SAT Reading & Writing: Logical Sequence and Ordering Sentences
20+ practice questions in Praczo
The concept, explained
- 1
When placing a sentence in a paragraph, look for transitions and pronoun antecedents.
- 2
Sequence indicators ("First," "subsequently," "then," "finally") outline an order of events or steps in a process.
- 3
A sentence detailing a result must come AFTER the sentence detailing the cause.
- 4
Look for definitive nouns ("The telescope was built in 1990.") that are referred to later by pronouns ("It..." or "This instrument..."). The noun must appear FIRST.
- 5
Do not just insert a sentence where the topic roughly matches; ensure the flow from one sentence to the next is structurally seamless.
- ✗ Placing a sentence early in the paragraph before its key pronouns or references have been defined.
- ✗ Interrupting a tight sequence of events with a sentence that belongs as a conclusion or an introduction.
SAT-style practice
Sentence 1 introduces a theory. Sentence 2 details an experiment testing the theory. Sentence 3 summarizes the findings of the experiment. Where would the sentence "These findings ultimately overturned the theory" best fit?
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