The Given-New Principle

This material is adapted from English 25 by Ruth Luman

of Modesto Junior College <www.virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us>
2001 by Ruth Luman
The Given-New Principle
Connecting Old Ideas to New Ideas in Your Writing
References
Old Ideas
New Ideas
2001 by Ruth Luman
Look at the paragraphs below. Which one is easier
to read?
Introduction
What is coherence?
My fathers house had four bedrooms and two sitting
rooms. My father had planted a lot of flowers in the
garden. There was a large oak tree in the front yard.
My fathers house had four bedrooms and two sitting
rooms. In front of the house was a large garden. In the
garden my father had planted a lot of flowers. Most of
these flowers were roses and tulips.
Not Easy to Read
This paragraph is not very easy to read. It doesnt have
coherence. Coherence means that one idea follows from a
previous idea and connects smoothly to the next idea.
house
idea
garden
different idea
tree
different idea
No
connecting
ideas.
?
No
connecting
ideas.
?
My fathers house had four bedrooms and two sitting rooms. My
father had planted a lot of flowers in the garden. There was a
large oak tree in the front yard.
Coherence: Definition
Logical connections between ideas in writing.
idea
Easy to Read
My fathers house had four bedrooms and two sitting rooms.
In front of the house was a large garden. In the garden my
father had planted a lot of flowers. Most of these flowers
were roses and tulips.
This paragraph shows coherence because the ideas follow
logically from one sentence to another.
house
idea
garden
idea
flowers
Connecting
Idea
House
idea
Connecting
Idea
Garden
Connecting
Idea
Flowers
roses and
tulips
given idea new idea
The Given-New Principle
One of the ways that you can make sure that your sentences and
paragraphs have coherence is to use the Given-New Principle.
With the Given-New Principle, you use something given (an old piece
of information) from a previous sentence, and add something new.
Using something given from the previous sentence is the connecting
idea between the old and new ideas.

given idea
One important value in Brazilian culture is
hospitality. Hospitality to a Brazilian means
essentially that your door is always open to friends,
relatives, and guests.
Example
In the second of the following two sentences, find the given
information that is being picked up from the first sentence, as
well as the new information that has been added. (Bates, 1997,
p. 123).
One important value in Brazilian culture is hospitality.
Hospitality to a Brazilian means essentially that your door
is always open to friends, relatives, and guests.
Answer
old ideas
new ideas
Surface Signals
To help connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs,
We can use surface signals. Surface signals are words
that help tell the reader the logical connection between
ideas. Look at some examples of surface signals on the
following pages. (Bates, 1997, p. 124).
Idea Idea
Surface
Signals
Surface Signals
Example #1:
One of the values of Saudi Arabian culture is modesty in
women. Women show their modesty by covering
themselves with a veil.
main ideas
surface signals
(key words repeated)
Repetition of Key Words
Surface Signals
Example #2:
main idea
surface signal
(key word repeated)
Repetition of Key Words
Our next task was to look for those elusive particles.
Such particles are difficult to detect without a
microscope.
Surface Signals
Example #3:
main idea
surface signal
(key word repeated)
Repetition of Key Words
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important
characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty
that is resistant to corrosion.
Surface Signals
Example #1:
Women show their modesty by covering themselves with
a veil. This covers the womans head and often much of
her face.
surface signal
(demonstrative adjective)
main idea
Demonstrative Adjectives
(this, that, these, those)
Surface Signals
Example #2:
surface signal
(demonstrative adjective)
main idea
Demonstrative Adjectives
(this, that, these, those)
An important custom in Ethiopian culture is the coffee
ceremony. This ceremony is often practiced every
Sunday.
Surface Signals
Example #3:
surface signal
(demonstrative adjective)
main ideas
Demonstrative Adjectives
(this, that, these, those)
Cambodian parents try to raise their children to have
respect for elders, patience in trying situations,
and gentleness toward others. These values are
highly prized in Cambodian culture.
surface signal
(pronoun)
This veil covers the womans head and often much of
her face. She may also choose to wear a mask that
shows only her eyes.
Surface Signals
Example #1:
main idea
Pronouns (he, she, it, they, you)
surface signal
(pronoun)
Surface Signals
Example #2:
main idea
Pronouns (he, she, it, they, you)
Many Japanese believe in the importance of teamwork.
They teach their children to think of the group first.
surface signal
(pronoun)
Surface Signals
Example #3:
main idea
Pronouns (he, she, it, they, you)
When a father is very sick, he knows that his family will
take care of him.
Practice
Look at handout Identifying Surface
Signals and draw an arrow between
the given idea and the surface signal
that introduces a new idea.