Download - 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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Sentence Composition
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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Sentence Composition
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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Sentence Composition
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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Improve Your Writing
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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Improve Your Writing
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]