Writing Sentences Workshop

8/13/2019 Writing Sentences Workshop

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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


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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 is a sentence?


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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.


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How are the parts put together?

The simplest sentence possible must contain:SUBJECT + VERB

Examples :

Bob danced .Mary ran.James co oked .

However, usually contains:

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECTExamples :

Bo b danced w i th Mary.Mary ran ho m e.James coo ked spaghet t i.

Simple Sentence


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We call it a Simple Sentence

Used in technical writing for clarity.

Easiest to read. Rhetorical Use:

Emphasize one point.

Focus reader attention on that point.

Simple Sentence

DRAMA and POWER


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Famous Simple Sentences

Jesus wept.

I have a dream.


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How NOT to do it! Yoda speaks "Galactic

Basic", NOT English. Heputs auxiliary verbs at theend of each sentence, and

always inverts the objectand subject.

OBJECT-SUBJECT-VERB Gone to th e dark s ide , Coun t

Dooku has . That boy you t ra ined, gon e he

is . When 900 years old y ou reach ,

look as good you w i l l no t .


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Other Sentence Structures

1. Simple (as discussed)

2. Compound

3. Complex

4. Compound-Complex


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Sentence Composition

Simple sentence + Simple sentence

Joined by coordinating conjunction: and, but,yet, so, nor, or, for.

The r iver f low s and the w ater r ises .

Rhetorical Use: Shows relationship between coordinating ideas

Compound Sentence

ideas must be equal


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Coordinating Conjunction Relationships

Relationship Coordinating Conjunction

Addition AndThe river flows, and the water rises.

Result or effect SoThe river flows faster, so well see flooding.

Contrast But, yetThe river flows, but the water is contaminated.The river flows, yet we have no water to drink.

Reason or choice ForThe river floods, for it is a force of nature.

Choice OrThe river flows less, or we may perish.

Negative choice NorThe river flows faster, nor will it stop flooding.


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Simple sentence + subordinate clauseOR

Subordinate clause + simple sentenceThe 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).

Complex Sentence

Ideas are NOT equal


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Subordinating Conjunction Relationships

Relationship Subordinating Conjunction

Time After, before, once, since, until, when, whenever, whileThe river rose, after the big storm.

Reason or cause As, because, since

Because the river rose, our basement flooded.

Purpose or result In order that, so, so that, thatThe river rose, so we had to evacuate.

Condition Even if, if, provided that, unlessIf the river rose more, our bridge would wash away.

Contrast Although, even though, though, whereasEven though the river rose without warning, we survived.

Location Where, whereverThe river rose where the banks narrowed.

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


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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.

Compound-Complex Sentence

clarify, elaborate, qualify, highlight


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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.

Sentence Length


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Problems with Sentence Length

Fragment : A fragment is a group of wordsmasquerading 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 arun-on sentence there are too many essentials -subjects, verbs, and/or complete thought(s) -because a run-on sentence contains too manyindependent clauses..

Sentence Fragments & Run-ons


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Fragments & Run-ons

1. I live to ride my BMX I am so good at it I have won lots oftrophies.

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.


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Improve Your Writing

Plural subject = plural verb

Single subject = single verb

The use of an incorrect word is distractingto the reader.

Verb-Subject Agreement


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Verb-Subject Agreement

Writing Exercise1. The criteria for assessing the environmental effects ofhurricanes (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.


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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

Verb Tense


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The less you write, the more users read!!!

WORDY: It is necessary that you changeyour password.

CONCISE: You must change your password.

Wordiness


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WORDINESS CONCISE

For the reason that

Considering the fact that

That is whyBecause, Since, Why

On the occasion of

In a situation in which

Under circumstances in which

When

It is necessary that

There is a need

It is important thatMust, Should

Is able to

Has opportunity to

Has the ability toCan

It is possible that

There is a chance that

It could happen that

May, Can, Should


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Word Choice

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

Use familiar words


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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 andConclusions

Sentences: see Sentence Fragments, Run-on Sentences,

More Review on Sentence Fragments and dozens of other resources on the

Learning Centre web pages


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QUESTIONS?Email [email protected]

Documents

Writing Sentences Workshop