Presentation Transcript

1. PACO udience ontent rganization urpose Writer’s Fluency
2. Sentence Fluency What is Sentence Fluency? A writer’s combination of simple, compound, and complex sentences A writer’s control of flow and tempo
3. What is a simple sentence? A stand-alone independent clause without any dependent clauses.
4. Sample SIMPLE Sentences Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #1: 9/11 was a dark day. Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #2: NYPD and NYFD are important. Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #3: Planes hit both the north and south towers. Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #4: A small, scared boy ran from the buildings. (Notice how sentence #2 has compound subjects and sentence #3 has compound predicates.)
5. Law School Personal Statement By Benjamin Tripp Risks are the essence of life. In the beginning, they are our instinct. We learn to crawl despite the bruises on our knees and elbows. We learn to walk despite the many falls we endure. But as we get older and gain a greater consciousness of the world around us, somewhere along the way we are presented with failure; at that point, many people try to eliminate most risks from their life. But where would we be without our sense of exploration, our willingness to and to try new things despite the pitfalls that await us? That attitude is characteristic of all great thinkers and innovators in our society.
6. Complex Sentences What is a complex sentence? a sentence with an independent clause AND one or more dependent clauses Grammar Rule: When the dependent clause comes at the beginning of the sentence it ends with a comma (this is not the case at the end of the sentence).
7. Sample COMPLEX Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #1 complex: Independent Clause: 9/11 will always be a focal point + Dependent Clause: when people talk about important American events = Complex Sentence: 9/11 will always be a focal point when people talk about important American events. OR When people talk about important American events, 9/11 will always be a focal point.
8. Sample COMPLEX Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #2 complex: Independent Clause: My brother and I plan on honoring those troops who have fallen. + Dependent Clause: after the war on terror ends = Complex Sentence: My brother and I plan on honoring those troops who have fallen after the war on terror ends. OR After the war on terror ends, my brother and I plan on honoring those troops who have fallen.
9. Law School Personal Statement By Benjamin Tripp Risks are the essence of life. In the beginning, they are our instinct. We learn to crawl despite the bruises on our knees and elbows. We learn to walk despite the many falls we endure. But as we get older and gain a greater consciousness of the world around us, somewhere along the way we are presented with failure; at that point, many people try to eliminate most risks from their life. But where would we be without our sense of exploration, our willingness to and to try new things despite the pitfalls that await us? That attitude is characteristic of all great thinkers and innovators in our society.
10. Compound What is a compound sentence? A compound sentence is a sentence with two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
11. Sample COMPOUND Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #1 compound: Independent Clause: The events of 9/11 sent shockwaves through America. + Coordinating Conjunction: but + Independent Clause: it is an event that has brought about a new age of patriotism. = Compound Sentence: The events of 9/11 sent shockwaves through America, but it is an event that has brought about a new age of patriotism.
12. Sample COMPOUND Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #2 compound: Independent Clause: The president’s speech was moving and invigorating. + Coordinating Conjunction: so + Independent Clause: I have decided I am going to donate money to the 9/11 relief fund. = Compound Sentence: The president’s speech was moving and invigorating, so I have decided I am going to donate money to the 9/11 relief fund.
13. How do I know if I have sentence fluency? 1. You use concise language and simple sentences to speed your writing up; to be dramatic; to hook your reader
14. 2. You use complex sentences to expand on your ideas and make your writing flow
15. 3. You use compound sentences to compare; to explain in depth; to go into extreme detail