Mastering the Mechanics of Writing Part 2: Structuring Sentences

1. Mastering the Mechanics of Writing Part 2: Structuring Sentences Rachel Grammer Writing Instructor Walden University Writing Center

2. Housekeeping • Muting • Questions • Tech trouble? http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToTraining • Recording: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/415.htm

3. Agenda

4. Why grammar, anyway? To move clearly from internal thought to external communication.

5. Phrases NO SUBJECTS OR VERBS ALLOWED

6. What is a phrase?

7. Types of phrases: Adjective Phrases can describe nouns: Filled with joy, the girl jumped up and down. The man with the red jacket is my father.

8. Types of phrases: Adverb Phrases can also describe verbs (or adverbs): He performed the research to see if the embryo would react to changes in external lighting.

9. Phrases and fragments A phrase by itself is considered a sentence fragment. After the experiment According to Johnson Running down the road Revisions: • Running down the road, the athlete completed the race. • After the experiment, the researcher slept. • According to Johnson (2013), the sun is bright.

10. Phrases and citations If you use an author in the text, often you will use a phrase to introduce your citation: • According to Zuckerman’s (2013) study, APA is considered fun by most students. • As a result of Grammer’s (2013) research, the leadership quality increased. • In Nadeau et al.’s book (2013), the authors discussed the correlation between rap music and motivation.

11. Clauses SUBJECT + VERB

12. Definitions

13. Types of clauses: Independent/Dependent Clauses can be both independent and dependent. • An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete sentence. • A dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause or complete sentence. It cannot stand on its own.

14. Connecting Clauses Words such as after, because, though, since, before, if, when, although, while, as, and so on are words that often connect clauses. • The study failed because the research was invalid. • While the snow was blowing, someone told me it was the first day of spring.

15. Clauses AND Phrases

16. Types: Introductory • Provide additional information • Not part of main structure or idea of sentence CLAUSE: After they had attended the faculty meeting, the department chairs agreed to submit their requests to the dean. PHRASE: According to Mendez (2003), 67% of college freshman at resident universities experience some degree of homesickness.

17. Clauses, phrases, and citations Clauses and phrases can help you to introduce in-text citations in APA. Phrase:According to Grammer’s (2013) study comparing speaking and writing discourse strategies, language is fluid. Clause:Though Nadeau (2013) argued that chocolate is good for human beings, other sources claimed that it is unhealthy when eaten in bulk quantities.

18. Clauses/Phrases and heads* If your phrase or clause has a “head,” be sure that it is attached. The man who did the research studied frogs. The man studied frogs who did the research. *Based on concepts presented by Black, K. (2005). Guide for the advancing grammarian: An exploration of English for writers and teachers. St. Paul, MN: Kitelko Publishing

19. Misplaced modifiers When a head is separated from its clause, this is a misplaced modifier: • The study that was extremely difficult was eventually published by a famous researcher. • The study was eventually published by a famous researcher that was extremely difficult.

20. Dangling modifiers When you begin a sentence with a description of an action, the very next word must be the head. Dangling: Racing across the finish line, her shoe fell off. Revision: Racing across the finish line, she lost her shoe.

21. Run-on sentences Run-on sentences occur when you have multiple clauses and phrases that are not connected. The man completed the studyby researching the diseasethat was unpreventablethe man discovered a preventative injection.

22. Fragments Phrases or dependent clauses that are not connected to an independent clause. Being a child, he felt inadequate to compete. Although he was small,he was strong. Because he wanted to run, he signed up for the race.

23. Mixed Sentence Construction Mixed sentence construction happens when the beginning of the sentence does not match the end. • By implementing the study completed the research process. Introductory Phrase Fragment

24. Mixed Sentence Construction Revision:By implementing the study, the researcher was able to better predict the behavior of red-winged blackbirds in wetlands in Illinois. Revision: A distribution of a final survey completed the research process.

25. Exercise Time!

26. Sentences and word choice

27. Types of Sentences

28. Structure and Parts • Simple: Made up of an independent clause • He performed research. • Compound: Made up of two or more independent clauses. • He performed the research, and he won an award for his strong work. *Sentence type definitions adapted from Purdue OWL

29. Structure and Parts • Complex: Made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. • Although he had never been a good student in high school, he graduated from university summa cum laude. • Compound-complex: Made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. • The rain was falling, and the weather was cold, though it was supposed to be spring.

30. Parallelism Parallelism in writing is similar to mathematics. Parallel list: The men, women, and children were all enthralled by the fireworks. Not parallel: The men with hats on, women were sitting on blankets, and the eyes of the children were all enthralled by the fireworks.

31. Parallelism

32. Agreement Number and gender must agree Pronoun agreement: • The student has to take his or her test. • The team won its prize. • Teachers are role models to their students.

33. Agreement Verb agreement: • The idea for electric light bulbs as they exist today was from Edison. • The group of children was prominent in the research results.

34. Passive voice Indicators: • Form of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) • -ed or –en form of the verb • “by” phrase Passive: The research was completed, the surveys were finished, and the results were writtenby the author. Active: I completed the research, finished the surveys, and wrote the results.

35. Varying Sentence Structure You get to choose! Original: In my research, I studied the effects of sleep deprivation. I did an exhaustive literature review first. I determined a quantitative focus second. I began to create a survey. Revision: In my research, I studied the effects of sleep deprivation. After performing an exhaustive literature review, I chose a quantitative focus and began to create a survey.

36. Exercise Time!

37. Resources

38. Resources: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/ • Guides and resources • Exercises and quizzes Automated grammar checker • Webinars • Description of one-on-one tutoring • Writing courses

39. Thanks for joining us! Questions? writingsupport@waldenu.edu