EWRT 30 Class 15

AGENDALecture: Sentence Variety

Discussion: Stranger in a Strange Land

Guided Writing: Body Language

Lecture SubjectSentence Patterns: Please look for the following patterns in your own writing.

Simple sentence

This pattern is an example of a simple sentence:

Independent clause [ . ] Doctors are concerned about the rising

death rate from asthma.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/604/01/

Compound Sentence This pattern is an example of a compound

sentence with a coordinating conjunction: Independent clause [ , ] coordinating conjunction independent clause [ . ]

There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.

Example: Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma, but they don't know the reasons for it.

Compound Sentence

This pattern is an example of a compound sentence with a semicolon.

Independent clause [ ; ] independent clause [ . ] Example: Doctors are concerned about

the rising death rate from asthma; they are unsure of its cause.

Compound Sentence

This pattern is an example of a compound sentence with an independent marker.

Independent clause [ ; ] independent marker [ , ] independent clause [ . ] Examples of independent markers are the

following: therefore, moreover, thus, consequently, however, also.

Example: Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma; therefore, they have called for more research into its causes.

Complex Sentence This pattern is an example of a complex

sentence with a dependent marker.Dependent marker dependent clause[ , ] Independent clause[ . ] Examples of dependent markers are as

follows: because, before, since, while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.

Example: Because doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma, they have called for more research into its causes.

Complex Sentence This pattern is an example of a complex

sentence with a dependent marker.Independent clause dependent marker dependent clause [ . ] Examples of dependent markers are as

follows: because, before, since, while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.

Example: Doctors are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma because it is a common, treatable illness.

An independent clause with an embedded non-essential clause or phrase

First part of an independent clause [ , ] non-essential clause or phrase, rest of the independent clause [ . ] A non-essential clause or phrase is one that can be

removed without changing the meaning of the sentence or making it ungrammatical. In other words, the non-essential clause or phrase gives additional information, but the sentence can stand alone without it.

Example: Many doctors, including both pediatricians and family practice physicians, are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma.

An independent clause with an embedded essential clause or phrase

First part of an independent clause essential clause or phrase rest of the independent clause [ . ] An essential clause or phrase is one that

cannot be removed without changing the overall meaning of the sentence.

Example: Many doctors who are concerned about the rising death rate from asthma have called for more research into its causes.

In groupsDiscuss the sentence patterns in Stranger in a Strange Land.

1. Independent clause [ . ]2. Independent clause [ , ]

coordinating conjunction independent clause [ . ]

and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet3. Independent clause [ ; ]

independent clause [ . ]4. Independent clause [ ; ]

independent marker [ , ] independent clause [ . ]

therefore, moreover, thus, consequently, however, also.

5. Dependent marker dependent clause[ , ] Independent clause[ . ]

because, before, since, while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.

6. Independent clause dependent marker dependent clause [ . ]

because, before, since, while, although, if, until, when, after, as, as if.

7. First part of an independent clause [ , ] non-essential clause or phrase, rest of the independent clause [ . ]

8. First part of an independent clause essential clause or phrase rest of the independent clause [ . ]

In Groups

Discussion Subject

Writing Interesting Sentences using sentence variety.

Sentence Variety: Heinlein

IT WAS A QUARTER of an Earth century before Mars was again visited by humans. Six years after the Envoy was silent, the drone probe Zombie, sponsored jointly by the Geographic Society and La Société Astronautique Internationale, bridged the void and took up an orbit for the waiting period, then returned. The photographs taken by the robot vehicle showed a land unattractive by human standards; her recording instruments confirmed the thinness and unsuitability of the Arean atmosphere to human life.

Write (or revise) a sentence using this construction IT WAS A QUARTER of an Earth century

before Mars was again visited by humans.

Expletive construction/subject/prepositional phrase/prepositional phrase: preposition-noun-verb phrase/prepositional phrase.

Try this oneSix years after the Envoy was silent, the drone probe Zombie, sponsored jointly by the Geographic Society and La Société Astronautique Internationale, bridged the void and took up an orbit for the waiting period, then returned.

Introductory clause/subject/appositive phrase/compound verb phrase with object/prepositional phrase/appositive phrase.

And one more!The photographs taken by the robot vehicle showed a land unattractive by human standards; her recording instruments confirmed the thinness and unsuitability of the Arean atmosphere to human life.

Noun phrase (subject-verb-prepositional phrase)/ verb/direct object phrase (article-noun-adjective-prepositional phrase)/ ; /possessive pronoun-adjective-noun/ verb/direct object phrase/ prepositional phrase/ prepositional phrase.

Guided Writing

Body Language

Sometimes what people say without actually speaking tells us a whole lot more than what comes out of their mouths. Using body language to communicate is natural. We all understand it intuitively—some better than others.

As a writer, you can closely observe people’s body language and learn how humans speak without words so you can bring unspoken communication into your writing.

Imagine two characters who are complete strangers. They are in a bookstore. Their eyes meet across the room. You wouldn’t write “Their eyes locked. They were instantly attracted to each other.” That would be boring and unimaginative. Instead, you would let the scene unfold and describe it to the reader—how their eyes met, how one gulped and the other blushed, how they both suddenly felt warm, how the two of them slowly worked their way toward the center of the store until they finally met in the horror section.

The Exercise Write a scene between two (or more) characters

in which communication is done solely through body language. Your scene can be a lead-in to two characters meeting or conversing.

The scene should be at least one page of non-dialogue interaction with two or more characters.

Try to use characters to create a scene from the story you are writing for your second fiction project.

If you can’t work this into your story, you can try one of these: A cop, detective, or private investigator is tailing

a suspect through a small town, a big city, a mall, amusement park, or other public area.

Strangers are always good for body language exercises. Think about where strangers are brought together: public transportation, classes, elevators, and formal meetings.

Kids in a classroom aren’t supposed to be speaking while a teacher is giving a lecture, but they always find ways to communicate.

Homework Post #15: A scene

of body language Make sure to save

a draft of your project 3 to your Google drive. Share it with others in your group. We will work electronically next Tuesday.