. Also, they celebrate each and every function together and conducts other social gatherings every now and then. In the current world, many people are suffering from loneliness as well as depression, these types of neighborhood can be a boon. 

Similarly, nations around the globe are very busy fighting each other in order to prove that they are better than one another. So, every nation has nuclear weapons and many terrorist organizations have been formed. So, if we stop all these kinds of malpractices than the world will become a much better place to live. 

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Yahya Sinwar Helped Start the War in Gaza. Now He’s Key to Its Endgame.

Hamas’s leader in Gaza is considered an architect of the Oct. 7 attacks that prompted Israel to retaliate. As mediators seek a cease-fire, a deal depends on Mr. Sinwar as well as his Israeli foes.

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By Patrick Kingsley ,  Julian E. Barnes and Adam Rasgon

Reporting from Jerusalem and Washington, the reporters spoke to officials from Hamas, Israel and the United States about Mr. Sinwar.

After Hamas attacked Israel in October, igniting the war in Gaza, Israeli leaders described the group’s most senior official in the territory, Yahya Sinwar, as a “dead man walking.” Considering him an architect of the raid, Israel has portrayed Mr. Sinwar’s assassination as a major goal of its devastating counterattack.

Seven months later, Mr. Sinwar’s survival is emblematic of the failures of Israel’s war, which has ravaged much of Gaza but left Hamas’s top leadership largely intact and failed to free most of the captives taken during the October attack.

Even as Israeli officials seek his killing, they have been forced to negotiate with him, albeit indirectly, to free the remaining hostages. Mr. Sinwar has emerged not only as a strong-willed commander but as a shrewd negotiator who has staved off an Israeli battlefield victory while engaging Israeli envoys at the negotiating table, according to officials from Hamas, Israel and the United States. Some spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence assessments of Mr. Sinwar and diplomatic negotiations.

While the talks are mediated in Egypt and Qatar, it is Mr. Sinwar — believed to be hiding in a tunnel network beneath Gaza — whose consent is required by Hamas’s negotiators before they agree to any concessions, according to some of those officials.

Hamas officials insist that Mr. Sinwar does not have the final say in the group’s decisions. But though Mr. Sinwar does not technically have authority over the entire Hamas movement, his leadership role in Gaza and his forceful personality have given him outsize importance in how Hamas operates, according to allies and foes alike.

“There’s no decision that can be made without consulting Sinwar,” said Salah al-Din al-Awawdeh, a Hamas member and political analyst who befriended Mr. Sinwar while they were both jailed in Israel during the 1990s and 2000s. “Sinwar isn’t an ordinary leader, he’s a powerful person and an architect of events. He’s not some sort of manager or director, he’s a leader,” Mr. al-Awawdeh added.

Mr. Sinwar has rarely been heard from since the start of the war, unlike Hamas officials based outside Gaza, including Ismail Haniyeh, the movement’s most senior civilian official. Though he is nominally junior to Mr. Haniyeh, Mr. Sinwar has been central to Hamas’s behind-the-scenes decision to hold out for a permanent cease-fire, American and Israeli officials say.

Waiting for Mr. Sinwar’s approval has often slowed the negotiations, according to officials and analysts. Israeli strikes have damaged much of Gaza’s communications infrastructure, and it has sometimes taken a day to get a message to Mr. Sinwar and a day to receive a response, according to U.S. officials and Hamas members.

For Israeli and Western officials, Mr. Sinwar has over the course of these negotiations, which stalled again in Cairo this past week, emerged as both a brutal adversary and a deft political operator, capable of analyzing Israeli society and appearing to adapt his policies accordingly.

As an architect of the Oct. 7 attacks, Mr. Sinwar masterminded a strategy that he knew would provoke a ferocious Israeli response. But in Hamas’s calculus, the deaths of many Palestinian civilians — who do not have access to Hamas’s subterranean tunnels — were the necessary cost of upending the status quo with Israel.

American and Israeli intelligence agencies have spent months assessing Mr. Sinwar’s motivations, according to people briefed on the intelligence. Analysts in both the United States and Israel believe that Mr. Sinwar is primarily motivated by a desire to take revenge on Israel and weaken it. The well-being of the Palestinian people or the establishment of a Palestinian state, the intelligence analysts say, appears to be secondary.

An Understanding of Israeli Society

Mr. Sinwar was born in Gaza in 1962 to a family that had fled its home, along with several hundred thousand other Palestinian Arabs who fled or were forced to flee during the wars surrounding the creation of the state of Israel.

Mr. Sinwar joined Hamas in the 1980s. He was later imprisoned for murdering Palestinians whom he accused of apostasy or collaborating with Israel, according to Israeli court records from 1989. Mr. Sinwar spent more than two decades in Israeli detention before being released in 2011, along with more than 1,000 other Palestinians, in exchange for one Israeli soldier captured by Hamas. Six years later, Mr. Sinwar was elected leader of Hamas in Gaza.

While in prison, Mr. Sinwar learned Hebrew and developed an understanding of Israeli culture and society, according to fellow former inmates and Israeli officials who monitored him in prison. Mr. Sinwar now appears to be using that knowledge to sow divisions in Israeli society and heighten pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.

They believe that Mr. Sinwar has timed the release of videos of some Israeli hostages in order to spur public outrage at Mr. Netanyahu during crucial phases of the cease-fire talks.

Some Israelis want the remaining hostages released even if it means agreeing to Hamas’s demands for a permanent truce that would keep the group — and Mr. Sinwar — in power. But Mr. Netanyahu has been reluctant to agree to end the war, partly because of pressure from some of his right-wing allies, who have threatened to resign if the war concludes with Hamas unbroken.

If Mr. Netanyahu has been accused of dragging out the fighting for personal benefit, so, too, has his archenemy, Mr. Sinwar.

Israeli and U.S. intelligence officers say that Mr. Sinwar’s strategy is to keep the war going for as long as it takes to shred Israel’s international reputation and to damage its relationship with its primary ally, the United States. As Israel faced intense pressure to avoid launching an operation in Rafah, Hamas fired rockets last Sunday from Rafah toward a nearby border crossing, killing four Israeli soldiers.

If this was a gambit by Hamas, it appeared to pay off: Israel began an operation this past week on the fringes of Rafah, and against that backdrop President Biden made his strongest criticism of Israeli policy since the war began. Mr. Biden said he would halt some future arms shipments if the Israeli military began a full-scale invasion of the city’s urban core.

U.S. officials say Mr. Sinwar is most likely in the tunnels under Khan Younis , the next major city to the north — intelligence that could undercut the Israeli rationale for the military operations in Rafah.

Projecting an Image of Unity

Hamas and its allies deny that either Mr. Sinwar or the movement is trying to leverage further Palestinian suffering.

“Hamas’s strategy is to stop the war right now,” said Ahmed Yousef, a Hamas veteran based in Rafah. “To stop the genocide and the killing of the Palestinian people.”

U.S. officials say that Mr. Sinwar has shown disdain for his colleagues outside Gaza, who were not informed about the precise plans for Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7. American officials also believe that Mr. Sinwar approves military operations conducted by Hamas, though Israeli intelligence officers say they are unsure of the extent of his involvement.

A senior Western official familiar with the cease-fire negotiations believes that Mr. Sinwar appears to make decisions in concert with his brother, Muhammad, a senior Hamas military leader, and that throughout the war he had sometimes disagreed with Hamas leaders outside Gaza. While the outside leadership has at times been more willing to compromise, Mr. Sinwar is less ready to concede ground to the Israeli negotiators, in part, because he knows that he is likely to be killed whether or not the war ends, the official said.

Even if negotiators seal a cease-fire deal, Israel is likely to pursue Mr. Sinwar for the rest of his life, the official said.

Hamas members have projected an image of unity, downplaying Mr. Sinwar’s personal role in decision-making and maintaining that Hamas’s elected leadership collectively determines the movement’s trajectory.

Some say that if Mr. Sinwar has played a bigger role during this war, it is mostly because of his position: As the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Mr. Sinwar has greater say, though not the final call, according to Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official based in Qatar.

“Sinwar’s opinion is very important because he’s on the ground and he’s leading the movement on the inside,” said Mr. Abu Marzouk, the first leader of Hamas’s political office in the 1990s.

But Mr. Haniyeh has the “final say” on key decisions, Mr. Abu Marzouk said, adding that all of Hamas’s political leaders were of “one opinion.” Mr. Haniyeh could not immediately be reached for comment.

Still, there is something unusual about Mr. Sinwar’s force of personality, according to Mr. al-Awawdeh, his friend from prison. Other leaders might not have instigated the Oct. 7 attack, preferring to focus on technocratic matters of governance, Mr. al-Awawdeh said.

“If someone else had been in his position, things might have gone in a calmer way,” he said.

Mr. Sinwar himself could not be reached for comment and has rarely been heard from since October. U.S. and Israeli officials have said Mr. Sinwar is hiding near hostages, using them as human shields. An Israeli hostage who was released during a truce in November said she met Mr. Sinwar during her captivity.

In February, the Israeli military published a video that it said soldiers had taken from a security camera they found in a Hamas tunnel beneath Gaza. The video showed a man hurrying down the tunnel, accompanied by a woman and children.

The military said the man was Mr. Sinwar, fleeing with his family.

The claim was impossible to verify: The man’s face was turned away from the camera.

Patrick Kingsley is The Times’s Jerusalem bureau chief, leading coverage of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. More about Patrick Kingsley

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more than two decades. More about Julian E. Barnes

Adam Rasgon reports from Israel for The Times's Jerusalem bureau. More about Adam Rasgon

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