English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Identify time-order words
Identify time-order words
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'time-order words' and explain their purpose in a text.
Identify common time-order words and phrases in various types of texts.
Explain how time-order words help establish chronological order in narratives and process descriptions.
Analyze how time-order words contribute to the clarity and coherence of a written piece.
Distinguish between time-order words and other types of transition words.
Apply knowledge of time-order words to better understand the sequence of events when citing evidence or analyzing an author's purpose.
Ever wonder how stories or instructions stay organized? ⏳ What makes a recipe easy to follow, or a historical account make sense?
In this lesson, you'll learn about 'time-order words,' special wor...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Time-Order WordsWords or phrases that show the sequence of events or actions, telling us when something happened or in what order.Examples include 'first,' 'next,' 'then,' 'finally,' 'before,' 'after,' 'meanwhile,' 'later,' 'during,' 'eventually.'
SequenceThe particular order in which things happen, are arranged, or follow each other.The sequence of events in a story might be: beginning, middle, and end.
Chronological OrderArranging events in the order in which they occurred in time, from earliest to latest.A history textbook often presents events in chronological order to show cause and effect.
Transition WordsWords or phrases that connect ideas, sentences, and paragr...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Time-Order Words Signal Sequence
Time-order words explicitly tell the reader the order in which events or steps occur.
Look for words that answer the question 'When?' or 'In what order?' These words are key to understanding the progression of ideas or actions in a text.
Placement and Punctuation
Time-order words or phrases often appear at the beginning of a sentence or clause. When they introduce a sentence, they are typically followed by a comma.
For example, 'First, gather your ingredients.' or 'After the rain stopped, we went outside.' This helps signal a new step or event.
Variety in Time-Order Words
Authors use a variety of time-order words and phrases to keep writing engaging and precise, rather than repeating the same few...
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Challenging
An author is describing a sudden event. Which choice of time-order word creates the most urgent and fast-paced tone? 'The ground began to shake. ______, everyone ran for cover.'
A.Eventually
B.After a while
C.Immediately
D.Later
Challenging
In an argumentative essay, an author writes: 'At the outset, the project was criticized. Over time, its benefits became clear. In the end, it was hailed as a major success.' How do these time-order phrases support the author's purpose?
A.They prove that the critics were correct from the beginning.
B.They structure the argument to show a positive transformation, making the final success seem more significant.
C.They provide specific dates and times to make the argument more factual.
D.They compare the project to other, less successful projects.
Challenging
A paragraph lacks coherence: 'The baker mixes the dough. He lets it rise. He bakes the bread. He shapes the loaves.' Which revision uses time-order words most effectively to improve the flow?
A.The baker mixes the dough and lets it rise and shapes the loaves and bakes the bread.
B.The baker mixes the dough. However, he lets it rise. Therefore, he shapes the loaves. In addition, he bakes the bread.
C.The baker mixes the dough. During this, he lets it rise. After, he shapes the loaves. While he bakes the bread.
D.First, the baker mixes the dough. Next, he lets it rise for an hour. After that, he shapes the loaves. Finally, he bakes the bread until it is golden brown.
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