Sentence Architecture 1.Prepositional Phrases 2.Participial Phrases 3.Absolute Phrases

Some things to keep in mind… 1.Sentence structure should be determined by sentence purpose. 2.Begin with the 4 basic sentence types and add these phrases where and when appropriate. 3.Be mindful of the capability of the phrase—what can it modify, how does it provide information? 4.Phrases can be introductory, interrupting or concluding. (Be sure to punctuate properly.) 5.Good writing is varied and purposeful.

Repetitive --The image contains a bent pink bicycle tire laying on a street. --The image appeals to the audience’s sense of guilt. --The image persuades the audience to avoid the dangerous consequences of drugs

Sentence Architecture By focusing on the bent pink bicycle tire on the street, the image appeals to the audience’s sense of guilt in persuading them to avoid the dangerous consequences of drugs. Analyze the sentence above. What is the main clause? What are the peripheral phrases?

Prepositional Phrase A phrase consisting of a preposition and its objects. Begins with preposition and typically ends with noun (object). Can modify subject or verb. “By focusing on the bent pink bicycle tire on the street…” (modifies subject: image) “…in persuading them to avoid the dangerous consequences of drugs.” (modifies verb: appeals)

Prepositional Phrases Can be introductory, interrupting or concluding. Must be followed by a comma when beginning a sentence and include two or more prepositions. Interrupting prepositional phrases are only set off in commas when they are nonrestrictive. Avoid Yoda-speak: In urine the toilet seat was covered.

Repetitive --The image contains a bent pink bicycle tire laying on a street. --The image appeals to the audience’s sense of guilt. --The image persuades the audience to avoid the dangerous consequences of drugs

Sentence Architecture Appealing to the audience’s sense of guilt, the image features a bent pink bicycle tire. The tire, mangled from a violent collision, clearly illustrates the consequences of drug impairment, persuading teens to avoid drugs. Analyze the sentences above. What are the main clauses? What are the peripheral phrases?

Participial Phrase A phrase that begins with the participial form (-ed or –ing) of a verb and its modifiers and complements Functions as an adjective and must modify the subject of a sentence “Appealing to the audience’s sense of guilt…” (modifies “image”) “…mangled from a violent collision…” (modifies “tire”) “…persuading teens to avoid drugs.” (modifies “tire”)

Participial Phrases Introductory participial phrases are followed by commas. Interrupting and concluding participial phrases are set off by commas only when they are nonrestrictive. Must modify subject—avoid the dangling modifier. Example: Covered in urine, I was disgusted by the toilet seat. Who/what is covered in urine?

Repetitive --The image contains a bent pink bicycle tire laying on a street. --The image appeals to the audience’s sense of guilt. --The image persuades the audience to avoid the dangerous consequences of drugs

Sentence Architecture The bicycle tire laying destroyed on the street, the image appeals to the audience’s sense of guilt. The consequences of drug use established, the audience, its fear piqued, is persuaded to avoid using drugs all together. Analyze the sentences above. What are the main clauses? What are the peripheral phrases?

Absolute Phrases A phrase consisting of a noun and a verb in the participial form along with their modifiers and complements. Rather than only modifying the subject of the main clause, modifies the entire sentence, so it’s useful for establishing context. “The bicycle tire laying destroyed on the street....” “The consequences of drug use established….” “…its fear piqued….”

Absolute Phrases Can be formed by writing a clause with a subject and a verb in its participial form with the helping verb was/were. Then remove the was/were. Examples: “The bicycle tire WAS laying destroyed in the street….” “The consequences of drugs WERE established….” “…its fear WAS piqued….” Like a participial phrase that contains a subject. Must be set off in commas regardless of position

And finally…. Phrases have different purposes and should be used according to the information they can provide—what they modify, etc. Phrases are used in conjunction with the 4 basic sentence structures and each other. Phrases can be introductory, interrupting or concluding. Good writing is purposefully structured writing. Good writing is varied writing.

Barry established the definition of uncertainty in the last paragraph. He then illustrates how skilled scientists use it to drive their research. He does this to emphasize how without uncertainty there is no progress. He establishes an analogy between scientists and pioneers. He writes, “All real scientists exist on the frontier.” He uses a simple sentence among many more complex ones. This makes his idea stand out. The comparison between scientists and pioneers illustrates how a good scientist must be willing to venture forth into the uncertainty of unknown territory to make progress. Scientists are similar to pioneers. They both must have minds filled with wonder. They only change the world with their discoveries through navigating unfamiliar ground.

The definition of uncertainty established, Barry illustrates how skilled scientists use it to drive their research, emphasizing how it is only through uncertainty that scientific progress happens. Beginning to draw an analogy between scientists and pioneers, Barry writes, “All real scientists exist on the frontier.” With the simple sentence among complex ones, Barry provides emphasis for this important point, making it stand out. In comparing scientist to pioneers on “the frontier”, Barry argues that good scientists must be willing to venture forth into the uncertainty of unknown territory to make progress. Scientists, their minds filled with the wonder of new territory like the pioneers, only change the world with their discoveries through navigating unfamiliar ground.

Barry established the definition of uncertainty in the last paragraph. He then illustrates how skilled scientists use it to drive their research. He does this to emphasize how without uncertainty there is no progress. He establishes an analogy between scientists and pioneers. He writes, “All real scientists exist on the frontier.” He uses a simple sentence among many more complex ones. This makes his idea stand out. The comparison between scientists and pioneers illustrates how a good scientist must be willing to venture forth into the uncertainty of unknown territory to make progress. Scientists are similar to pioneers. They both must have minds filled with wonder. They only change the world with their discoveries through navigating unfamiliar ground. The definition of uncertainty established, Barry illustrates how skilled scientists use it to drive their research, emphasizing how it is only through uncertainty that scientific progress happens. Beginning to draw an analogy between scientists and pioneers, Barry writes, “All real scientists exist on the frontier.” With the simple sentence among complex ones, Barry provides emphasis for this important point, making it stand out. In comparing scientist to pioneers on “the frontier”, Barry argues that good scientists must be willing to venture forth into the uncertainty of unknown territory to make progress. Scientists, their minds filled with the wonder of new territory like the pioneers, only change the world with their discoveries through navigating unfamiliar ground.