Based entirely on:

Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron’s, 2002.

What is a sentence?

S V = sentence

I smiled.

I smiled [broadly].

I smiled [at the kind gentleman].

[Noticing his kindness to me], I smiled.

I smiled [when he was kind to me].

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 2

Pattern 1

S V ; S V• Helps you to join two short simple sentences

with two closely related ideas• You can add more related ideas: SV; SV; SV.• A full sentence must be on both sides of the

semi-colon (no subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns here!)

• Use this pattern to combine short sentences: one sentence with related ideas is more POWERFUL

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 3

Pattern 1S V ; S V

• Examples:

Gloria, try on these jeans; they seem to be your size.

Some people dream of being something; others stay awake and are.

Reading is the easy part; remembering takes more effort.

• Professional examples:

―My forefathers didn’t come over on the Mayflower; they met the boat.‖ - Will Rogers

―Sign up for our Family Plan and you can share minutes with our one-rate plan; if you sign up now, you can take advantage of our special rate.‖ - Ad for Nokia

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 4

Variations: Pattern 1a

S V; conjunctive adverb, S V

Conjunctive adverbs are connectors; some examples are:

however, hence, therefore, thus, then, moreover, nevertheless, likewise, consequently, accordingly

She exercised every day and cut back on her food; however, she didn’t lose any weight.

The car has been in an accident; therefore, it’s not a bargain.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 5

Variations: Pattern 1b

S V; S V, coordinating conj, S V

An acronym for coordinating conjunction is FANBOYS; the meaning is:

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

• The rain kept falling; Joan saw the roof begin to leak, and she put out a bucket to catch the water.

• It was the right color; it fit, and it was cheap.

• I didn’t do it; John said he didn’t do it, but the vase was certainly broken.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 6

Variations: Pattern 1c

S V; S V; S V

• John got an A; Jennie also got an A; unfortunately George got a C.

• Carmen likes to cook; Janice would rather watch TV; I like to eat Carmen’s cooking and watch TV with Janice.

• Dad is a skinflint; when I ask for a loan he doesn’t listen; Mom isn’t any help either.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 7

Practice with Pattern 1

1. ______________; the beach was deserted and rather scary.

2. After they lost the game, the football team went home;_______________.

3. The large blue whale came very close to the boat;_____________________.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 8

Practice with Pattern 1a

1. I really didn’t want to go to the party; ________, I went to be with Jim.

2. My teacher traveled extensively;______, I asked her advice about Italy.

3. I have to feed the pets when I get home; ____ I have to make dinner my mom.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 9

Combine these sentences using pattern 1, 1a or 1b

The girl looks happy.

She has a new car.

Her brother has one too.

The tiger seems restless.

He is really big.

He should have more room.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 10

Combine these sentences using pattern 1

Working with your partner, write 10 sentences using our vocabulary words:

• Example: SV = use and underline the word ; SV = definition of the word

• Mrs. Thomas elucidated the concept of sentence patterns; she enlightened us on writing better sentences!

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 11

Pattern #2S V DO or SC; S [omitted verb] DO or SC

• Examples:

– The mother and son each had a goal; hers, educational; his, recreational.

– For many of us, the new math teacher was a savior; for others, a pain.

– His mother told him to rent a car; his sister, to pack the suitcases.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 12

Pattern #2S V DO or SC; S [omitted verb] DO or SC

• Use this pattern when you don’t want to repeat the same verb in the second or third clause

• This is a very sophisticated pattern!

• Relies on parallel structure: page 94 in Writers Inc.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 13

Pattern #2S V DO or SC; S [omitted verb] DO or SC

• Going to carnivals makes me happy;________________________

• _________________; violent movies, uncomfortable.

• _________________; Ireland and Scotland, much greener.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

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Pattern #3a compound sentence with an explanatory statement

General statement (idea) : specific statement (example)

IC : IC

Darwin’s The Origin of Species forcibly states a harsh truth:Only the fittest survive.

The empty coffin in the center of the crypt had a single horrifying meaning: Dracula had left his tomb to stalk the village streets in search of fresh blood.

Remember Yogi Berra’s advice: it ain’t over till it’s over.Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The

Art of Styling Sentences. New York: Barron's, 2002.

2/2/2010 15

Pattern #3a compound sentence with an explanatory statement

General statement (idea) : specific statement (example)

IC : IC

When do we use this pattern?

• When you want the second part of a sentence to explain the first part, give an example, or provide an answer to an implied question.

• The second clause answers the general question posed by the first. The pattern goes from general to specific. The second clause makes the first one clear.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

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Pattern #3a compound sentence with an explanatory statement

General statement (idea) : specific statement (example)

IC : IC

__________________ : the students all got A’s on their papers.

The store has changed its hours:_________________

I finally know how to write a good sentence:___________

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 17

Pattern #3a compound sentence with an explanatory statement

General statement (idea) : specific statement (example)

IC : IC

The teacher asked her the most important question :______

The student asked the teacher the most important question:______________

_____________: we toured the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Progressive Field.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 18

Pattern #4a series without a conjunction

• Include a series in your sentence anywhere without conjunctions. Separate the items by commas.

• The result will be a sentence with a quick staccato sound. Read the sentence aloud to ensure tone, sound, and fluency.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 19

Pattern #4a series without a conjunction

• The United States has a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

• The teacher handled the situation with great patience, wisdom, humor.

• It took courage, skill, knowledge—and he had them all.

• Do you often feel dragged out, knocked down, pooped, bushed—plumb exhausted?

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

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Pattern #4a series without a conjunction

• Watch out for parallel structure:

• The typical teenage user of tobacco is white, active, and athletic, and subjected to heavy peer pressure.

• The typical teenage user of tobacco is white, active, athletic, and peer pressure is heavy.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

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Pattern #4a series without a conjunction

• An essay traditionally has three major parts: ___, ____, ____.

• ____, ____,____, the Browns left the stadium feeling dejected.

• When the Browns lost, the rowdy spectators at the stadium ____,____,____.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 22

Pattern #5a series of balanced pairs (anywhere in the

sentence)• The pattern has a series of pairs –1, 2,3 or 4 with a conjunction between the

items in each pair.

• To use this pattern, you need a sense of rhythm: the paired items must have a relationship of balance.

• A and B , C and D , E and F

Eager yet fearful, confident but suspicious, wary and keen, Jason eyed

the barber who would give him his first haircut.

Great musicians seem to occur in pairs: Lennon and McCartney, Simon and Garfunkel. (you can have just two!)

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 23

Pattern #5a series of balanced pairs (anywhere in the

sentence)A B

1. Tea or coffee, _______ or _______, _______ or _______,

C

_______ or _______--these are all popular drinks.

A

2. Some foods just seem to go together, like: ________ and

B C

________ , ________ and ________ or ______ and ______.

A B

3. Most Hollywood couples like _____ and _____ or _____ and _____ get divorced.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 24

Pattern #5a series of balanced pairs (anywhere in the

sentence)

Create a sentence with a series of balanced pairs using the following words:

1. Elephants hippos gorillas monkeys

2. Veteran’s Day, Labor Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

Barron's, 2002. 2/2/2010 25

Pattern #6an introductory series of appositives

Appositive, appositive, appositive—summary word S V

The depressed, the stressed, the lonely, the fearful—all have trouble coping with problems.

Gluttony, lust, envy—which is the worst sin?

Bull riding, camel racing, bronco riding and roping—these events mean ―rodeo‖ to many people; they mean money to the cowboys.

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

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Pattern #6an introductory series of appositives

Appositive, appositive, appositive—summary word S V

1. _____, _____, _____--each of these people served their country well.

2. To _____, to______, to_______--such are the goals of the average college graduate.

3. ____ or ____ or ____or ____ or_____--what are you preferences for spring break?

Based entirely on: Longknife, Ann. The Art of Styling Sentences. New York:

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