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Element pl-order-blocks: code with ranking and indentation

This question illustrates the grading-method="ranking" mode of pl-order-blocks, which is useful for Parsons-style coding problems.

Implement the Python function my_sum, which takes 2 numbers, first and second, and returns their sum. Note that the ordering of instantiation, computation, and returning of the value must be correct. Remember to indent your code!

This example uses grading-method="ranking" to control how the correct solution is ordered, the indent attribute in pl-answer to define expected code indentation, and the distractor-for attribute to visually pair blocks with their distractors.

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Construct your solution here:

Correct answer

Correct answer (there may be other correct orders, correct indentation required):

1
def my_sum(first, second):
1
sum = 0
1
sum += first
1
sum += second
1
return sum

Incorrect Blocks (these blocks should not be included in your solution):

1
sum &= first
- 1
  sum + second
You need to store the result of the sum in a variable!
- 1
  sum + first
You need to store the result of the sum in a variable!

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Question

QID:

element/orderBlocksCode

Title:

Element pl-order-blocks: code with ranking and indentation

Variant

Started at:

2026-08-04 23:51:00 (CDT)

Duration:

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{
  "python-ordered": [
    {
      "tag": "c10774fa-afba-49f7-a888-bdfd244359db",
      "uuid": "da1112ec-e996-44e1-8f57-2037c6fa6711",
      "final": false,
      "index": 0,
      "indent": 0,
      "depends": [],
      "ranking": 1,
      "group_info": {
        "tag": null,
        "depends": null
      },
      "inner_html": "<pl-code language=\"python\">def my_sum(first, second):</pl-code>",
      "distractor_for": null,
      "initially_placed": false,
      "ordering_feedback": null,
      "distractor_feedback": null
    },
    {
      "tag": "fcbf10de-7c5c-4d6b-a990-8531cc475323",
      "uuid": "d37addd9-eaea-4d80-9b0c-8184f4b04a70",
      "final": false,
      "index": 1,
      "indent": 1,
      "depends": [],
      "ranking": 2,
      "group_info": {
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        "depends": null
      },
      "inner_html": "<pl-code language=\"python\">sum = 0</pl-code>",
      "distractor_for": null,
      "initially_placed": false,
      "ordering_feedback": null,
      "distractor_feedback": null
    },
    {
      "tag": "addfirst",
      "uuid": "c615c323-093f-4354-8029-0c76894e874e",
      "final": false,
      "index": 2,
      "indent": 1,
      "depends": [],
      "ranking": 3,
      "group_info": {
        "tag": null,
        "depends": null
      },
      "inner_html": "<pl-code language=\"python\">sum += first</pl-code>",
      "distractor_bin": "c4212af1-60df-4c78-a1cb-010c01cf5d7d",
      "distractor_for": null,
      "initially_placed": false,
      "ordering_feedback": null,
      "distractor_feedback": null
    },
    {
      "tag": "addsecond",
      "uuid": "daac03a0-a4b5-4840-9aef-a1937eb91f43",
      "final": false,
      "index": 3,
      "indent": 1,
      "depends": [],
      "ranking": 3,
      "group_info": {
        "tag": null,
        "depends": null
      },
      "inner_html": "<pl-code language=\"python\">sum += second</pl-code>",
      "distractor_bin": "ecb9bfee-3330-4128-83f9-3291872b685e",
      "distractor_for": null,
      "initially_placed": false,
      "ordering_feedback": null,
      "distractor_feedback": null
    },
    {
      "tag": "d72dae3b-630e-483b-86a6-32ae9acad691",
      "uuid": "ed66e21e-46a6-4ab4-a01d-078d2051aa03",
      "final": false,
      "index": 4,
      "indent": 1,
      "depends": [],
      "ranking": 4,
      "group_info": {
        "tag": null,
        "depends": null
      },
      "inner_html": "<pl-code language=\"python\">return sum</pl-code>",
      "distractor_for": null,
      "initially_placed": false,
      "ordering_feedback": null,
      "distractor_feedback": null
    }
  ]
}

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