Understanding Understanding SentencesSentences

Understanding Understanding SentencesSentences

College Readers Understand Key Parts of College Readers Understand Key Parts of Academic Sentences.Academic Sentences.

Adapted from the Guide to College Reading

Are academic sentences complex?

• Sentences have parts to express basic meaning.

• Many academic sentences combine ideas.

• Academic text also features lots of complicated sentences.

Do academic sentencesput you on the spot?

Steps to Reading Sentences

1) Locate the key ideas.

2) Study the modifiers.

3) Check unknown words.

4) Paraphrase, using your own words

to express ideas.Is the dad impressed byhis son’s vocabulary?

How to locate key ideasFind the Subject, Verb, and Object:

– The subject, often a noun, identifies the person or object the sentence is about.

– The verb, tells what the person or object is doing or has done.

– The object completes the verb.•The average college student reads

academic texts three hours per day.•Many professors have three academic

degrees, including master’s and doctorates.

Sentences with Two Major Ideas

• Two related ideas:1) Marlene was in obvious

danger.2) Joe quickly pulled

Marlene from the street.• Combined sentence:

Marlene was in obvious danger, so Joe quickly pulled her from the street.

Sentences with two equally important ideas are often combined using a comma plus a simple conjunction like “so”.

Complicated Sentences• What is the meaning of

this sentence?– Intelligence, as

measured by an IQ test, depends on the kind of test given, the skills of the examiner, and the cooperation of the subject.

The subject of this complex sentence is intelligence. The word is followed by a limiting phrase, and then the three key components of IQ exam.

Coordinate Ideas Combine Two Ways• Often with a comma plus a joining

words: and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet.– Some students decided to take

the final exam, and others chose to rely on their semester average.

• Less commonly, with a semi-colon. – The union members wanted to

strike; the company did nothing to discourage them.

Subordinate Sentences

• Contain one idea that is more important.• One or more less important, or subordinate,

ideas that explain the key idea.• These less important ideas each have their

own subject and predicate.• They depend on the main sentence to

complete their meaning.– Because Stewart forgot to make a

payment, he had to pay a late charge on his loan.

– Although the normal semester is fifteen weeks, our class meets for just twelve weeks.

Recognize Modifiers

Answer Questions

• What• Where• Which• When• How• Why

Adjectives, Adverbs, Prep Phrases:

1. The red car sped past.

2. It left so rapidly that the tires peeled.

3. It happened in the afternoon.

Managing new vocabulary

1. Pronounce it2. Use context3. Analyze

word parts4. Check the

glossary5. Check the

dictionaryWhat kind of words is the boy interested in?

How to paraphrase a sentence

1. Substitute synonyms for nouns, adjectives, and verbs:

• It was a vexing situation.

It seemed to be a difficult condition.

2. Rearrange sentence parts:

The condition appeared troublesome.

Does the patient needa simple paraphrase?

Can you match paraphrases?

1. The course concerns reading and vocabulary.

2. We are studying how to identify the main idea.

3. It is important for us to be able to paraphrase.

a. The key point is what we are learning to find.

b. Reading comprehension and academic words are what the class covers.

c. Paraphrasing is a vital skill for us.

To paraphrase, divide long sentences into shorter

ones.

3. Although the Mexican-American War (1846-48) might have left the country weary and bankrupt, that did not mean foreign intrusion would be met with no resistance.

The Mexican-American War of 1846-48 made the country tired and poor.

Still the people would fight any invading army.

The paraphrase keepsthe original emphasis.

• When the United States civil war came to an end, President Lincoln kept the pledge he had made to President Juarez: Lincoln immediately demanded that all French troops be withdrawn from Mexican soil or face the combined power of the U.S. and Mexico.

• Just as he had promised President Juarez, President Lincoln threatened that Mexico and the US would attack the French if they didn’t leave Mexico at the conclusion of the civil war between the states.

How do you like to paraphrase sentences?

Creative Learner• Looking away from

the sentence & writing its meaning. Compare your paraphrase with the original sentence & revise, as needed.

Pragmatic Learner

• Working systematically, piece-by-piece, paraphrasing each phrase or clause.

Paraphrases can use subordinating conjunctions.

Joining Words:• Before, after, while, during, until, when, once

Meaning clues:• Indicate time connections

Examples:• After taking the test, Leon felt relieved.• When he got an A, he became excited.

Subordinating conjunctions

can connect reasons.

Joining Words:

• Because, since, so that

Meaning clues:

• Gives reasons

Examples:• Because I was working, I was unable to go bowling.• Ed studied so that he could pass the examination.

Subordinating conjunctions can

explain conditions.

Joining Words:

• If, unless, whether, even if

Meaning clues:

• Explains conditions

Examples:• Unless I leave work early, I’ll miss class.• Even if you are not done, class is.

Subordinating conjunctions can

explain circumstances.

Joining Words:

• Although, as far as, in order to, however

Meaning clues:

• Explains circumstance

Examples:• Although I used a dictionary, I still did not fully understand the word.

Reading Keys Summary

1) Locate the key ideas.2) Study the modifiers.3) Check unknown words.4) Paraphrase, using your

own words to express ideas.