how to use sentence variety to “sweeten up” your writing
TRANSCRIPT
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How to Use Sentence Variety to “Sweeten Up”
Your Writing
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People normally talk and write using one
boring sentence pattern:
subject/verbsubject/verb
subject/verb . . .
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Example: I have an adorable dog named Rosa. She is a little brown dachshund with beautiful eyes. Rosa sleeps on the couch most of the day. I throw her toy for her every day after school. My little dog is the cutest pet in the entire world!
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Subject/verb, subject/verb,
subject/verb is suitable for
informal, everyday talking to communicate
because . . .
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. . . when you are
talking, your facial
expressions, hand
gestures, and body language “sweeten up” your speech.
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However, when you write, you need to
revise to “sweeten up” what you say!
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All writers -- even
professional writers -- must use the revision
stage of the writing process
to vary their sentence patterns.
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Use a variety of sentence patterns!
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Problem:
I can’t think of ways to revise my
boring subject/verb sentences into fancy
ones.
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Solution:
Learn just a few different “fancy”
sentence structures. After you finish a
paragraph (or your entire paper), revise
some of your sentences.
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Question:
How many of my sentences
should I revise? All of
them? A few of
them? One in each
paragraph? What?
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Answer:Start by revising about 1/2 of your
sentences. (That’s about 2-3 per paragraph.)
Then reread your paper. Revise some more if you think it would improve your
paper.
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Question:
What are some of the best
kinds of sentences to
use?
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Start with an –ing or –ed word.
(Introductory Participial Phrase)
Since –ing and –ed are verb endings, this
sentence pattern starts with action!
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Sam looked down the dark
hallway. He tried to imagine what could
be hiding there.
Looking down the dark hallway, Sam tried to imagine what could be hiding there.
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Katie was amazed at the size of the crocodile. She tiptoed away from the edge of the river.
Amazed at the size of the crocodile, Katie tiptoed away from the edge of the river.
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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.
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Use an appositive phrase.
(Renames something)
This sentence pattern helps you to combine two short sentences into one longer one.
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Allie is the captain of the volleyball team. She is the
best player.
Allie, the captain of the volleyball team, is the school’s best
player.
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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.
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Colin would love to go kayaking
in Colorado.
To go kayaking in Colorado
would be Colin’s greatest dream.
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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 . . .).
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I finished my homework. Then I
called Kelly.
When I finished my homework, I called
Kelly.Until I finished my homework, I could
not call Kelly.
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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, . . .
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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.
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We went to a movie last night. It was
exciting.
We went to a movie last night, and it was
exciting.We went to a movie last night, but it was
boring.
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Start with an introductory series of prepositional phrases
(from, to, with, without, of, for, about, over, under, by, in, out,
up . . .)
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I can see the lake from the
tree on the hill.
From the tree on the hill, I can
see the lake.
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Remember, speaking and writing are two very
different forms of communication.
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Writing is far more reflective
than speaking.
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Take the time to look at how you started each of your sentences.
Then, take the time to revise.
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Using a variety of sentences structures,
you will become a much better writer!
How sweet!