Good Writing: "It's Not Where You Start That Matters, It's Where You Finish."

Good Writing
Its not where you start that matters,

its where you finish.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

Good Writing
Ideas
Six
Writing Conventions
Traits
Organization Sentence
Fluency
Voice Word
Choice

This lesson is about Sentence Fluency
Varied Well Built

Beginnings Sentence Sentences
Fluency
Varied Length Rhythm & Flow

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

I've always seen myself in sentences. I
begin to recognize myself, word by word,
as I work through a sentence.
Don DeLillo
What might this quote mean to you?
Share your thoughts with a partner.
Share a few thoughts with whole class.

What is sentence fluency?
It refers to the way individual words and

phrases sound together within a sentence
and how groups of sentences sound when
read one after the other.

SENTENCE FLUENCY
Varied Well Built

Fluency

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

Varied Beginnings
Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings

add variety and energy.
For example, look at how an adjective at the

beginning of a sentence makes a difference.
Thomas ate two portions of meat, nothing else.
Hungry, Thomas ate two portions of meat, nothing else.

Hal Borland, When the Legends Die
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project http://www.ttms.org/
Another example of an adjective at the
beginning of a sentence.
Six-year-old Little Man never allowed dirt or

tears or stains to mar anything he owned.
Always meticulously neat, six-year-old Little

Man never allowed dirt or tears or stains to
mar anything he owned.
Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Unscramble to Imitate
Use the model to create a sentence from the
scrambled list below. Locate the sentence manipulative.
1. identify the opening adjective; 2. unscramble and arrange
the sentence parts to imitate the model.
Model: Desperate, Frodo drew his own sword, and it

seemed to him that it flickered red, as if it
were a firebrand. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
a. that the board shook violently

b. and it appeared to him
c. as if it were a trampoline
d. nervous
e. Jackson walked the diving board
Unscramble to Imitate
Share your sentence with a partner.
Nervous, Jackson walked the diving board, and it

appeared to him that the board shook violently, as if
it were a trampoline.

Adverbs at the beginning of a sentence
bring a sentence energy and variety .
When: Overnight, Jem had acquired an alien set of

values and was trying to impose them on me.
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Where: Outside, beyond the low, white fence, a

wagonette with a pair of cabs was waiting.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles
How: Quickly and quietly, over the guards head,

George walked away. Hans Augusto Rey, Curious George
Add your own adverb at the beginning of this sentence.
_________, Jonas concentrated on the screen,
waiting for what would happen next.
Write down one adverb (alone).
Share a few adverbs as a whole class.
Obediently, Jonas concentrated on the screen,

waiting for what would happen next. Lois Lowry, The Giver
Adjectives and adverbs are not the only
way to vary the beginning of a sentence.
Review Chores silently and decide if the writer does a

good job at varying the beginnings of her sentences.
Alone
Your thinking
The writer vary the beginning of almost every sentence.

Each one is different than the one before it.
Chores!
Chores! Chores! Chores! Chores are boring! Scrubbing toilets, cleaning sinks,
and washing bathtubs take up a lot of my time and are not fun at all.
Toilets! When youre scrubbing toilets make sure they are not stinky. Ive
scrubbed one before and I was lucky it didnt stink. I think toilets are one of the
hardest things to scrub in the bathroom because it is hard to get up around the rim.
Sinks are one of the easiest things to clean in the bathroom because they have
no rims and they are small. I have cleaned one before and it was pretty easy.
Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep, and it is hard to get up
around the sides. The bathtub is the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.
All chores are boring, especially making my bed. Cleaning my room is OK

because I have to organize, and I like organizing. Dusting is the worst: dust, set
down, pick up, dust, set down. There are so many things to dust, and its no fun.
Chores arent the worst but theyre definitely not the best!

How well did the author of Chores do
varying the beginning of her sentences?
Review the Writing Trait Rubric and decide if the

author should receive a 5, 3, or 1 for
varying the beginning of her sentences
with a partner.

Six Writing Traits Rubric
Sentence Fluency Sentence Fluency Sentence Fluency

5 Writing has an easy 3 Rhythm and flow is 1 Rhythm and flow is
flow, rhythm, and routine and functional; lacking; sentences are
cadence; varied, natural, sentences are clear but unclear and patterns are
and well built sentences. some are choppy and repetitive.
awkward.
__ Variety in sentence __Some variety in sentence __Little or no variety in
beginnings beginnings sentence beginnings
__ Variety in sentence __Some variety in sentence __Lacks variety in length
length and structure length and structure and structure
__Sentences are easy to __ Some sentences are __ Sentences lack pattern
read aloud expressively smooth and others are when read aloud
__Sentences alternate in halting __Sentences lack rhythm
length to create rhythm __Sentences follow a and flow
and flow predictable pattern __ Sentences are not easy
__ Sentences are easy to __ Most sentences are to understand
understand understandable

SENTENCE FLUENCY
Varied Well Built

Fluency

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

Varied Length and Structure
What is one of the best ways to make your
writing boring and monotonous?
Never vary the length of your sentences.

One short sentence after another makes your writing
sound choppy and childish.
Using only long sentences can make your writing
hard to read.
Medium length sentences all the time doesnt work
either.
Why? Sentences that are about the same length create
monotony.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
Listen while I read out loud.
Rhythms of Sentence Length
This sentence has five words. This is five words too. Five word
sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous.
Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The
sound of it drones. It's like a stuck record. The ear demands
some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length and I create
music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt,
a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of
medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is
rested I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a
sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus
of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals,
and sounds that say listen to this, it is important. Gary Provost
Source:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Gary+Provost+on+the+Rhythms+of+Sentence+Length&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-
How might you analyze sentence length and structure?
Sentence Length
Counting the words in a sentence is one way to measure the length.
Short sentences tend to have 3-6 words.
Average sentences have 8-14 words.
Long sentences may have 20 words or more.
Sentence Construction
Analyzing the structure of a sentence by

looking at how many parts it contains and
what kinds of parts those are.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Short http://www.ttms.org/writing_quality/sentence_fluency.htm
What makes a sentence?
A sentence has at least one subject (noun),
at least one predicate (verb), and
is a complete thought.
EXAMPLE Malia (subject) made (predicate) breakfast.
NON EXAMPLE Made (predicate) breakfast.

What are the different types of sentences?
FOUR TYPES OF SENTENCES
1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Complex
4. Compound-Complex
The type of sentence is determined by the number

and kind of clauses it contains.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project - all rights reserved

What is a clause?
A clause contains a subject, a verb, and either a

complete thought or no complete thought.
Lets look at an
INDEPENDENT clause
and a
DEPENDENT clause.

Independent Clause
An INDEPENDENT clause contains a subject, a verb, and a

complete thought. It stands on its own and is a simple
sentence.
Examples: I woke up early this morning.

Kaoi went biking in the rain storm.

Dependent Clause
A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb,

but is only part of a thought.
It is not a complete thought or a complete sentence.

It depends on an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE to make the
whole thought.
Examples: after I woke up in the morning

while biking through the rain storm

Linking Clauses and Types of Sentences
1. SIMPLE SENTENCE:
A simple sentence is one independent clause.
Example: Kai bought a new surfboard.
Independent clause
subject + predicate + complete thought

2. COMPOUND SENTENCE:
A compound sentence has two independent clauses that
are joined together, usually with a coordinating
conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so remember
FANBOYS).
It can also be joined by a conjunctive adverb (however,
therefore) or a semicolon alone (;).
Example:
Kai bought a new surfboard, and he is ready to ride.
Independent clause Independent clause

3. COMPLEX SENTENCE:
A complex sentence has one independent clause, and
one or more dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE:
Although he surfs well, Kai never surfs waves over 15 feet.
Dependent clause Independent clause

4. COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE:
A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent
clauses, and one or more dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE:
While Kaoi writes emails, Sue texts friends, and Leigh

talks on the phone.
Dependent clause, Independent clause, and Independent clause

Your Turn
Identify the type for each sentence below. Alone first.
1. Simple 3. Complex
2. Compound 4. Compound-Complex
3 Before coming to school, Malia worked out at the gym.

___
1 The large shrub fell over last night.

___
4 Prior to this year, Sam did not make the baseball team,
___
yet he always made the basketball team.
2 The teacher announced the test scores, but she forgot

___
to assign grades.
Lets look at the first paragraph of Chores.
Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep,
and it is hard to get up around the sides. The bathtub is
the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.
Does the sentence length & construction make it interesting?
Share your thoughts with a partner.
Your thinking...
First sentence two parts (very short sentence)
Second sentence three parts (little more average length)
Third sentence three parts but constructed differently (average
length) Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
How well did the author of Chores do
varying the sentence lengths and
structure?

varying the sentence lengths and structure
with a partner.


awkward.

So, what is one of the best ways to prevent your
writing from being boring and monotonous?
Vary the length and structure of your sentences.

SENTENCE FLUENCY
Varied Well Built

Fluency

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

Lets read together
Rhythms of Sentence Length
This sentence has five words. This is five words too. Five word
sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous.
Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The
sound of it drones. It's like a stuck record. The ear demands
some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length and I create
music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt,
a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of
medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is
rested I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a
sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus
of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals,
and sounds that say listen to this, it is important. Gary Provost
Source:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Gary+Provost+on+the+Rhythms+of+Sentence+Length&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-
Compare and Contrast
Think about the first part of the paragraph and the

second part of Rhythms of Sentence Length
Describe how it felt and sounded different?
Which part was easier or more fun to read aloud?
Share your thoughts with your partner.
Your thinking...
Lets PAUSE
What do you now know about Sentence Fluency

that you did not know before?
Write your thoughts in a sentence or two.
Read your sentence to a partner.

SENTENCE FLUENCY
Varied Well Built

Fluency

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

Rhythm & Flow
Rhythm is the cadence, beat or tempo.
How might you vary the rhythm or flow

of a writing piece?
Writers can vary the rhythm and flow or their

writing by
alternating short and long sentences.
using sound effects.
Listen to the following two paragraphs.
Example: The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last
summer to find some native American art. In Anchorage stores
they found some excellent examples of soapstone carvings. But
they couldn't find a dealer selling any of the woven wall hangings
they wanted. They were very disappointed when they left
Anchorage empty-handed.
Revision: The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last

summer to find some native American art, such as soapstone
carvings and wall hangings. Anchorage stores had many
soapstone items available. Still, they were disappointed to learn
that wall hangings, which they had especially wanted, were
difficult to find. Sadly, they left empty-handed.
What differences do you notice about the rhythm, flow, &

sentence lengths in the two paragraphs. Share with partner.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/573/01/
Rhythm & Flow
Sometimes, other effects are used to make a piece of writing
sound interesting, such as alliteration or consonance.
Alliteration several words in a sentence begin with the same

consonant sound.
For example, In certain situations, sequences of speech
sounds sometimes surprise us.
Consonance the same consonant sound is used in several words,

usually at the end.
For example, In certain situations, sequences of speech
sounds sometimes surprise us.
Used sparingly, effects can make writing

fun to read but they can be overdone
Revisit Chores.
Did the writer alternate sentence length

or use any specific effects?
Review Chores and then share your

thoughts with a partner.

Chores!
no rims and they are small. I have cleaned one before and it was pretty easy.


Did the writer of Chores use any specific sound effects?
Your thinking...
No.
However, the writer does not make any
mistakes in this category.

How well did the author of Chores use
effects to make her writing sound
interesting?

use of effects to make writing sound interesting
with a partner.


awkward.

SENTENCE FLUENCY
Varied Well Built

Fluency

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

Well Built Sentences
Sentences can be simple or complex but they must be

structured in ways that make them easy to understand.
Strong and varied structure.
Arrange parts of a sentence to create a simple

structure.
Understand that the parts can be arranged in
different ways and still be meaningful.
Use connecting words and punctuation marks.
Simple Sentence Structure System*

1. Sentences are made up of parts
2. Each part has a name
3. Structure of a sentence can be described by the

number and parts it contains
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project *Source: Steve Peha. www.ttms.org

Names of the Five Sentence Parts
1. Subject person, place, or thing
2. Predicate contains the main action of the

sentence
3. Lead-In often leads into other parts,
phrase or clause especially the main part
4. In-Between go in between other parts about
phrase or clause any of the other parts.
5. Add-on Parts extra parts that convey additional

phrase or clause information about any of the other
parts.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project * Adapted from Steve Peha. www.ttms.org
Example:
On a warm sticky summer morning, Jason Kam, a young man of
simple means but good intentions, left the comfortable secure
home in which hed been raised, and set off on the bold
adventure hed been preparing for all his life.
Part 1: On a warm sticky summer morning, Lead-In Part
Part 2: Jason Kam, Subject
Part 3: a young man of simple means but good intentions,

In-Between Part
Part 4: left the comfortable secure home in which hed been
raised, Predicate
Part 5: and set off on the bold adventure hed been

preparing for all his life. Add-on Part
Your turn in pairs Write on Four Sentence Parts Handout
In the heat of the afternoon, the ice cream truck, dented by wear
and tear but moving steadily, turned on to our street with music
blasting a worn out tune, and slowly stopped before a crowd of
neighborhood kids waiting with fists full of change.
Identify each part and name it. Subject, Predicate, and

Lead-In, In-Between, or Add-On phrases/clauses.
Part 1:
Part 2
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Punctuation and Connecting Words
Punctuation: Exclamation marks and commas help

to make sentences interesting and easy to read.
Connecting words or transitions also make

sentences easy to understand.

Examples of connecting words or transitions
that make sentences easy to understand.
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/writing-composition/vocabulary/1780.html
Addition Transitions Restatement Transitions Insistence Transitions
-first, second, third -in other words -in fact
Sources: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
-in addition -in short -indeed
-in simpler terms -no/yes
Comparison Transitions Time Transitions Contrast Transitions

-in like manner -afterward -however
-in similar fashion -at the same time -in contrast
-likewise -currently -instead
-similarly -earlier -nevertheless
Cause-Effect Transitions Conclusion and Place Transitions

-accordingly Summary Transitions -alongside
-as a result -finally -beneath
-consequently -in brief -beyond
-for this reason -in closing -nearby
-in conclusion
Lets revisit Chores.
How did the writer do in Chores with

exclamation marks and commas?
Look for connecting words and punctuation marks

Look at the order of sentence parts to see if they

make the writing easy to understand.
Share your thinking with a partner.

Chores!
no rims and they are small. I have cleaned on before and it was pretty easy.


How well did the author of Chores do in
making sentences easy to understand?

making sentences easy to understand
with a partner.


awkward.

This lesson was about Sentence Fluency
Varied Well Built

Fluency

and Structure
Easy to
Read Aloud

Lets PAUSE
What do you now know about sentence fluency

that you did not know before?
Share with a partner

Out of Class Activity
1. Write one sentence that includes all of these four

parts:
Main part
Lead-in-part
In-between parts
Add-on parts
2. Identify the parts of your sentence.
3. Bring the sentence to share and turn in at the next

class.
Handouts
Sentence Fluency


awkward.

Chores!
no rims and they are small. I have cleaned on before and it was pretty easy.


Sentence Fluency Handout
Four Sentence Parts
In the heat of the afternoon, the ice cream truck, dented by wear and tear but moving steadily, turned on to our
street with music blasting a worn out tune, and slowly stopped before a crowd of neighborhood kids waiting
with fists full of change.
Identify each part and name it. Main Part, Lead-In Part, In-Between Part, or Add-On Part.
In Class Activity
Part 1:
Part 2
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Your sentence:
Out of Class Activity
Identify each part and name it. Main Part, Lead-In Part, In-Between Part, or Add-On Part.
Part 1:
Part 2
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
a. that the board shook violently a. that the board shook violently
b. and it appeared to him b. and it appeared to him
c. as if it were a trampoline c. as if it were a trampoline
Make one set for each student. Cut & place each set in a plastic bag.
d. nervous d. nervous
e. Jackson walked the diving board e. Jackson walked the diving board
a. that the board shook violently a. that the board shook violently
Jackson walked the diving board

b. and it appeared to him b. and it appeared to him
c. as if it were a trampoline c. as if it were a trampoline

d. nervous d. nervous
e. Jackson walked the diving board e. Jackson walked the diving board
a. that the board shook violently c. as if it were a trampoline
e.
b. and it appeared to him d. nervous
Examples of connecting words or transitions
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/writing-composition/vocabulary/1780.html
Addition Transitions Restatement Transitions Insistence Transitions
-first, second, third -in other words -in fact
Sources: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
-in addition -in short -indeed
-in simpler terms -no/yes
Comparison Transitions Time Transitions Contrast Transitions

-in like manner -afterward -however
-in similar fashion -at the same time -in contrast
-likewise -currently -instead
-similarly -earlier -nevertheless
Cause-Effect Transitions Conclusion and Place Transitions

-accordingly Summary Transitions -alongside
-as a result -finally -beneath
-consequently -in brief -beyond
-for this reason -in closing -nearby
-in conclusion

Good Writing: "It's Not Where You Start That Matters, It's Where You Finish."

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Good Writing

Its not where you start that matters,

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

Varied Well Built

Varied Length Rhythm & Flow

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

What might this quote mean to you?

Share your thoughts with a partner.

Share a few thoughts with whole class.

It refers to the way individual words and

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

Varied Well Built

Varied Length Rhythm & Flow

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings

For example, look at how an adjective at the

Thomas ate two portions of meat, nothing else.

Hungry, Thomas ate two portions of meat, nothing else.

Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

Six-year-old Little Man never allowed dirt or

Always meticulously neat, six-year-old Little

Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

Model: Desperate, Frodo drew his own sword, and it

a. that the board shook violently

Share your sentence with a partner.

Nervous, Jackson walked the diving board, and it

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

When: Overnight, Jem had acquired an alien set of

Where: Outside, beyond the low, white fence, a

How: Quickly and quietly, over the guards head,

Write down one adverb (alone).

Share a few adverbs as a whole class.

Obediently, Jonas concentrated on the screen,

Review Chores silently and decide if the writer does a

The writer vary the beginning of almost every sentence.

All chores are boring, especially making my bed. Cleaning my room is OK

Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

Review the Writing Trait Rubric and decide if the

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

Sentence Fluency Sentence Fluency Sentence Fluency

Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

Varied Well Built

Varied Length Rhythm & Flow

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

Never vary the length of your sentences.

Rhythms of Sentence Length

Analyzing the structure of a sentence by

EXAMPLE Malia (subject) made (predicate) breakfast.

NON EXAMPLE Made (predicate) breakfast.

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

FOUR TYPES OF SENTENCES

The type of sentence is determined by the number

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project - all rights reserved

A clause contains a subject, a verb, and either a

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

An INDEPENDENT clause contains a subject, a verb, and a

Examples: I woke up early this morning.

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb,

It is not a complete thought or a complete sentence.

Examples: after I woke up in the morning

National RtI Writing Demonstration Project