APIEOrdering ideas in an essay or a talk
Eyesight, glasses and eye tests
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Ordering ideas in an essay or a talk
Learn how to start, connect, illustrate, and conclude your main points smoothly.
💡 How to use this lesson
👩🏫 Teacher's Guide
Use this 12-minute guide to teach sequence markers step by step.
Check answers together after learners finish all 12 practice items.
🎓 Learner's Guide
First, read the 4 rules and topic examples carefully.
Next, complete the 12 practice tasks step by step.
Grammar Rules: Sequence Words
Study the four simple rules below. Notice how each sentence gives a point and uses a comma after the ordering word.
Start your first main idea with firstly or to begin with. Use secondly when you move to the next main idea. Always put a comma right after these words.
• To begin with, the optician asked me to read some letters.
• Firstly, a good frame must fit your nose and ears.
Use in addition when you give one more point after points you already shared. Always put a comma after it. Remember that it introduces a new point and does not introduce an example.
• Regular checkups keep your eyes healthy. In addition, many people forget to clean their glasses.
• Dark glasses protect your eyes from bright light. In addition, they help with screen glare.
Use for example before a specific case that shows your point clearly. Put a comma after it. The example comes after your main statement and does not start a new main point.
• Many people have tired eyes. For example, some feel pain after a long evening of reading.
• Modern checkups can spot early problems. For example, an optician can check how well you see far away.
Use finally for the last item in a list. Use in conclusion or to sum up to close your whole talk or essay with a comma. After these closing words, we start no new main idea.
• Finally, remember to blink often when looking at screens.
• In conclusion, regular eye tests are a sensible habit.
"To begin with, the optician asked me to read some letters."
Notice how the sentence starts with the order phrase, followed immediately by a comma.
Practice Exercises
12 TasksComplete all 12 questions below. Look at the brackets (hint) for a clue.
Part 1: Choose the correct sentence
Choose the sentence that correctly introduces the first point in a talk about eye checkups:
Choose the sentence that adds an extra main point after previous points:
Choose the sentence that correctly closes the whole talk about eyesight:
Part 2: Rewrite points as a short talk
Rewrite these two points into a short talk using firstly and secondly:
"Screens cause glare. Rest helps."
Rewrite these two points into a short talk using to begin with and in addition:
"Spectacles help shortsighted people. Eye drops help dry eyes."
Rewrite these two points into a short talk using firstly and finally:
"Spectacles protect your eyes. A checkup keeps eyesight sharp."
Part 3: Fill in the gaps
Fill in the blank with the phrase that adds one more point:
"Spectacles help you see clearly. ____, they can protect your eyes from the sun."
Fill in the blank with the phrase that introduces a specific example:
"Many shortsighted people see badly in the dark. ____, reading small print in low light can be hard."
Fill in the blank with the phrase that introduces the last point:
"To begin with, rest your eyes often. Secondly, wear spectacles if you need them. ____, for my last point, go for a checkup every year."
Part 4: Correct the error in a short message
Read the message sent to a friend:
Which sentence fixes the error in the message?
Read the message:
Which sentence fixes the error in the message?
Read the message:
Which sentence fixes the final sentence error to close the message properly?
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