Connect Across the Curriculum

Literary Analysis: Analyze Text Structure: Sequence
Academic Vocabulary

  • • sequence (sē-kwens) noun The sequence of events is the order in which the events happen.

Time words give you clues to the sequence of events. Read this passage from “The Forgotten Treasure.” Notice the time words.

One day, the hunter went out into the forest with his spear, his bow, and his arrows. At the end of the day, he did not come home. His wife and his four sons stayed up all night waiting for him, but still he didn’t come home. A week passed but still he did not come home. His wife and his sons cried for their loss.

Practice Together

Begin a Sequence Chain You can use a Sequence Chain to keep track of the events in a story. The chain shows the order of events. It is different from a time line because it does not show exact dates. Compare the events in this Sequence Chain to the text above. Then work with your class to add two more events.

Sequence Chain

Sequence Chain

Try It!

Make a Sequence Chain Make a Sequence Chain for the rest of the story.

  • • Draw ovals. Connect them with arrows.

  • • Write an event in each oval. Use time words such as first, then, and next to show the right order for the events.

  • • Number the events in sequence.