ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

ORGANIZING ACCORDING TO ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

          Items in a paragraph that do not involve time or position can often be arranged in order of importance (also called logical order). 

          Most Important to Least Important is used in reporting news stories.

          Least Important to Most Important is used in persuasive writing and speaking.

Transitional Expressions that indicate order of importance:  furthermore, in fact, therefore, ultimately, moreover, in conclusion, on the other hand, most serious…, most important, similarly, however, as as result, in addition to, consequently, on the contrary

PART ONE:  Choose one of the topic sentences below.  Write a persuasive paragraph that is organized from LEAST important to MOST important, giving reasons for support of the topic sentence you chose.

Everyone should exercise regularly to stay fit.

You must eat a good diet if you want to stay healthy.

Every high school student should go out for a sport or extra curricular activity.

Never send or read text messages while driving.

Using drugs or alcohol is a big mistake.

Every student should make it a goal to finish high school.

It’s important to work hard in school.

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PART TWO: Rearrange the sentences below so that the most important is last.    Decide which should be 1^st (topic sentence), 2^nd, 3^rd, etc. and mark them with numbers.  Underline or make bold all the transitional expressions.

Put these in Least Important to Most Important order

      ___A.  Because we don’t take time to shut off lights we’re not using or carpool instead of wasting gas, we are using our energy resources at an alarming rate.

      ___B.  All of us must begin to take better care of our natural environment.

      ___C.  Ultimately, if we don’t start taking better care of our environment, generations to come may not be able to survive on this contaminated planet.

      ___D. An even more serious issue is the destruction of our rain forests and the depleting of our ozone layer which protects earth from the sun’s harmful rays.

     ___E.  As a result, eventually we may run out of coal, oil, and other fuels.

     ___F.  Although it may seem like a minor problem, it is sad to have to look at trash instead of at nature’s beauty along our nation’s highways.

     ___G.  Furthermore, the cans you see along the roadside could have been recycled, thus saving more of our natural resources.

Put these in Most Important to Least Important order

      ___A.  The air measurement devices will be used by the PCA to ensure that the mining company stays within Minnesota’s standards for air quality. 

      ___B.  Cliffs Natural Resources will pay a $242,973 penalty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the improper monitoring and handling of leachate at North Shore Mining in Silver Bay.
___C.  In addition to the penalty for improper containment of leachate, Cliffs must pay $79,825 toward the purchase of seven air measurement devices to monitor air in the Silver Bay area.

      ___D.  In the future the PCA will also be testing the area around the mine’s landfill  for leachate, which contains contaminated material that can pollute the North Shore.

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Part Three “A”- Contract work:  The following sentences are scrambled.  Arrange them so they make a smooth flowing paragraph with a topic sentence.

 First Paragraph:

      ___A.  rust spots near the wheel wells can mean there is body rot.

      ___B.  If the car has seat covers, take them off to see if the upholstery is ripped.

      ___C.  When you’re going to buy a used car, you have to be really careful.

      ___D.  Check the interior.

      ___E.  Cars that haven’ been polished usually have owners who don’t take care of the motor either.

      ___F.  The paint should be in good shape.

Second Paragraph:

      ___G.  Pull out a spark plug.

      ___H.  Finally, if the car’s exhaust looks like a smoke bomb went off, give the seller his keys back and start looking for another car.

      ___I.  A car with a bad engine can cost you a bundle.

      ___J.  Start the engine and listen.

      ___K.  Even more important than the body or interior is the engine.

      ___L.  If the plug is caked with gunk, the engine isn’t running well.

      ___M.  If the engine runs rough or make a ticking sound, forget it.