Sentence Variety In-class practice for varying your sentence structures…

SENTENCE VARIETY REVIEW O Revise this sentence with a DEPENDENT MARKER: Huck and Jim do well when they’re alone together. O When Huck and Jim are alone together, things go well. O Unless other people are around, Huck and Jim are fine. O Although things go fine for Huck and Jim when they’re together, when other people come into the picture, it’s chaotic.

Revise this sentence with a TRANSISTIONAL WORD OR MARKER: O The Duke, King, and Huck are all pretending to be other people. Jim is being forced to pretend he’s an Arab at the same time. O The Duke, King, and Huck are all pretending to be other people. Meanwhile, Jim is being forced to pretend, too. O The Duke, King, and Huck are all pretending to be other people. Similarly, Jim is “tied” to an alternative identity. O The Duke and King have chosen to change their identities. Similarly, Huck is willingly going along with his role as a servant. On the other hand, Jim is being forced into his role as an Arab.

SENTENCE VARIETY REVIEW O Revise this sentence with a participle: O Jim and Huck encountered many adventures going down the river. O Going down the river, Jim and Huck encountered many adventures.

Sentence Variety Review O Revise this sentence using a preposition: O Mark Twain writes about the human psyche, a mob’s mentality, and a deformed conscience in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. O In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain writes about the human psyche, a mob’s mentality, and a deformed conscience in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Directions: Using any of the outlines -- or even your previous/first “write” – respond to one of your previous prompts. O You have 15 minutes. O You may use notes or your iPad. You will be assessed on: 1) The evidence of the three “p”s – a position, a plan, and specific points. 2) Use of sentence variety, with focus on the beginnings of sentences.

SENTENCE VARIETY Also known as … “Varying sentence structure”

Dependent Markers after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, whenever, whether, and while O Example: The class became silent when Ms. Stafford announced the assignment. O Revision: When Ms. Stafford announced the assignment, the class became silent.

Transitional Words or Phrases accordingly, after all, afterward, also, although, and, but, consequently, despite, earlier, even though, for example, for instance, however, in conclusion, in contrast, in fact, in the meantime, in the same way, indeed, just as... so, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, not only... but also, now, on the contrary, on the other hand, on the whole, otherwise, regardless, shortly, similarly, specifically, still, that is, then, therefore, though, thus, yet O Example: Mercer Island schools are working to continue with the tradition of excellence. Other schools in the Seattle area are just trying to get up to standard. O Revision: Mercer Island schools are working to continue with the tradition of excellence. Meanwhile, other schools in the Seattle area are just trying to get up to standard.

Participles Present participles end in “ing,” for example: eating, speaking, dreaming, caring. Past participles usually end in -ed, -en, -d, -n, or -t but can be irregular, for example: worried, eaten, saved, seen, dealt, taught. O Example: Evan and Lindsay were alarmed to get an F on their presentation. They were mad. O Revision (present): Getting an F on their presentation alarmed Evan and Lindsay. They were mad. O Revision (past): Alarmed to get an F on their presentation, Evan and Lindsay were mad.

Prepositions about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, near, next to, of, off, on, out, over, past, to, under, until, up, with O Example: The students are facing pressure to do better junior year. They are working harder than ever. O Revision: Under pressure to do better junior year, the students are working harder than ever.

Conjunctions These are your For And Nor But Or Yet So O Example: Ms. Stafford calls out her students’ names in an effort to get them to pay attention. Students don’t always find this to be a comfortable situation. They complain that it embarrasses them. O Revision: Ms. Stafford calls out her students’ names in an effort to get them to pay attention. Students don’t always find this to be comfortable and they complain that it embarrasses them.

Subordination after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, while O Example: The high school parking problem is getting worse. The high school is not creating any new spots. O Revision: The high school parking problem is getting worse because the high school is not building any new spots.

Vary it with a dependent marker O The test was hard even though Ms. Stafford let us use our notes.

Vary these with a Present and Past Participle O Caleb and Jared were mobbed by fans. They were scared by the attention. O Harry was expecting a standing ovation. He was disappointed with the simple applause.

Vary it with a Preposition O The football team is under pressure to beat Juanita. They have been practicing all their best moves.

Vary the Rhythm using a conjunction O Every time there is a Powerpoint slide on the screen I take notes. I am still not passing this class.

Vary the Rhythm using subordination O The announcements seem to be getting better. They are using different voices and showing enthusiasm.

Sentence Types O Simple: One independent clause and no dependent clauses. O Compound: A sentence with multiple independent clauses but no dependent clauses. O Complex: A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. O Complex-compound: A sentence with multiple independent and at least one dependent clause.

In your articles, highlight and identify the following (total of eight points): At the beginning of the sentence: 1. Dependent Marker 2. Transitional word or phrase 3. Participles (actually, I don’t think any of these have one; tell me if I’m wrong) 4. Preposition In the sentences (it’s okay to use the same sentence for two things) 1. Use of conjunction 2. Complex Sentence 3. Subordination 4. Complex-compound sentence 5. Simple Sentence