how to use sentence variety to strengthen your writing
TRANSCRIPT
How to Use
Sentence Variety
to Strengthe
n Your
Writing
People normally talk
and write using one
boring sentence pattern:
subject/verb,subject/verb,subject/verb…
Example: El Cielo is the most beautiful vacation spot in the world. It is located on the coast of Mexico. People arrive from many different countries to relax in luxurious surroundings. El Cielo has a great spa facility and an outstanding hotel. It is fabulous!
Subject/verb, subject/verb,
subject/verb is suitable for informal, everyday talking to
communicate because . . .
. . . when people talk, their facial
expressions, hand
gestures, and body language “strengthen” their speech.
However, when you
write, you need to revise
to strengthen what you say!
All writers (even
adults) must use
the revision stage of the
writing process to vary their sentence patterns.
Don’t be a weak
writer; use a variety
of sentence patterns!
Question:
Why should I do this? I have never bothered to do it before, and my teachers have
always given me good grades in
writing.
Response:
Those days are
over.
Problem:
I can’t think of ways to revise
my boring subject/verb
sentences into more
interesting ones.
Solution:
Learn just a few new, sophisticated
sentence structures. After you finish a
paragraph (or your entire paper), revise
some of your sentences.
Question:
How many of my sentences
should I revise? All of them?
A few of them? One in each paragraph?
What?
Answer:Revise about 1/2 of
your sentences. (That’s about 3-4 per
paragraph.) Then reread your
paper. Revise some more if you think it would improve your paper. Reread your
paper out loud. Revise even more.
Question:
What are some of the best
kinds of sentences to
use?
Start with an –ing or –ed word.
(Introductory Participial Phrase)
Since –ing and –ed are verb endings, this
sentence pattern starts with action!
Molly stared at the test question. She began to cry silently.
Staring at the test question, Molly began to cry silently.
Serina was shocked at what her teacher said. She shook her head in disbelief.
Shocked at what her teacher said, Serina shook her head in disbelief.
Using an introductory participial phrase does
two things:1. It “actions up” the start of the sentence.
2. It helps you to combine two short
sentences into one longer one.
Use an appositive phrase.
(Renames something)
This sentence pattern helps you to combine two short sentences into one longer one.
Martie is President of the Senior Class. She
works for a local attorney.
Martie, the Senior Class President, works for a local
attorney.
Start with an infinitive phrase
(“to” plus a verb)
Since an infinitive is a verb form, this sentence start is energetic and full
of action.
Melek would love to go skydiving
again.
To go skydiving again would be
Melek’s greatest dream.
Start with an introductory adverb clause
(Adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction: when, while, until, since, because, if, after, before, although, even though, as
long as, as soon as, as though, whenever . . .).
I finished my homework. Then I
called Kyle.
When I finished my homework, I called Kyle.
Until I finished my homework, I could
not call Kyle.
As soon as I finished my homework,…
After I finished my homework,…
Since I had not finished my homework,…
Because I had not finished my homework,…
Compound sentence(Two short sentences
connected by a comma and a conjunction: and, but,
or, nor, for, yet)
Compound sentences turn short, choppy sentences
into longer, more interesting ones.
We went to Six Flags last week. It was exciting.
We went to Six Flags last week, and it was exciting.We went to Six Flags last week, but it was boring.
Try a compound sentence with a semicolon instead of a comma/conjunction
Just make sure you put an independent clause on
each side of the semicolon.
We went to London this summer for our vacation. It was educational, but it was also fun.
We went to London this summer for our vacation; it was educational, but it was also fun.
Start with an introductory series of prepositional phrases
(from, to, with, without, of, for, about,
over, under, by, in, out,
up . . .)
I can see the lake from the tree on
the hill.
From the tree on the hill, I can see
the lake.
Remember, speaking and writing are two
very different forms of communication.
Writing is far more reflective
than speaking.
Take the time to look at how you started each
of your sentences.
Then, take the time to revise.
Using a variety of sentences structures,
you will become a
much better writer!