1. Close Reading Skills
Sentence Structure

2. What you will need to know…
Different types of sentences
How they can be linked/ separated by types of punctuation
How component parts of a sentence can be arranged in patterns
How writers use different sentence structures to create effect

3. Types of sentence Statement – narrative/ factual writing
Question – reflective/ emotional writing * rhetorical question
Exclamation – conveys tone of amazement, shock – any strong emotion
Command – used in instructions and in persuasive (e.g. advertisements)

4. Minor Sentence Where the verb is omitted for dramatic effect
Usually some form of the infinitive ‘to be’
e.g. He looked in his rear view mirror. Nothing coming.
Creates impact, suspense or urgency
Suggests informality
Could be an abbreviation (notes/ diary)

5. Task Identify the followings sentences: Mrs. Mark is fantastic.
Is Mrs. Mark fantastic?
You will say Mrs. Mark is fantastic.
Gosh, Mrs. Mark is fantastic!
Do you think she will forget about the Personal Study I haven’t done? No chance!

6. Paragraphing Used to break writing into easier to digest pieces
Pre- twentieth century tends to use much longer paragraphs.
Short is easier to understand or creates impact. E.g.. Advertising, children’s fiction, tabloid newspapers.

7. The Rules New paragraph marks new stage in narrative/ argument
Occasionally used for effect
Single sentence paragraph can emphasise a statement or idea or…
Can be to slow the action and create suspense
Anything unusually short is worthy of note. Consider what the aim was.

8. Key Terms List Series Parallelism Climax/ anti-climax Repetition
Expansion
Colon/ semi-colon
Short sentence
Minor sentence
Balance
Antithesis
Parenthesis
Point of view
Triad
Position of “And…”
Direct address

9. List Listing of items , consequences or ideas
Not “commas make up a list”- items are the list not the punctuation mark
Make clearer
Emphasise volume
Reinforce ideas
Suggest scope
context

10. Series
Similar effect to a list
Usually employs parallel structure

11. Parallelism Repetition
Task: Look at the following example of parallel structure. Deconstruct the different elements.

12. Practise makes Perfect! 
I believe that both teachers and students who embark on a program of portfolio development within their composition classes will learn a lot. First, by comparing the first and last in-class essays, both students and teachers will see measurable progress, and they will learn that writing classes count. Second, by examining the character of successive essays throughout the semester, both students and teachers will see heightening degrees of student ownership, and they will learn that students have something to say. Finally, by examining the final, in-class essays, both students and teachers will see a development among students for self analysis, and they will learn that students have developed the critical capacity to learn and to think. These are compelling reasons to use portfolio development within the English composition classroom.

13. Answers
First, by comparing the first and last in-class essays, both students and teachers will see measurable progress, and they will learn that writing classes count.
Second, by examining the character of successive essays throughout the semester, both students and teachers will see heightening degrees of student ownership, and they will learn that students have something to say.
Finally, by examining the final, in-class essays, both students and teachers will see a development among students for self analysis, and they will learn that students have developed the critical capacity to learn and to think.

14. Climax/ anti-climax Series and listed clauses or sentences
In climax, a series of ideas are arranged in the order of increasing importance.
Simple, erect, severe, austere, sublime
What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties! In action, how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a God!
Anticlimax is the opposite of climax - a sudden descent from higher to lower. It is chiefly used for the purpose of satire or ridicule.
Here thou, great Anna! Whom three realms obey, Dost sometimes counsel take - and sometimes tea.

15. Repetition
Words or phrases are repeated throughout the text to emphasise certain facts or ideas
Use of structural repetition
Down. Down. Down.. Would the fall never come to an end! “ I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?”she said aloud. Down. Down. Down There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon began talking again.  
America at its best, matches a commitment to principle with a concern for civility. A civil society demands from each of us good will and respect, fair dealing and forgiveness. America at its best, is also courageous. Our national courage is compassionate. In the quiet of American conscience, we know that deep, persistent poverty is unworthy of our nation's promise.

16. Expansion Usually indicated by a colon
Not enough to say a colon to introduce a list
Comment on the general structure
Comment on the list itself – content
Refer to the point being expanded
Refer to the overall effect

17. Colon/ semi-colon Colon:
introduces a list
Expands on a point (either side)
Semi colon links two sentence which are related (specifies relationship)
E.g.. I went to Edinburgh. It was raining.
I went to Edinburgh; it was raining.

18. Short sentence For impact Must refer to the context
What is it emphasising?

19. Minor sentence Verb omitted Informal
Think about the type of writing used in
Why would it be appropriate within the context of the text?

20. Balance
Created, usually, by some form of parallel structure or repetition
Look at the paragraph structure
Balance of ideas?
Key words to indicate this?

21. Antithesis contrasting relationship between two ideas
antithesis emphasises the contrast between two ideas. The structure of the phrases / clauses is usually similar in order to draw the reader's / listener's attention directly to the contrast.
That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind . (Neil Armstrong)
To err is human ; to forgive, divine. (Pope)
It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father. (Pope)

22. Parenthesis Extra information Commas are formal
Dashes, brackets more informal – almost an aside (try not to use in essays)
May come at the start of a sentence (one commas omitted)
Again, refer to context

23. Point of view
Structure used to reinforce/ reflect the author's viewpoint

24. Triad List of 3 ‘magic number’ which appears in writing
Refer to context – not merely identify

25. Position of “And…” Used to the start of a sentence to emphasise
Isolates and reinforces an additional point.
Grammatically incorrect – deliberately.
Refer to context

26. Direct address 2nd person
Addresses reader directly to create relationship
Forces reader to consider point made and own opinion
Engages reader with the point/ argument

27. All Together
Changing Rooms, Tool Stories, Home Front, you know the drill: take three couples, shuffle them with an interior designer/ DIY expert/ measly budget, see what sticks.

28. Task Look at the previous sentence Define every structural element
Offer an explanation of the effects of these elements on the text.