One logical way to develop a paragraph is to arrange the

supporting details on the basis of the order of time, from the

beginning to the middle to the end. This kind of chronological

organization is typical of a sequence in which earlier

occurrences precede later ones. In this way the writer virtually

leads the reader step by step to the completion of an event by

well-placed words of transition or clear-cut instructions.

Paragraph Development by Chronological SequenceParagraph Development by Chronological Sequence

Examine the following sample paragraph and identify the order of time with the help of the words in red that signal transition.Examine the following sample paragraph and identify the order of time with the help of the words in red that signal transition.

SampleSampleSampleSample

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On May 20th, 1927, just after ten to eight in the morning, Lindbergh’s “spirit of St Louis” struggled into the air from a New York airfield. For several hours the weight of the petrol prevented the young pilot from flying more than a few feet above the wave-tops. Night came and thick fog covered up the stars. Lindbergh flew steadily on, hoping that his course was the right one. He struggled to keep awake, checking the fuel all the time to keep his mind active. Throughout the next day the “spirit of St Louis” flew on over the seemingly limitless sea. Then a fishing boat appeared, and, an hour later, land. It was Ireland. Lindbergh set a compass course for Paris. By ten o’clock the lights of France’s capital were shining beneath him. Tired, unshaved, suddenly hungry, the flying hero came down to Le Bourget airport, and landed in front of a huge crowd of wildly cheering people. After 34 hours of continuous piloting, the flight of 3 600 miles was over.

ExerciseExercise1616

ExerciseExercise1616

ExerciseExercise1717

ExerciseExercise1717

Ex. 16 Read the following paragraph. For each of its blanks choose

the appropriate time connector from those given below, to

join the main ideas together.

Ex. 16 Read the following paragraph. For each of its blanks choose

the appropriate time connector from those given below, to

join the main ideas together.

V.S. Naipaul, a writer in search of roots and winner of Nobel Prize for literature in 1999, was born in Trinidad 1)______________, the son of an Indian civil servant. In his childhood, he was first educated in his hometown and then Oxford University, where he studied literature. There he met Pat and they got married 2)________________. 3)__________________, he has been based in England yet spent much time traveling around the world. Travels 4)___________________ have taken him around the world on a quest for home and for roots. Sir V.S. Naipaul, now 69, was knighted ( 授以爵位 ) by Queen Elizabeth 5)________________. A critic wrote the following about him: “He is the wanderer who tries to go home, but is not taken in and is accepted by another home only so long as he admits he is a lodger there.”

KeyKeyKeyKey

since the 1950s in 1990 in 1955over three decades in 1933

V.S. Naipaul, a writer in search of roots and winner of Nobel Prize for literature in 1999, was born in Trinidad 1)______________, the son of an Indian civil servant. In his childhood, he was first educated in his hometown and then Oxford University, where he studied literature. There he met Pat and they got married 2)________________. 3)__________________, he has been based in England yet spent much time traveling around the world. Travels 4)___________________ have taken him around the world on a quest for home and for roots. Sir V.S. Naipaul, now 69, was knighted ( 授以爵位 ) by Queen Elizabeth 5)________________. A critic wrote the following about him: “He is the wanderer who tries to go home, but is not taken in and is accepted by another home only so long as he admits he is a lodger there.”

since the 1950s in 1990 in 1955over three decades in 1933

in 1933

in 1955 Since the 1950s

over three decades

in 1990

Ex. 17 Write a paragraph on one of the following topics, using some of the time connectors given.

Ex. 17 Write a paragraph on one of the following topics, using some of the time connectors given.later on suddenly former afterward now

latter years ago some time later in the first placeearlier

once in the next place before oftenfurther

next yesterday furthermore firsttoday

meanwhile second tomorrow previously third

then when in the past at lastthereafter

later on suddenly former afterward now

latter years ago some time later in the first placeearlier

once in the next place before oftenfurther

next yesterday furthermore firsttoday

meanwhile second tomorrow previously third

then when in the past at lastthereafter1. Important events of the week / month / year / last century...

2. Your own life story so far.

ReferenceReferenceReferenceReference

Important events of the week

The Tuesday evening news reported a forest fire in Northern

China. Hundreds of firemen had been sent to the spot. The fire

was threatening to be out of control as flames were fanned by

high winds in the following two days. Yesterday 8000 residents

of a nearby town had to leave their homes as the fire was

approaching rapidly. The cause of the fire is unknown so far.

An award certificate usually states to whom, for what, by

what organization(s) and at what time it is awarded. The

certificate also bears the signature of the jury chairman or

chief judge, and the seal of the awarding organization. Besides,

the laureate’s nationality is stated if it is an international

contest.

Award CertificateAward Certificate

SampleSampleSampleSample

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13th International BiologyOlympiad

Latvia – Riga, JurmalaJuly 7 – 14, 2002/9/4

Certificate

This is to certify thatHongyu Fu

from the People’s Republic of Chinahas participated in the 13th International

Biology Olympiadas a Competitor

and won the gold medal.

Indrikis MuiznieksThe Jury Chairman

Prof. Dr. Indrikis Muiznieks

Ex. 18 Use the information given below to complete the following award certificate.

Ex. 18 Use the information given below to complete the following award certificate.

ReferenceReferenceReferenceReference

Person to be awarded: Cliff Barner (Australia) Award: Silver Medal Awarding Organization: Euro Science Institute Activity: the 2nd Contest for Young Scientists Time: September 2002 Chief judge: David Helmer (Professor of Cambridge Unive

rsity)

Person to be awarded: Cliff Barner (Australia) Award: Silver Medal Awarding Organization: Euro Science Institute Activity: the 2nd Contest for Young Scientists Time: September 2002 Chief judge: David Helmer (Professor of Cambridge Unive

rsity)

2nd Contest for Young ScientistsSeptember 2002

CertificateThis is to certify that

Cliff Barnerfrom Australia

has participated in the 2nd Contest for Young Scientists

as a Competitorand won the silver medal.

David HelmerChief Judge

Prof. David Helmer