| Exemplary Prose: |
| Essential Writing Skills in Context |
Arrange sentences which provide supporting details and evidence within a paragraph in a logical sequence; identify a variety of paragraph development approaches and select the approach appropriate for a given paragraph.
I like to think of sequence of writing in terms of building a house. Being a former house framer, I would be shocked and dismayed if my crew wanted to build the roof before putting up the exterior walls. Writing is the same way. When you are communicating through prose (regular writing), you need to present your message to the reader in an easy to follow manner. If your sentences seem out of place and your logic disjointed, the reader will get frustrated and give up. Although those consequences may not bother you, think about this: if your writing samples on the HSGQE do not follow a clear train of thought, you will score extremely low, regardless of the important message you are trying to communicate.
The following examples should help you prepare for some of the sequence questions on the HSGQE.
1. A student wrote a paragraph about a trip to the video store. There are some mistakes that need correcting.
(1) After school, we went to the video store. (2) Looking at all the new releases. (3) We stayed in the store for a whole hour, but we still weren't able to decide on a movie we would all like. (4) We decided to play a game instead.
Where would this sentence best fit in the paragraph?
That way we'd get more exercise anyway.
A. after Sentence 1
B. after Sentence 2
C. after Sentence 3
D. after Sentence 4
2. (1) Many people believe trains to be one of the most
romantic ways to travel in the world. (2) Once a necessary means of
transportation to the west, trains have become carriers more of freight than of
people. (3) Trains took longer to traverse long distances than modern planes.
(4) They are, however, the preferred mode of travel for people who are more
interested in style than speed.
Where should the following sentence be added?
In our fast-paced
world, people want to get to their destinations as quickly as possible.
A. after sentence 1
B. after sentence 2
C. after sentence 3
D. after sentence 4
3. Choose the sentence that best fits in the blank.
Most people agree that exercise is good for both body and soul. _____________________ Additionally, exercise causes the release of endorphins which stimulate our sense of well being. In general, exercise simply makes us feel better
A. Walking for twenty minutes a day is considered a good standard.
B. Combining work and play makes the days go faster.
C. A regimen of daily exercise helps maintain a steady calorie-burning
metabolism.
D. Exercises need not be difficult for anyone to complete.
4. Directions: A student wrote a report on hiking
in South Central Alaska. There are several mistakes that need correcting. Read
the first part of the report.
Where would this sentence best fit in the paragraph?
Hikers of all abilities can find a trail to suit their
needs.
A) after Sentence 2
B) after Sentence 6
C) after Sentence 8
D) after Sentence 9
Find answer here.
5. (1) After school. We checked out the big game. (2) Playing the team from across town. (3) the game lasted for over three hours, but it was exciting the whole time. (4) We won in the final minute!
Where would this sentence best fit in the paragraph?
Now we're the best team in the city.
A. after sentence 1
B. after sentence 2
C. after sentence 3
D. after sentence 4
6. Maria wrote this report about skyscrapers. There are some mistakes that need corrections. Read the paragraph. Then answer the question.
(1) Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American cities were growing rapid. (2) Because of the high price of land and limited space, building vertically seemed practical. (3) Due to the development of sufficiently strong metal frameworks which were able to support many floors, the giant buildings we know as skyscrapers emerged. (4) The first metal-frame skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years of 1884 and 1885. (5) It was torn down about forty-five years later. (6) In the motion picture Godzilla, the giant beast is perched upon the Empire State Building. (7) The world’s tallest skyscrapers are found in Chicago and New York City.
Where would this sentence best fit in the paragraph?
New technology
provided the answer.
A. after sentence 1
B. after sentence 2
C. after sentence 6
D. after sentence 7
The correct answer is B. This question asks you to organize thoughts logically. The sentence must come before sentence three as sentence three further develops the idea presented in the sample sentence. Further, it explains why sentence two is true. Return to 2.
The correct answer is C. The key to this question is recognizing that the next sentence begins with "Additionally" which means the sentence that comes before it must also provide an example of the value of exercise. Return to 3.
The correct answer is D. The sentence is a nice summary to the paragraph about the relative difficulty of hiking trails in South central Alaska. Answers B and C would have the sentence interrupt the passage. Answer A sets up unnecessary repetition. Return to 4.
Well, I hope you have done well with these exercises. If you keep in mind that sequence in your writing is important, your structure will improve. I highly recommend getting into the habit of creating an outline before you get down to putting pen to paper. If you cultivate this habit, it will come natural to you when you take the writing portion of the HSGQE.