1. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Variety and Combining A workshop brought to you by The Purdue University Writing Lab and Ms. Novick!!

2. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Combining Why should we know about sentence combining?  To build clarity  To avoid wordiness  To avoid redundancy  To build sentence variety Keys to sentence combining:  Create adjectives  Create properly placed modifying clauses  Eliminate unnecessary or repetitive phrases

3. What is a Clause? A clause is a group of related words that contains both a subject and a verb. Two Types of Clauses:  Independent Clause  Dependent Clause Purdue University Writing Lab

4. Independent Clause Contains a subject and a verb Makes a complete statement Can stand alone Purdue University Writing Lab

5. Dependent Clause Contains a subject and a verb Does not make a complete statement Cannot Stand Alone Begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun: afterwho althoughwhom asthat relative pronouns becausewhich Before subordinating conjunctions whose if since until when Purdue University Writing Lab

6. Sentence Variety Simple: Batman, protecting his honor, must avenge his father’s death. Compound: Batman, protecting his honor, must avenge his father’s death, and this means attacking the Joker and regaining Gotham City.

7. Purdue University Writing Lab Complex: Because Batman is a superhero and is bound by duty to fight evil, he must avenge his father’s death. Compound/Complex: Because Batman is a superhero and is bound by duty to fight evil, he must avenge his father’s death, and this means attacking the Joker.

8. Purdue University Writing Lab Using a Variety of Sentences Varying the types of sentences you use creates a more mature writing style and builds interest for your reader. Use simple, declarative sentences to really emphasize certain points. Like everything in writing... TOO MUCH OF ONE TYPE IS NOT A GOOD THING!!

9. Purdue University Writing Lab Consider the following paragraph: The boy struggled to ride his bike. The boy is four years old and he is feisty. The bike is new and it is a light blue color. The boy received the bike for his birthday. He struggled for two hours. However, he was unsuccessful in riding the bike.

10. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Combining The boy struggled to ride his bike. The boy is four years old and he is feisty. The bike is new and it is a light blue color. The boy received the bike for his birthday. He struggled for two hours. However, he was unsuccessful in riding the bike. The feisty four-year-old boy struggled unsuccessfully for two hours to ride his new light blue birthday bike.

11. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Combining The animal trainer dove into the pool. The trainer was skilled and athletic. She was excited when she dove into the pool. She swam with two dolphins. The dolphins were babies. The dolphins were playful. The trainer swam with the dolphins for over an hour. When the trainer swam with the dolphins, she was happy.

12. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Combining The animal trainer dove into the pool. The trainer was skilled and athletic. She was excited when she dove into the pool. She swam with two dolphins. The dolphins were babies. The dolphins were playful. The trainer swam with the dolphins for over an hour. When the trainer swam with the dolphins, she was happy. The skilled, athletic animal trainer excitedly dove into the pool and happily swam for over an hour with two playful baby dolphins.

13. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Combining The blizzard contained strong winds and heavy snow. During the snowstorm, the roof of the town library collapsed. The roof of the post office did the same. The blowing snow covered the county roads. Schools cancelled classes due to the white-out conditions.

14. Purdue University Writing Lab Sentence Combining The blizzard contained strong winds and heavy snow. During the snowstorm, the roof of the town library collapsed. The roof of the post office did the same. The blowing snow covered the county roads. Schools cancelled classes due to the white-out conditions. The blizzard, containing strong winds and heavy snow, caused the roofs of the town library and the post office to collapse, created white-out conditions on county roads, and forced schools to cancel classes.

15. Purdue University Writing Lab Where can you go for additional help with sentence clarity? Purdue University Writing Lab Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu http://owl.english.purdue.edu Purdue University Writing Lab