Sentence Construction and Its Effects Elements of Syntax Sentence Construction and Its Effects

Sentence Function Did you eat lunch? Declarative: Makes a Statement You ate lunch. Interrogative: Asks a question Did you eat lunch? Imperative: Gives a command Eat your lunch. Exclamatory: Expresses strong feeling I can’t believe you ate my lunch!

Sentence Length long, short or combinations of lengths A lengthy sentence followed by a very short one will effectively stress a point Short sentences slow a reader down. Can be dramatic. Suspense. Period is full stop. Creates a hot spot.

Short Sentences Effect Example A street crime has a victim, who typically reports the crime to the police, which generates data, which in turn generate thousands of academic papers by criminologists, sociologists and economists. But white collar crime presents no obvious victim. Whom, exactly, did the masters of Enron steal from? And how can you measure something if you don’t know to whom it happened, or with what frequency, or in what magnitude? Paul F.’s bagel business was different. It did present a victim. The victim was Paul F. - Dubner and Levitt, “What the Bagel Man Saw”

Rhetorical Sentences Periodic sentence: A sentence in which the main idea ( subject and verb) comes at the end of the sentence; the sentence is not grammatically complete until the end. Sitting in her lounge chair, sunglasses shielding her eyes, head tilting to the side, her book lying on her lap, Susan patiently waited.

Rhetorical Sentences continued.. Cumulative Sentence: a sentence which begins with the main idea (an independent clause) followed by phrases and clauses which elaborate upon the main idea. Susan patiently waited, sitting in her lounge chair, sunglasses shielding her eyes, head tilting to the side, her book lying open on her lap.

Rhetorical Sentences continued.. Rhetorical question: a question which does not require an answer because the answer is so obvious “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” - Patrick Henry, Speech in the Virginia Convention

Rhetorical Sentences continued.. Inverted Sentence: a non-standard sentence construction in which the verb is placed before the subject. “Everywhere was a shadow of death.” –Rachel Carson “In the woods is perpetual youth.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nature”

Punctuation Dashes and exclamation points can show mounting excitement , distress, fear, anger, etc. A question can signal a tonal shift or be used as a spring board for the author to make a particular point.

Repetition Use of the same words or clauses more than one time for emphasis Anaphora: repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences Epistrophe: repetition at the ends of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences

Anaphora & Epistrophe Examples To think on death it is a misery,/ To think on life it is a vanity;/ To think on the world verily it is,/ To think that here man hath no perfect bliss. –Peacham Epistrophe: BRUTUS: “Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended….” -William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Parallel Structure Parallelism is recurrent syntactical similarity (the same construction repeated for effect). Several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed similarly to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences are equal in importance. Parallelism also adds balance and rhythm and, most importantly, clarity to the sentence.

Parallel Structure Examples “But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow – this ground.” -Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address “…and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” -Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

Effects of Varied Syntax Builds excitement/intensity Builds to make a point Pulls the reader into the passage Adds complexity Creates rhythm Evokes emotion