How do you determine the sequence of events in a narrative?

• A. Identify order, use time cues, and note causal relationships.
• B. Read the last paragraph first.
• C. Determine the author’s purpose.
• D. Look for headings.

Answer: (A)

To determine the sequence of events in a narrative, map out the order in which things happen. Look for time cues that signal progression—words like first, next, after, and finally—to line up events chronologically. Also note how one event causes or influences another, since those cause-and-effect links explain why things happen in that order. Other approaches—like reading the last paragraph first, focusing on the author’s purpose, or looking for headings—don’t reliably reveal the timeline of events.