Writing Sentences Workshop

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this workshops you will be able to: Name the parts of a sentence Describe four types of sentences Write a simple sentence Write a compound sentence Describe, identify, fix a sentence fragment

Describe, identify, fix a run-on sentence

What is a sentence?
A series of words that express a complete thought or core idea (also called main thought, controlling idea, main or independent clause)

Starts with a capital letter.

Ends with punctuation: .,!, ? Contains a subject and a verb, at minimum.

What are the parts of a sentence?

The SUBJECT acts who or what is doing something. The VERB is the action or state of being tells what the subject does, thinks, or feels. The OBJECT receives the action answer a different question, like who, what, where.

How are the parts put together?

Simple Sentence
The simplest sentence possible must contain: SUBJECT + VERB Examples: Bob danced. Mary ran. James cooked. However, usually contains: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT Examples: Bob danced with Mary. Mary ran home. James cooked spaghetti.

We call it a Simple Sentence

Simple Sentence
Used in technical writing for clarity.

Easiest to read.
Rhetorical Use: Emphasize one point. Focus reader attention on that point.

DRAMA and POWER

Famous Simple Sentences

Jesus wept.
I have a dream.

 Yoda speaks "Galactic Basic", NOT English. He

How NOT to do it!

puts auxiliary verbs at the end of each sentence, and always inverts the object and subject.
OBJECT-SUBJECT-VERB
Gone to the dark side, Count Dooku has. That boy you trained, gone he is. When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not.

Other Sentence Structures

1. Simple (as discussed) 2. Compound 3. Complex 4. Compound-Complex

Sentence Composition
Compound Sentence
Simple sentence + Simple sentence Joined by coordinating conjunction: and, but, yet, so, nor, or, for.

The river flows and the water rises.

Rhetorical Use: Shows relationship between coordinating ideas

ideas must be equal

Coordinating Conjunction Relationships

Relationship
Addition
Result or effect Contrast

Coordinating Conjunction
And The river flows, and the water rises.
So The river flows faster, so well see flooding. But, yet The river flows, but the water is contaminated. The river flows, yet we have no water to drink.

Reason or choice

For The river floods, for it is a force of nature.

Choice Negative choice

Or The river flows less, or we may perish. Nor The river flows faster, nor will it stop flooding.

Sentence Composition
Complex Sentence
Simple sentence + subordinate clause OR Subordinate clause + simple sentence The river rose, after the big storm.
After the big storm, the river rose. Rhetorical Use: Shows the relationship between the major idea and the minor idea (i.e., subordinate).

Ideas are NOT equal

Subordinating Conjunction Relationships

Relationship Subordinating Conjunction

Time

After, before, once, since, until, when, whenever, while The river rose, after the big storm.

Reason or cause

As, because, since Because the river rose, our basement flooded. In order that, so, so that, that The river rose, so we had to evacuate. Even if, if, provided that, unless If the river rose more, our bridge would wash away. Although, even though, though, whereas Even though the river rose without warning, we survived. Where, wherever The river rose where the banks narrowed.

Purpose or result Condition Contrast Location

Choice

Rather than, whether Rather than measure how much the river rose, we fled.

Sentence Composition
Compound-Complex Sentence
A complex sentence + coordinate conjunction + simple sentence.
The river rose, after the big storm, and people fled.
After the big storm, the river rose, and people fled.

Rhetorical Use:
Express complex ideas. Elaborate and qualify. Make a claim. Provide supporting evidence.

clarify, elaborate, qualify, highlight

Sentence Composition
Sentence Length
Short Sentences Easy to read. Useful for emphasizing important points.
Long Sentences Contain a lot of words, typically in a complex structure. Are harder to read. BUT are useful for creating interest. Vary the length of sentences in your writing. All one length is boring and repetitive, if short. Boring and confusing, if long.

Problems with Sentence Length

Sentence Fragments & Run-ons

Fragment: A fragment is a group of words masquerading as a sentence, BUT one or more essential sentence components - subject, verb, complete thought are missing. Run-On: A run-on is the opposite of a fragment. In a run-on sentence there are too many essentials subjects, verbs, and/or complete thought(s) because a run-on sentence contains too many independent clauses..

Fragments & Run-ons

1. I live to ride my BMX I am so good at it I have won lots of trophies. 2. Although carbon dioxide occurs naturally. 3. For example, thermal neutron activation systems, nitrogen snuffer systems, and enhanced x-ray systems. 4. Rubidium has no major uses it is more common on earth than zinc copper or nickel. 5. A series of words expressing one idea.

Improve Your Writing

Verb-Subject Agreement

Plural subject = plural verb Single subject = single verb

The use of an incorrect word is distracting to the reader.

Verb-Subject Agreement
Writing Exercise
1. The criteria for assessing the environmental effects of hurricanes (are / is) given in the next section. 2. So far, the daily number of students applying (has / have) remained constant. 3. This blouse (are/is) too tight. 4. My mother (has/have) diabetes.

Improve Your Writing

Verb Tense
Past Tense: Events that have already occurred.
- The pressure was - For the experiment, we assumed - As shown back in Figure 4

Present Tense: Details at the time of writing/reading.

- Air is 79 percent oxygen. - Figure 2 displays - Appendix B outlines

Future Tense: Events that have yet to occur.

- Future work will focus on

Improve Your Writing

Wordiness

The less you write, the more users read!!! WORDY: It is necessary that you change your password. CONCISE: You must change your password.

WORDINESS
For the reason that Considering the fact that That is why On the occasion of In a situation in which Under circumstances in which It is necessary that There is a need It is important that Is able to Has opportunity to Has the ability to It is possible that There is a chance that It could happen that

CONCISE Because, Since, Why

When

Must, Should

Can

May, Can, Should

Word Choice
Use familiar words
Long, unfamiliar words Abbreviate Accomplish Advantageous Ascertain Commence Conceptualization Considerable Detrimental Elevation Equivalent Fabricate

Short, familiar words Shorten Do Useful Find out Begin Idea Much Harmful Height Equal Build

Learn More About..

Check out the Learning Centre web pages for related workshops, interactive self-tests, and helpful handouts: Critical thinking: see Writing About Ideas Paragraphs: see Paragraphs Workshop, Introductions and Conclusions Sentences: see Sentence Fragments, Run-on Sentences, More Review on Sentence Fragments and dozens of other resources on the Learning Centre web pages

QUESTIONS?
Email learningcentre@oldscollege.ca