OBJECTIVE 1 LOGICAL PROGRESSION AND COMPLETENESS OF PARAGRAPHS STANDARD V: The student will use appropriate organizational skills for writing/revising

OBJECTIVE 1LOGICAL PROGRESSION AND

COMPLETENESS OF PARAGRAPHS

STANDARD V: The student will use appropriate organizational

skills for writing/revising.

Introductory Sentence

The introductory sentence of a paragraph is always the first sentence. It is the usually the main idea and the topic sentence, but it may be just a beginning detail.

An introduction should capture the reader’s interest and get the paragraph moving.

To find the best introductory sentence, you must first ask yourself what the rest of the paragraph is about.

Introductory Sentence

________. They do not have the visible shell of snails but do have one underneath the flesh of their back. The range in color from light gray to black. Their sliminess makes them even more unappealing.

A. Slugs feed mainly at night and damage many types of plants and even fruit.

B. Slugs can follow their own trails from the night before as can other slugs.

C. Gardeners may handpick slugs or use barriers, baits, or traps to get rid of them.

D. Slugs are unattractive fleshy creatures who are similar to snails.

Answer: D

Concluding Sentence

The concluding sentence is the last sentence of a paragraph and should be a logical ending.

The conclusion should “round out” the treatment of the topic.

Which sentence best continues the idea of the paragraph and offers closure?

Concluding Sentence

The history of monster trucks began in the 1970s with Bigfoot. Bob and Marilyn Chandler from St. Louis, Missouri, owned a 4x4 pickup truck. They kept trying new parts on it to make it bigger and better. It started with exhibitions and progressed to truck pulls and smashing junk cars. ________.

A. Team Bigfoot took first, second, and fourth place in racing in 193.

B. Chandler became the first in the field to utilize the team approach to racing.

C. In 1983, Bigfoot began a sponsorship association with Ford Motor Company.

D. Then racing the monster trucks was the next logical step. Answer: D

Details

Each sentence in a paragraph should add details or explanation to the topic sentence or the main idea of a paragraph.

To find the sentence that fits best in the blank, read each choice and find the one that gives details about the topic sentence or gives additional explanation about the other sentences in the paragraph.

Details

John had to learn how to do his laundry when he went away to school. He learned to sort the white clothes from the dark. ________ . He had no trouble with the dryer except remembering to hang up shirts and pants immediately so they wouldn’t wrinkle.

A. John was more careful not to buy clothes he had to iron.

B. He washed clothes only once a week.C. Next he carefully followed the detergent’s

instruction as to the amount to add.D. John still took his dirty clothes to his mother

when he went home. Answer: C

Chronological Order

Paragraphs also have a logical order. A common type of order is chronological order, or the order of time. Explaining an event is done in chronological order. The sentences are arranged in a sequence—what happened first, next, etc.

Driving directions, recipes, and other types of instructions are also given in chronological order or in sequence.

Chronological Order

1. In the life cycle of a butterfly, an adult female butterfly lays her eggs on a plant.

2. When the egg hatches, a tiny caterpillar emerges.

3. After the caterpillar has grown to full size, it forms a cocoon around itself and become a pupa.

A. 2-3-4-1B. 3-4-1-2C. 4-1-2-3D. 1-2-3-4

Answer: D

Transitional Words

Transitional words are used to help tie ideas together. They lead the reader from sentence to sentence and from paragraph to paragraph. They show relationships and help the writing flow more smoothly.

Some transitional words link similar ideas; some link dissimilar or contradictory ideas; some indicate cause, purpose, or result; and others indicate time or position. Select transitional words appropriately.

Transitional Words

Time and Order: before, finally, until, while, next, first, after, last, when

Cause and Effect: since, as a result, if, because, unless, therefore

Contrast: though, on the other hand, but, although, even though, on the contrary

Location: above, below, beside, inside, next to

Conclusion/Summary: as a result, finally, in conclusion

Transitional Words

Before the new school was finished, the two high schools were crowded.

Because it rained so much, the completion was delayed.

As a result, students waited another year to attend the new school.

Redundant or Irrelevant Sentences

Sometimes paragraphs may contain sentences that either do not add anything to the paragraph or take away from it. If a sentence repeats something already said, it is redundant. If the sentence has nothing to do with the rest of the paragraph, it is irrelevant.


(1) Astronomers at Mount Palomar Observatory in California have detected what some believe to be the tenth planet of our solar system. 92) It is three times farther away than Pluto and is probably half the size of Pluto. (3) Sedna, name the Inuit goddess of the ocean, is red and has its own moon. (4) One group of astronomers believes that Pluto itself is not a true planet.

Answer: Sentence 4


(1) There is some debate about whether Sedna qualifies as a true planet. (2) Some astronomers suggest it is not really a planet. (3) It has been suggested that it is a planetoid of half rock and half ice mixed together. (4) Other scientists are saying it redefines our solar system.

Answer: Sentence 2

1. Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that BEST fits the blank in

the paragraph.

. These gentle mammals look very much like walruses. They are now an endangered species with fewer than 3,000 in existence. Conservationists are working hard to combat boating accidents, overdevelopment, and diseases that threaten the manatee.(Choices on next slide)

1. Logical Progression and Completeness of Paragraphs

A. For hundreds of years, warm coastal waters have supported manatees.

B. Three marine centers operate hospitals that treat medical problems of manatees.

C. Researchers are now better able to treat manatees that have been poisoned by red tides.

D. Approximately thirty percent of manatee deaths result from encounters with human beings.

2. Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that BEST fills in the blank in the paragraph.

The history of wigs began in ancient times with the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. In the 1600s and 1700s, popular wigs were large and expensive.

___________. Today many types of wigs made of either real or synthetic hair are available, and they range in style from a full hairdo to a partial hairpiece. (Choices on next slide)


A. Unfortunately, they often attracted mice and insects.

B. They were made of real hair and were often covered with white powder.

C. After going completely bald from smallpox in 1562, Queen Elizabeth I always wore a wig.

D. In 1795 England imposed a tax on hair powder, and, as a result, wigs became less popular.

3. Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that does NOT belong in the

paragraph.

(1) Acapulco is one of the most popular winter resorts in North America. (2) It lies on a beautiful bay 265 miles southwest of Mexico City. (3) Most Mexicans like to vacation in Europe. (4) The fine resort hotels, the sparkling water, and the hospitality of the inhabitants make Acapulco a wonderful vacation spot.

A. Sentence 1B. Sentence 2C. Sentence 3D. Sentence 4

4. Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that does NOT belong in the paragraph.

(1) As humans consume more and more oil, new sources must be found. (2) Oil hunters sink their wells when they see signs of oil, but the wells often turn up dry. (3) Companies must continue drilling even though each well costs thousands of dollars. (4) Coal is another source of fuel.


5. Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that would be the BEST concluding

sentence.

When four-year-old Pat Moldow went to the Grand Canyon, she noticed many people taking pictures and immediately asked her parents for a camera. In the 20 years since then, she has traveled to five continents taking pictures. __.(Choices on next slide)


A. Careers are often established through significant childhood experiences.

B. Parents should think about what influence they have on their four-year-old children.

C. Her photographs have won many first-place prizes and have been published in major magazines.

D. Portrait photography captures some people, and they never lose the desire to take pictures wherever they go.

6. Read the sentence. Choose the transitional word or words that BEST fit the blank.

More than ninety people applied for this job; , there has been a delay in selecting someone for the position.

A. as a resultB. furthermoreC. for exampleD. on the other hand

7. Read the sentence. Choose the transitional word or words that BEST fit the blank.

Everyone on the team ran five miles; ____________, we lifted weights for thirty minutes.

A. howeverB. thereforeC. in additionD. in other words

8. Read the four sentences. Then choose the answer that shows the BEST order for the

sentences.

1. They used a small, straight bone called a “bone gorge.”

2. They tied a line to the middle of the “bone gorge,” and then they baited it.

3. Native Americans made fishhooks out of bones from birds.

4. When a fish swallowed the bone, the line was jerked and the fish was caught.

A. 1-2-3-4B. 3-1-2-4

C. 3-1-4-2D. 2-4-3-1

9. Read the four sentences. Then choose the answer that shows the BEST order for the

sentences.

1. Peanuts grow and mature underground.2. Blooms appear along the stems of

the plant.3. The peanut plant produces its fruit in an

unusual way.4. The blooms produce tendrils that grow

downward into the soil.A. 4-1-2-3B. 3-2-4-1 C. 3-1-2-4D. 2-4-1-3

10.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that BEST fills in the blank in the paragraph.

Humidity is the amount of water in the air. Most people complain of feeling sticky and uncomfortable when the humidity is high. _______________. As humidity levels go up, accidents and mistakes on the job also increase.

10.Understanding of logical progression and completeness in paragraph

A. Humidity can also shorten the life of batteries.

B. For examples, humidity can make pianos go flat.

C. Unfortunately, more than discomfort is involved.

D. In addition, it can cause poor television reception.

Thomas and Jeff had been pleading with their father to build them a swing. When Jerry decided to yield to his sons’ request, he gathered a used tire and some strong rope. Fastening one end of the rope securely to the tire, he climbed the huge oak tree in the back yard and tied the other end of the rope to a large limb. __________

11.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that would be the BEST concluding sentence for the

paragraph.

11.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that would be the BEST concluding

sentence for the paragraph.

A. The boys soon tired of the swing…B. The boys wanted to swing all the

time.C. The boys spent many happy hours

enjoying the simple swing.D. The boys were disappointed because

their father did not build a wooden swing.

12.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph.

(1) Many people work to produce and deliver the daily newspaper. (2) Reporters, photographers, advertising salespeople, editors, and press operators are some of those involved. (3) Some people always complain about the contents of the newspaper. (4) Producing a newspaper is a complicated task.


13.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that does not belong in the

paragraph.

(1) The trunk of a tree is complex system. (2) The leaves of the tree fall off when the weather becomes cold enough. (3) The inner bark of the trunk is alive, and it grows a new ring each year. (4) The outer bark is not alive, and it cracks or peels off when the inside of the tree trunk grows thicker.


14.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that does NOT belong in the paragraph.

(1) Bill mows the grass in his small yard each week during the summer. (2) The grass is Kentucky bluegrass. (3) He uses a reel-type mower that requires no fuel except muscle power. (4) This task provides Bill with about 90 minutes of excellent exercise.


15. Read the four sentences. Then choose the answer that shows the BEST order for the sentences.

1. Opossums are pouched mammals.2. The baby opossum stays in the pouch

until it is weaned.3. Honeybee-sized young are born partially

developed.4. Crawling into a small pouch, the

newborn begins to nurse.A. 1-3-4-2B. 2-1-3-4C. 3-4-1-2D. 1-4-2-3

16. Read the four sentences. Then choose the answer that shows the BEST order for the sentences.

1. Two varieties of corn are planted in alternating rows.

2. Producing hybrid corn is a complex procedure requiring hard labor.

3. Tassels are removed from all stalks of one variety before pollination begins.

4. The detasseled corn, which has been pollinated by the other variety, produces hybrid corn seed.

A. 4-3-2-1B. 3-2-4-1C. 1-4-2-3D. 2-1-3-4


__________. He began his career in the 1400s by studying with a great painter in Italy. Then, for 17 years, he worked for a royal family as an engineer, an artist, and a sculptor. He also made scientific drawings and studied anatomy. In his later years, he drew many sketches of machines and inventions.

17.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that BEST fills in the blank in the

paragraph.

A. Leonardo da Vinci painted the famous Mona Lisa.

B. Leonardo da Vinci was an extremely versatile person.

C. Leonardo da Vinci was an excellent scientific observer.

D. Leonardo da Vinci had an interest in history and literature.


In 1867 Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from Russia for seven million dollars. People called this purchase “Seward’s Folly” because it involved a great deal of money for millions of acres of ice and snow. ___________. Seward’s act has proven to be not a folly but a wise investment, adding both beauty and wealth to the United States.


A. In 1897 gold was discovered on the Klondike River in Alaska.

B. In 1959 Alaska became the northernmost state in the United States.

C. More recently oil was discovered under the frozen surface of Alaska.

D. Over the years, gold, oil, and vast wilderness areas have been discovered in Alaska.

19. Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that would be the BEST concluding sentence for the paragraph.

Bread is the most popular food in the world. In prehistoric times people mixed grain meal with water and then baked it on heated rocks. Today in most industrialized nations, bread making is a specialized business involving machinery. __________.

19.Read the paragraph. Choose the sentence that would be the BEST concluding sentence for the paragraph.

A. Until the 1900s, most bread was baked in the home rather than in bakeries.

B. In ancient Egypt, pieces of bread were placed in buried tombs to provide food.

C. Approximately 95% of the bread produced in the United States is yeast bread.

D. Throughout the ages, bread has provided people with more energy and protein than any other food.

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OBJECTIVE 1 LOGICAL PROGRESSION AND COMPLETENESS OF PARAGRAPHS STANDARD V: The student will use appropriate organizational skills for writing/revising