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Difficulty: MediumParagraph Reordering and Placement

The paragraphs below are from a draft of an essay about the invention of the dishwasher. Arrange the paragraphs in the most logical order to create a coherent essay.

  1. 1In 1886, Josephine Cochrane, a wealthy Illinois socialite, grew frustrated that her heirloom china was frequently chipped during handwashing. Determined to find a safer method, she designed a machine that used high water pressure rather than scrubbers to clean dishes, building the prototype in a shed behind her home.
  2. 2Her design debuted publicly at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. There, the machine won the highest award for mechanical construction, bringing Cochrane widespread recognition and validating her engineering skills.
  3. 3To turn her invention into a commercial success, Cochrane founded a company to manufacture and market the machines. She focused her efforts on hotels and large restaurants, where the capacity to clean massive volumes of tableware quickly made the expensive appliance a worthwhile investment.
  4. 4However, domestic adoption remained slow for several decades. Most homes at the time lacked the plumbing and water heaters necessary to operate the machine, meaning Cochrane’s invention would not become a common household staple until the mid-twentieth century.

Answer

The correct order of paragraphs begins with the paragraph introducing the inventor and prototype in 1886, followed by the paragraph describing the public debut at the 1893 exposition, then the paragraph about founding a company to market to hotels, and finishes with the paragraph contrasting commercial success with slow domestic adoption.
The essay is most logically organized when it begins with the paragraph introducing Josephine Cochrane in 1886 and her prototype. Next, the paragraph about the 1893 exposition follows, using 'Her design' to refer back to the invention and progressing chronologically. This is followed by the paragraph about founding a company to build on that success by marketing to hotels. Finally, the paragraph starting with 'However' contrasts this commercial success with the slow adoption in private homes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the introductory paragraph of the essay.
The paragraph introducing Josephine Cochrane in 1886 and the creation of her initial prototype serves as the natural beginning.
It establishes the historical background and the main subject of the essay.
2
Find the logical next step in the chronology of the invention.
The paragraph describing the public debut of the design at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition follows the 1886 introduction.
The phrase 'Her design' in this paragraph refers back to the machine designed in the introductory paragraph, and 1893 follows 1886 chronologically.
3
Determine the step showing how she capitalized on the public recognition.
The paragraph about founding a company to manufacture and market the machines to hotels and restaurants follows the exposition debut.
The commercial effort directly builds upon the recognition and validation described in the paragraph about the World's Fair.
4
Identify the final paragraph using transition words and thematic contrast.
The paragraph beginning with 'However, domestic adoption remained slow' is placed last.
The transition word 'However' contrasts the successful sales to hotels and restaurants mentioned in the commercialization paragraph with the sluggish adoption in residential homes.

Key Concept

Paragraph Reordering and Placement
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Topics

Paragraph Reordering and Placement

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