Sequence of Ideas

Reorganize sentences or paragraphs to achieve a logical

sequence of ideas.
Well-Organized Formula:
Introduction
Body
Conclusion

Common Patterns:
Chronological Order
Emphatic Order (Importance)
Spatial Order (Direction)

Sequence of Ideas
Chronological Order:
first, second, next, then, afterward, later, eventually,
finally
Emphatic Order (Importance):
least, least important, less, more, more important, most
importantly,
Spatial Order (Direction):
beside, in the middle, next to, to the right, on top of, in
front of, behind, against, beneath

Sequence of Ideas
Linking Similar Ideas
again, and, another, besides, furthermore, too, likewise
Linking Dissimilar/Contradictory Ideas
although, however, but, yet, still, otherwise
Indicating Cause, Purpose, or Result
because, as a result, since, therefore, thus
Indicating Time or Position
above, below, next, first, second, then, afterward, finally,
Indicating an Example or Summary
for instance, in other words, in short, in conclusion

(1) Written during the late 12th Century, The Lais of

Marie de France consist of twelve short narrative poems
that explore themes of romantic love. (2) Adultery is
frequently the source of the pain. (3) Love is depicted in the
lais as a beautiful and consuming experience, but one that
is associated with suffering. (4) Truly happy endings are
uncommon. (5) For example, in Equitan, a king falls in love
with the wife of one of his officers and the two begin an
affair. (6) The lovers plot to kill the officer by luring him into a
bathtub of boiling water. (7) However, when the officer
discovers the two together, the king, feeling ashamed, leaps
into the scalding water. (8) The officer, angered by his wifes
infidelity, throws her into the tub as well.
(9) Lais such as Equitan present a view of love that
contrasted sharply with the teachings of the Church at the
time. (10) Although very little is known about Marie de
France. (11) She must have been a woman of great courage
to have explored themes of adultery and seduction in her
writing. (12) These themes are not consistent with the
teachings of the Church in her day. (13) At the same time,
her conection with a royal court doubtless provided a worldly
and receptive audience for her work.

Which of the following

changes would make
the sequence of ideas
in the first paragraph
clearer?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Place Part 2 after

Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 2 and 3.
Place Part 1 after
Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 3 and 4.
TIP:
For sequencing,
only focus on
area in question.

(1) Written during the late 12th Century, The Lais of

Marie de France consist of twelve short narrative poems
that explore themes of romantic love. (2) Adultery is
frequently the source of the pain. (3) Love is depicted in the
lais as a beautiful and consuming experience, but one that
is associated with suffering. (4) Truly happy endings are
uncommon. (5) For example, in Equitan, a king falls in love
with the wife of one of his officers and the two begin an
affair. (6) The lovers plot to kill the officer by luring him into a
bathtub of boiling water. (7) However, when the officer
discovers the two together, the king, feeling ashamed, leaps
into the scalding water. (8) The officer, angered by his wifes
infidelity, throws her into the tub as well.
(9) Lais such as Equitan present a view of love that
contrasted sharply with the teachings of the Church at the
time. (10) Although very little is known about Marie de
France. (11) She must have been a woman of great courage
to have explored themes of adultery and seduction in her
writing. (12) These themes are not consistent with the
teachings of the Church in her day. (13) At the same time,
her conection with a royal court doubtless provided a worldly
and receptive audience for her work.

Which of the following

changes would make
the sequence of ideas
in the first paragraph
clearer?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Place Part 2 after

Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 2 and 3.
Place Part 1 after
Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 3 and 4.

TIP:
Mentally separate each
sentence individually
and identify main idea
and transition words.

(1) Written during the late 12th Century,

The Lais of Marie de France consist
of twelve short narrative poems that
explore themes of romantic love.
(2) Adultery is frequently the source of
the pain.

Which of the following

changes would make
the sequence of ideas
in the first paragraph
clearer?
a.
b.
c.

(3) Love is depicted in the lais as a

beautiful and consuming experience,
but one that is associated with
suffering.
(4) Truly happy endings are uncommon.

d.

Place Part 2 after

Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 2 and 3.
Place Part 1 after
Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 3 and 4.
TIP:
Identify sequencing
through process of
elimination.

(1) Written during the late 12th Century,

The Lais of Marie de France consist
of twelve short narrative poems that
explore themes of romantic love.
(2) Adultery is frequently the source of
the pain.

Which of the following

changes would make
the sequence of ideas
in the first paragraph
clearer?
a.
b.
c.

(3) Love is depicted in the lais as a

beautiful and consuming experience,
but one that is associated with
suffering.
(4) Truly happy endings are uncommon.

d.

Place Part 2 after

Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 2 and 3.
Place Part 1 after
Part 4.
Reverse the order
of Parts 3 and 4.

Sequence of Ideas

On the MTEL, you will receive

approximately 3-4 questions
asking you to identify how to
make the sequence of ideas clearer

Sequence of Ideas
This learning standard is also
addressed in an alternative way,
specifically by asking you to identify:
which sentence, if added between
sentence # and #, is most consistent with
the writers purpose and audience.

(1) Sandra Davis and her two children are finding out just
how cold it can be when you're poor. (2) It's the beginning of
fall, and a chill wind briskly tosses red and gold leaves into a
pile by the front door of the Davis home on Rand Street. (3)
But, the inside of the house is cold, too, because the gas
has just been turned off for non-payment of the bill. (4)
Sandra is out of a job. (5) She suffers, but her children will
suffer as much or more.
(6) In fact poor children across America are suffering. (7)
According to the stereotype, we believe that poor children
are born into large families in big cities, and these families
are headed by minority, welfare mothers. (8) Nothing could
be further from the truth. (9) More poor children live outside
cities. (10) Nearly two-thirds of all poor families have only
one or two children. (11) Most poor families income comes
from the wages of one or more workers. (12) Most shocking
of all is that even if every single-parent family was to
disappear, the United States would still have the highest
child poverty rate among industrialized nations. (13) This
problem is a disgrace in a country as great as ours, but the
government cannot legislate a solution. (14) The people of
the United States must become concerned about child
poverty and commit to a personal involvement before there
can be an effective solution.

Which of the following,

added between
sentences 6 and 7, is
most consistent with
the writers purpose and
audience?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Who can blame

Sandra . . .
However, many of
these . . .
A study on child
poverty made . . .
Frankly, I am
shocked by the . . .
TIP:
Zero in on
area in question

(1) Sandra Davis and her two children are finding out just
how cold it can be when you're poor. (2) It's the beginning of
fall, and a chill wind briskly tosses red and gold leaves into a
pile by the front door of the Davis home on Rand Street. (3)
But, the inside of the house is cold, too, because the gas
has just been turned off for non-payment of the bill. (4)
Sandra is out of a job. (5) She suffers, but her children will
suffer as much or more.
(6) In fact poor children across America are suffering. (7)
According to the stereotype, we believe that poor children
are born into large families in big cities, and these families
are headed by minority, welfare mothers. (8) Nothing could
be further from the truth. (9) More poor children live outside
cities. (10) Nearly two-thirds of all poor families have only
one or two children. (11) Most poor families income comes
from the wages of one or more workers. (12) Most shocking
of all is that even if every single-parent family was to
disappear, the United States would still have the highest
child poverty rate among industrialized nations. (13) This
problem is a disgrace in a country as great as ours, but the
government cannot legislate a solution. (14) The people of
the United States must become concerned about child
poverty and commit to a personal involvement before there
can be an effective solution.

Which of the following,

added between
sentences 6 and 7, is
most consistent with
the writers purpose and
audience?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Who can blame

Sandra . . .
However, many of
these . . .
A study on child
poverty made . . .
Frankly, I am
shocked by the . . .

TIP:
Identify surround
sentences main ideas
and transition words.

...(4) Sandra is out of a job. (5) She suffers,

but her children will suffer as much or more.
(6) In fact poor children across America
are suffering. _________________________
(7) According to the stereotype, we believe
that poor children are born into large families
in big cities, and these families are headed
by minority, welfare mothers. (8) Nothing
could be further from the truth. (9) More poor
children live outside cities. (10) Nearly twothirds of all poor families have only one or
two children. (11) Most poor families income
comes from the wages of one or more
workers. (12) Most shocking of all is that
even if every single-parent family was to
disappear, the United States would still have
the highest child poverty rate among
industrialized nations. (13) This problem is a
disgrace in a country as great as ours, but...

Which of the following, added

between sentences 6 and 7, is
most consistent with the writers
purpose and audience?
a.
b.

c.

d.

Who can blame Sandra for

being angry about being laid
off her job?
However, many of these
stereotypes about poor
children to which most
Americans subscribe are not
on target.
A study on child poverty
made newspaper headlines
on the front pages of
American newspapers.
Frankly, I am shocked by the
poverty that still exists in the
United States.

...(4) Sandra is out of a job. (5) She suffers,

but her children will suffer as much or more.
(6) In fact poor children across America
are suffering. _________________________
(7) According to the stereotype, we believe
that poor children are born into large families
in big cities, and these families are headed
by minority, welfare mothers. (8) Nothing
could be further from the truth. (9) More poor
children live outside cities. (10) Nearly twothirds of all poor families have only one or
two children. (11) Most poor families income
comes from the wages of one or more
workers. (12) Most shocking of all is that
even if every single-parent family was to
disappear, the United States would still have
the highest child poverty rate among
industrialized nations. (13) This problem is a
disgrace in a country as great as ours, but...

Which of the following, added

between sentences 6 and 7, is
most consistent with the writers
purpose and audience?
a.
b.

c.

d.

Who can blame Sandra for

being angry about being laid
off her job?
However, many of these
stereotypes about poor
children to which most
Americans subscribe are not
on target.
A study on child poverty
made newspaper headlines
on the front pages of
American newspapers.
Frankly, I am shocked by the
poverty that still exists in the
United States.

EDCITE
QUIZ