1. Quick Write Warm-up 3.7
In your warm-up notebook, record what you feel are the TWO most important things that make narrative writing amazing.
For each, explain why in 2+ sentences.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project - all rights reserved

2. “It’s not where you start that matters,
Good Writing
“It’s not where you start that matters,
it’s where you finish.”
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

3. Good Writing Six Writing Traits Ideas Conventions Organization
Sentence
Fluency
Voice
Word
Choice
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

4. This lesson is about Sentence Fluency…
Varied
Beginnings
Well Built
Sentences
Sentence
Fluency
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

5. What might this quote mean to you?
I've always seen myself in sentences. I begin to recognize myself, word by word, as I work through a sentence.
Don DeLillo
What might this quote mean to you?
Share your thoughts with a partner.
Share a few thoughts with whole class.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

6. What is sentence fluency?
It refers to the way individual words and phrases sound together within a sentence and how groups of sentences sound when read one after the other.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

7. SENTENCE FLUENCY Varied Beginnings Well Built Sentences Sentence
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

8. Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings add variety and energy.
Varied Beginnings
Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings add variety and energy.
For example, look at how an adjective at the beginning of a sentence makes a difference.
Thomas ate two portions of meat, nothing else.
Hungry, Thomas ate two portions of meat, nothing else.
Hal Borland, When the Legends Die
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

9. Another example of an adjective at the beginning of a sentence.
Six-year-old Little Man never allowed dirt or tears or stains to mar anything he owned.
Always meticulously neat, six-year-old Little Man never allowed dirt or tears or stains to mar anything he owned.
Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

10. When: Overnight, Jem had acquired an alien set of
Adverbs at the beginning of a sentence bring a sentence energy and variety .
When: Overnight, Jem had acquired an alien set of
values and was trying to impose them on me.
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Where: Outside, beyond the low, white fence, a
wagonette with a pair of cabs was waiting.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles
How: Quickly and quietly, over the guard’s head,
George walked away. Hans Augusto Rey, Curious George
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

11. Add your own adverb at the beginning of this sentence.
_________, Jonas concentrated on the screen, waiting for what would happen next.
Write down one adverb (alone).
Share a few adverbs as a whole class.
Obediently, Jonas concentrated on the screen, waiting for what would happen next. Lois Lowry, The Giver
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

12. Adjectives and adverbs are not the only way to vary the beginning of a sentence.
Review Chores silently and decide if the writer does a good job at varying the beginnings of her sentences.
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

13. Chores!
Chores! Chores! Chores! Chores are boring! Scrubbing toilets, cleaning sinks,
and washing bathtubs take up a lot of my time and are not fun at all.
Toilets! When you’re scrubbing toilets make sure they are not stinky. I’ve scrubbed one before and I was lucky it didn’t stink. I think toilets are one of the hardest things to scrub in the bathroom because it is hard to get up around the rim.
Sinks are one of the easiest things to clean in the bathroom because they have no rims and they are small. I have cleaned one before and it was pretty easy.
Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep, and it is hard to get up around the sides. The bathtub is the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.
All chores are boring, especially making my bed. Cleaning my room is OK because I have to organize, and I like organizing. Dusting is the worst: dust, set down, pick up, dust, set down. There are so many things to dust, and it’s no fun.
Chores aren’t the worst but they’re definitely not the best!
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

14. How well did the author of Chores do “varying the beginning of her sentences?”
Review the Rubric Below for sentence fluency and decide if the author should receive a 5, 3, or 1 for “varying the beginning of her sentences”
with a partner.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

15. Six Writing Traits Rubric
Sentence Fluency
Sentence Fluency
Sentence Fluency
5 – Writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence; varied, natural, and well built sentences.
__ Variety in sentence
beginnings
length and structure
__Sentences are easy to
read aloud expressively
__Sentences alternate in
length to create rhythm
and flow
__ Sentences are easy to
understand
3 – Rhythm and flow is routine and functional; sentences are clear but some are choppy and awkward.
__Some variety in sentence
beginnings
length and structure
__ Some sentences are
smooth and others are
halting
__Sentences follow a
predictable pattern
__ Most sentences are
understandable
1 – Rhythm and flow is lacking; sentences are unclear and patterns are repetitive.
__Little or no variety in
sentence beginnings
__Lacks variety in length
and structure
__ Sentences lack pattern
when read aloud
__Sentences lack rhythm
and flow
__ Sentences are not easy
to understand
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

16. SENTENCE FLUENCY Varied Beginnings Well Built Sentences Sentence
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

17. Varied Length and Structure Never vary the length of your sentences.
What is one of the best ways to make your writing boring and monotonous?
Never vary the length of your sentences.
One short sentence after another makes your writing
sound choppy and childish.
Using only “long” sentences can make your writing
hard to read.
Medium length sentences all the time doesn’t work
either.
Why? Sentences that are about the same length create
monotony.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

18. Rhythms of Sentence Length
Listen while I read out loud.
Rhythms of Sentence Length
  This sentence has five words. This is five words too. Five word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It's like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals, and sounds that say listen to this, it is important. Gary Provost
Source:
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

19. How might you analyze sentence length and structure?
Counting the words in a sentence is one way to measure the length.
Short sentences tend to have 3-6 words.
Average sentences have 8-14 words.
Long sentences may have 20 words or more.
Sentence Construction
Analyzing the structure of a sentence by looking at how many parts it contains and what kinds of parts those are.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Short

20. What makes a sentence? A sentence has at least one subject (noun),
at least one predicate (verb), and
is a complete thought.
EXAMPLE
Malia (subject) made (predicate) breakfast.
NON EXAMPLE
Made (predicate) breakfast.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

21. What are the different types of sentences? FOUR TYPES OF SENTENCES
Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound-Complex
The type of sentence is determined by the number and kind of clauses it contains.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project - all rights reserved

22. What is a clause?
A clause contains a subject, a verb, and either a complete thought or no complete thought.
Let’s look at an
INDEPENDENT clause
and a
DEPENDENT clause.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

23. Examples: I woke up early this morning.
Independent Clause
An INDEPENDENT clause contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. It stands on its own and is a simple sentence.
Examples: I woke up early this morning.
Ka’oi went biking in the rain storm.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

24. It is not a complete thought or a complete sentence.
Dependent Clause
A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, but is only part of a thought.
It is not a complete thought or a complete sentence.
It depends on an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE to make the
whole thought.
Examples: after I woke up in the morning
while biking through the rain storm
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

25. Example: Kai bought a new surfboard.
Linking Clauses and Types of Sentences
1. SIMPLE SENTENCE:
A simple sentence is one independent clause.
Example: Kai bought a new surfboard.
Independent clause
subject + predicate + complete thought
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

26. Linking Clauses and Types of Sentences
2. COMPOUND SENTENCE:
A compound sentence has two independent clauses that are joined together, usually with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so – remember FANBOYS).
It can also be joined by a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore) or a semicolon alone (;).
Example:
Kai bought a new surfboard, and he is ready to ride.
Independent clause
Independent clause
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

27. Linking Clauses and Types of Sentences
3. COMPLEX SENTENCE:
A complex sentence has one independent clause, and one or more dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE:
Although he surfs well, Kai never surfs waves over 15 feet.
Dependent clause
Independent clause
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

28. Linking Clauses and Types of Sentences Independent clause, and
4. COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE:
A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent
clauses, and one or more dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE:
While Ka’oi writes s, Sue texts friends, and Leigh talks on the phone.
Dependent clause,
Independent clause, and
Independent clause
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

29. Compound 4. Compound-Complex
Identify the type for each sentence below. Write the number sequence order, and then be ready to share.
Simple 3. Complex
Compound 4. Compound-Complex
___ Before coming to school, Malia worked out at the gym.
___ The large shrub fell over last night.
___ Prior to this year, Sam did not make the baseball team,
yet he always made the basketball team.
___ The teacher announced the test scores, but she forgot
to assign grades.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

30. Share your thoughts with a partner.
Let’s look at the first paragraph of Chores.
Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep, and it is hard to get up around the sides. The bathtub is the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.
Does the sentence length & construction make it interesting?
Share your thoughts with a partner.
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

31. Vary the length and structure of your sentences.
So, what is one of the best ways to prevent your writing from being boring and monotonous?
Vary the length and structure of your sentences.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

32. SENTENCE FLUENCY Varied Beginnings Well Built Sentences Sentence
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

33. Rhythms of Sentence Length
Let’s read together…
Rhythms of Sentence Length
This sentence has five words. This is five words too. Five word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It's like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals, and sounds that say listen to this, it is important. Gary Provost
Source:
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

34. Describe how it felt and sounded different?
Compare and Contrast
Think about the first part of the paragraph and the second part of Rhythms of Sentence Length
Describe how it felt and sounded different?
Which part was easier or more fun to read aloud?
Share your thoughts with your partner.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

35. SENTENCE FLUENCY Varied Beginnings Well Built Sentences Sentence
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

36. How might you vary the rhythm or flow of a writing piece?
Rhythm & Flow
Rhythm is the cadence, beat or tempo.
How might you vary the rhythm or flow of a writing piece?
Writers can vary the rhythm and flow or their writing by…
alternating short and long sentences.
using “sound” effects.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

37. Listen to the following two paragraphs.
Example: The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find some native American art. In Anchorage stores they found some excellent examples of soapstone carvings. But they couldn't find a dealer selling any of the woven wall hangings they wanted. They were very disappointed when they left Anchorage empty-handed.
Revision: The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find some native American art, such as soapstone carvings and wall hangings. Anchorage stores had many soapstone items available. Still, they were disappointed to learn that wall hangings, which they had especially wanted, were difficult to find. Sadly, they left empty-handed.
What differences do you notice about the rhythm, flow, & sentence lengths in the two paragraphs?
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Source:

38. Rhythm & Flow
Sometimes, other effects are used to make a piece of writing sound interesting, such as alliteration or consonance.
Alliteration – several words in a sentence begin with the same
consonant sound.
For example, “In certain situations, sequences of speech
sounds sometimes surprise us.”
Consonance – the same consonant sound is used in several words,
usually at the end.
For example, “In certain situations, sequences of speech
sounds sometimes surprise us.
Used sparingly, effects can make writing fun to read but they can be overdone
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

39. Did the writer alternate sentence length or use any specific effects?
Revisit Chores.
Did the writer alternate sentence length or use any specific effects?
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

40. Chores!
Chores! Chores! Chores! Chores are boring! Scrubbing toilets, cleaning sinks,
and washing bathtubs take up a lot of my time and are not fun at all.
Toilets! When you’re scrubbing toilets make sure they are not stinky. I’ve scrubbed one before and I was lucky it didn’t stink. I think toilets are one of the hardest things to scrub in the bathroom because it is hard to get up around the rim.
Sinks are one of the easiest things to clean in the bathroom because they have no rims and they are small. I have cleaned one before and it was pretty easy.
Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep, and it is hard to get up around the sides. The bathtub is the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.
All chores are boring, especially making my bed. Cleaning my room is OK because I have to organize, and I like organizing. Dusting is the worst: dust, set down, pick up, dust, set down. There are so many things to dust, and it’s no fun.
Chores aren’t the worst but they’re definitely not the best!
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

41. SENTENCE FLUENCY Varied Well Built Beginnings Sentences Sentence
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

42. Strong and varied structure.
Well Built Sentences
Sentences can be simple or complex but they must be structured in ways that make them easy to understand.
Strong and varied structure.
Arrange “parts” of a sentence to create a simple
structure.
Understand that the parts can be arranged in
different ways and still be meaningful.
Use connecting words and punctuation marks.
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

43. Simple Sentence Structure System*
Well Built Sentences
Simple Sentence Structure System*
1. Sentences are made up of parts
2. Each part has a name
Structure of a sentence can be described by the
number and parts it contains
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
*Source: Steve Peha.

44. Names of the Five Sentence Parts
Subject person, place, or thing
2. Predicate contains the main action of the
sentence
3. Lead-In often leads into other parts,
phrase or clause especially the main part
4. In-Between go in between other parts about
phrase or clause any of the other parts.
5. Add-on Parts extra parts that convey additional
phrase or clause information about any of the other
parts.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
* Adapted from Steve Peha.

45. Part 1: “On a warm sticky summer morning,” Lead-In Part
Example:
On a warm sticky summer morning, Jason Kam, a young man of simple means but good intentions, left the comfortable secure home in which he’d been raised, and set off on the bold adventure he’d been preparing for all his life.
Part 1: “On a warm sticky summer morning,” Lead-In Part
Part 2: “Jason Kam,” Subject
Part 3: “a young man of simple means but good intentions,”
In-Between Part
Part 4: “left the comfortable secure home in which he’d been
raised,” Predicate
Part 5: “and set off on the bold adventure he’d been
preparing for all his life.” Add-on Part
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at

46. Your turn in pairs – Write on Four Sentence Parts Handout
In the heat of the afternoon, the ice cream truck, dented by wear and tear but moving steadily, turned on to our street with music blasting a worn out tune, and slowly stopped before a crowd of neighborhood kids waiting with fists full of change.
Identify each part and name it. Subject, Predicate, and Lead-In, In-Between, or Add-On phrases/clauses.
Part 1:
Part 2
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

47. Punctuation and Connecting Words
Well Built Sentences
Punctuation and Connecting Words
Punctuation: Exclamation marks and commas help to make sentences interesting and easy to read.
Connecting words or transitions also make sentences easy to understand.
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

48. Examples of connecting words or transitions that make sentences easy to understand.
Addition Transitions
-first, second, third -in addition
Restatement Transitions
-in other words -in short -in simpler terms
Insistence Transitions
-in fact -indeed -no/yes
Comparison Transitions -in like manner -in similar fashion -likewise -similarly
Time Transitions
-afterward -at the same time -currently -earlier
Contrast Transitions
-however -in contrast -instead -nevertheless
Sources:
Cause-Effect Transitions
-accordingly -as a result -consequently -for this reason
Conclusion and Summary Transitions -finally -in brief -in closing -in conclusion
Place Transitions -alongside -beneath -beyond
-nearby
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

49. How did the writer do in Chores with exclamation marks and commas?
Let’s revisit Chores.
How did the writer do in Chores with exclamation marks and commas?
Look for connecting words and punctuation marks that make sentences easy to understand.
Look at the order of sentence parts to see if they make the writing easy to understand.
Share your thinking with a partner.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

50. Chores!
Chores! Chores! Chores! Chores are boring! Scrubbing toilets, cleaning sinks,
and washing bathtubs take up a lot of my time and are not fun at all.
Toilets! When you’re scrubbing toilets make sure they are not stinky. I’ve scrubbed one before and I was lucky it didn’t stink. I think toilets are one of the hardest things to scrub in the bathroom because it is hard to get up around the rim.
Sinks are one of the easiest things to clean in the bathroom because they have no rims and they are small. I have cleaned on before and it was pretty easy.
Bathtubs, ever washed one? They are big, they are deep, and it is hard to get up around the sides. The bathtub is the hardest, I think, to wash in the bathroom.
All chores are boring, especially making my bed. Cleaning my room is OK because I have to organize, and I like organizing. Dusting is the worst: dust, set down, pick up, dust, set down. There are so many things to dust, and it’s no fun.
Chores aren’t the worst but they’re definitely not the best!
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

51. “making sentences easy to understand”
How well did the author of Chores do in “making sentences easy to understand?”
Review the Writing Trait Rubric and decide if the author should receive a 5, 3, or 1 for
“making sentences easy to understand”
with a partner.
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

52. Six Writing Traits Rubric
Sentence Fluency
Sentence Fluency
Sentence Fluency
5 – Writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence; varied, natural, and well built sentences.
__ Variety in sentence
beginnings
length and structure
__Sentences are easy to
read aloud expressively
__Sentences alternate in
length to create rhythm
and flow
__ Sentences are easy to
understand
3 – Rhythm and flow is routine and functional; sentences are clear but some are choppy and awkward.
__Some variety in sentence
beginnings
length and structure
__ Some sentences are
smooth and others are
halting
__Sentences follow a
predictable pattern
__ Most sentences are
understandable
1 – Rhythm and flow is lacking; sentences are unclear and patterns are repetitive.
__Little or no variety in
sentence beginnings
__Lacks variety in length
and structure
__ Sentences lack pattern
when read aloud
__Sentences lack rhythm
and flow
__ Sentences are not easy
to understand
Source : What is Good Writing by Steve Peha at
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

53. This lesson was about Sentence Fluency…
Varied
Beginnings
Well Built
Sentences
Sentence
Fluency
Varied Length
and Structure
Rhythm & Flow
Easy to
Read Aloud
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project

54. Examples of connecting words or transitions that make sentences easy to understand.
Addition Transitions
-first, second, third -in addition
Restatement Transitions
-in other words -in short -in simpler terms
Insistence Transitions
-in fact -indeed -no/yes
Comparison Transitions -in like manner -in similar fashion -likewise -similarly
Time Transitions
-afterward -at the same time -currently -earlier
Contrast Transitions
-however -in contrast -instead -nevertheless
Sources:
Cause-Effect Transitions
-accordingly -as a result -consequently -for this reason
Conclusion and Summary Transitions -finally -in brief -in closing -in conclusion
Place Transitions -alongside -beneath -beyond
-nearby
National RtI Writing Demonstration Project