Paragraph
Unit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lesson 6
Sentence Order in Paragraphs
Tennessee Standard - 6th Grade
Assessed - 6.spi.2.7 - Select appropriate transitional devices and
time-order words.
Sentence Order in Paragraphs
Sentences in a paragraph should be sequenced in a specific order. There are three basic ways to organize details in paragraphs: by chronological order, by locations, and by order of importance. If there is not an arrangement to the sentences, the paragraph will not make sense.
Chronological order is important when writing narratives or expository paragraphs. Narrative paragraphs tell a story. The writer would become confused if the story was told in a random sequence. Expository paragraphs gives steps, explain, or inform the reader. Imagine reading an expository paragraph which gave you directions in an haphazard arrangement. Here is a list of words you may use when writing a paragraph to show sequence:
| after | currently | in the end | previously |
| after a few hours | during | in the future | simultaneously |
| afterwards | eventually | in the meantime | then |
| as soon as | first, second, third, etc. | in the meanwhile | until |
| at | first of all | last | when |
| at last | finally | lastly | while |
| at the same time | immediately before | later | |
| before | immediately after | meanwhile | |
| before this | initially | next |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See List of Descriptive Words.
See List of Words Used in Persuasive Paragraphs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read the following paragraph.
|
Kate Barlow preserved peaches which lasted for years, and you can too if you follow these few simple steps. First check the jars for cracks or chips. Second place the lids in boiling water to sterilize. While the lids boil, wash the jars and rings in hot, soapy water. Next place the boiling hot peaches and syrup into the hot, sterilized jars. As soon as the jar is full within a half inch of headspace wipe the rim of the jar clean. Immediately cap the jar with the hot lid. Next place the jar in a steamer. After steaming for twenty minutes remove the jar from the steam bath. Once the jar has cooled you can store it until needed. The peaches will stay fresh for several years. |
What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
Which words in this paragraph show you order?
What would be wrong with putting the fourth sentence before the second sentence?
Practice 1
Below are the steps for making spiced peaches. Write a detail sentence for each picture below.
  five cups of brown sugar, two cups of white vinegar |
_____________________________________________________
|
 two tablespoons of whole cloves, six inches of stick cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg |
_____________________________________________________
|
 over low heat for twenty minutes |
_____________________________________________________
|
 four quarts of peeled whole peaches |
_____________________________________________________
|
 vanilla ice cream |
_____________________________________________________
|
Use your sentences as details sentences. Add them to a topic sentence to make a paragraph. Go back to the chart on Lesson 4 for help with your topic sentence. Don't forget to indent.
__________________________________________________ |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Multiple Choice
Sam repaired the leaky roof on the old
schoolhouse. During the week it took Sam to repair the roof, he became friends
with Miss Katherine, the school teacher. She was surprised in Sam's love of
poetry.
Meanwhile
Sam took on other repair jobs at the schoolhouse
including repairing the windows, fixing the wobbly desk, and hanging the door
straight. After each repair Sam was reward with jars of spiced peaches. By the
end of the first semester, Sam had the schoolhouse looking new.
Which sequence best describes the order of events
in this passage?
1) Sam took on other repair jobs at the schoolhouse.
2) Miss Katherine and Sam became friends.
3) By the end of the first semester, Sam had the schoolhouse looking new.
4) Sam repaired the leaky roof.
a) 4, 2, 3, 1
b) 3, 4, 2, 1
c) 3, 4, 1, 2
d) 4, 2, 1, 3
First Charles "Trout" Walker led an angry group of townspeople to the school house.
Then he
called Katherine Barlow a "Devil Woman" for kissing Sam, the onion man.
Immediately after
this Katherine ran to the sheriff for help, but he was drunk tried to flirt with her
instead of trying to help. Trout then caught up to Katherine and Sam on his
motorized boat. Katherine was rescued against her wishes and Sam was shot. Three
days later Katherine shot the sheriff and kissed him, giving her the name Kissin'
Kate Barlow.
Which sequence best describes the order of events
in this passage?
1) Trout called Katherine a Devil Woman.
2) Katherine was rescued, and Sam was shot.
3) Trout Walker took the townspeople to the school house.
4) Kate killed the sheriff.
5) Katherine went to the sheriff for help.
a) 3, 1, 5, 2, 4
b) 3, 4, 5, 2, 1
c) 3, 4, 1, 2, 5
d) 3, 5, 4, 1, 2
After 20 years of being a bandit, Kate returned to Green Lake. The place was a
ghost town and the lake had dried up. Trout and his wife, Linda Miller, found
Kate and demanded that she give them her stolen treasure. Next Trout and Linda
dragged Kate all over the dried up lake in her bare feet demanding she tell them
were the loot was buried. Suddenly Kate was bitten by a lizard. Her last words
were, "Start digging." Kate died laughing.
Which sequence best describes the order of events
in this passage?
1) Kate walks aimlessly barefooted across the dried up lake.
2) Kate dies laughing.
3) Kate returned to Green Lake.
4) Trout and Linda demand Kate tell them were she has buried the stolen
money.
5) A lizard bites Kate.
a) 3, 1, 5, 2, 4
b) 3, 4, 1, 5, 2
c) 4, 3, 1, 2, 5
d) 5, 3, 4, 1, 2
Stanley ran away from Camp Green Lake. First
he
had to walk across the hot desert. As soon as he became dehydrated Stanley
started seeing mirages of pools of water. Stanley continued
walking and noticed a rock that looked like a thumb. Although he wanted to stop,
Stanley kept walking. Eventually he spotted an upside down boat called the Mary Lou.
Stanley yelled, and someone yelled back. Suddenly an arm with a orange sleeve
came out from under the boat and waved.
Which sequence best describes the order of events in this passage?
1) Stanley begin to see mirages.
2) Stanley saw God's Thumb.
3) Stanley walked towards an overturned boat.
4) An orange arm waved.
5) Stanley ran away.
a) 5, 1, 2, 3, 4
b) 4, 5, 1, 3, 2
c) 5, 1, 2, 3, 4
d) 5, 3, 4, 1, 2
When Stanley finds Zero, he doesn’t look well. Zero has been living on
sploosh under the boat for days. Zero tells Stanley the sploosh tastes like
peaches. Zero says he won’t go back to camp, or dig any more holes. In the end Stanley
shows Zero the mountain that looks like God’s Thumb.
Which sequence best describes the order of events
in this passage?
1) Zero tells Stanley about the sploosh.
2) Stanley shows Zero God's Thumb.
3) Stanley finds Zero.
4) Zero says he will not return to Camp Green Lake.
a) 4, 2, 3, 1
b) 3, 1, 4, 2
c) 3, 4, 1, 2
d) 4, 2, 1, 3
Follow these simple directions to make a wonderful onion dip. First combine 8
ounces of cream cheese with 1/4 cup whipping cream in a crock pot. Heat these
ingredients until the cheese melts. This takes about 30 to 60 minutes. While the
cheese is heating steam 3 large Vandalia onions. Add the onions to the cheese
mixture. Next add 1 teaspoon
Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon Garlic salt, 2 tablespoons grated
Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon Thyme to the cheese mixture and stir well.
Then place a lid on the crock pot and continue heating for approximately 30
minutes. Finally serve the onion dip with raw vegetables, crackers, or bread
pieces. This terrific recipe will help you understand San's love of onions.
Which sequence best describes the order of events in this passage?
1) Steam onions.
2) Add spices.
3) Heat all ingredients for 30 additional minutes.
4) Heat cheese and cream in a crock pot
5) Serve the onion dip with raw
vegetables, crackers, or bread pieces.
a) 4, 1, 2, 3, 5
b) 4, 3, 2, 1, 5
c) 5, 2, 3, 4, 1
d) 4, 3, 5, 1, 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
----------Key----------
Multiple Choice
d
a
b
c
c
a