Discovering sentence styles & structures for successful writing

Discovering sentence styles & structures for successful writing For essays and assignments For business

home page Click here! A sentence is… A sentence is a complete thought. A sentence is one ‘unit’ of thought that should be complete in sense and structure. A sentence should be written with the correct punctuation marks and word order. One sentence is one thought or idea.

A sentence should start with a capital letter… Tony loves Lucy! I am very busy at work. He is hoping to go travelling. Where are we going? Click here home page

…and end with: • a full stop . • a question mark ? • an exclamation mark ! • Different types of sentence: • a statement is a sentence that ends in a full stop • an exclamation is a sentence that ends with an exclamation • mark (to show feeling) • a question is a sentence that begins with a questioning word • and ends in a question mark. home page Click here

Complete the sentence. Type the correct end of sentence punctuation into the box (. ! ?) to make the following sentences make sense. • Are you coming shopping • Where is James going • Let’s get food – I’m starving • Sarah has gone to the bank home page Click here to look at questions

Writing questions Type the best questioning word into the box to complete these questions if why when where who how is are • are we going to meet tonight? • much will it cost? • else is coming to the park? • you glad you came to college today? • old are you? Click here to learn about the subject and verb home page

For a sentence to be complete it should have a subject and a verb. The subject is who or what the sentence is about, for example: Tom loves to eat pasta. Tom is the subject. Activity: type the subject of each sentence into each box and then get your work checked by your tutor. • Hazel loves to eat pizza. • Park Lane college is ace! • I enjoy learning. • My car is very old. home page Click here to learn about the subject and verb

For a sentence to be complete it should have a subject and a verb. Activity: type the verb from each sentence into each box and then ask your tutor to check your work. A verb is a ‘doing’ or ‘being’ word, for example: Tom is happy. Tom rides his bicycle. I am happy. is, rides and am are the verbs. • Sheila cooks tea. • Jamil likes beer. • Angela loves Roy. home page Revision on complete sentences - checklist

Does my sentence start with a capital letter? • Does my sentence end with a full stop, exclamation mark or a question mark? • Does my sentence include a main subject (the person or thing being written about) • Does my sentence have a verb (a doing word e.g. cook, eat, write, study, speak, go, run,) or a ‘being’ word e.g. am, is, was, are) To check if you have written a complete sentenceask yourself the following questions: home page

Simple sentences Here are some examples of simple sentences: My name is Anna. I am nineteen years old. I come from Ghana. I like to dance. Write a simple sentence to answer each question: • What is your favourite hobby (what do you do for fun?) • Who is your favourite film actor / actress? home page

Activity on compound sentences home page Conjunctions for writing compound sentences A compound sentence is made up of two simple sentences joined together. They are joined using the co-ordinate conjunctions: and, but, so, for, nor, yet, so Example: Michael likes his work. (simple sentence) Michael works hard. (simple sentence) Michael likes his job and works hard. (compound sentence)

Make the following into compound sentences using either and, for, nor, but, so, yet – look at how the meaning of the sentences change! Bill was sad. Dave was happy. Bill was sad Dave was happy. Edna was in love. Tim was not in love. Edna was in love Tim was not in love. Asia likes Chinese food. Karen likes Indian food. Asia likes Chinese food Karen likes Indian food. Asia likes going to the movies. Karen likes going to the movies too. Asia likes going to the movies Karen likes going to the movies too. home page Click for more conjunctions

Complex sentences A complex sentence is usually made up of an independent clause (that would make sense on its own) joined by one or more dependent clauses (could not be a sentence on their own). The meaning of these sentences is shown by the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause (often shown by the use of a subordinating conjunction). Example: Since I came back from my holiday, I have had a horrible cold. He left the office early (independent), bought a paper (dependent) and had a leisurely lunch (dependent clause). home page Conjunctions for complex sentences Writing complex sentences

Writing complex sentencesusing subordinate conjunctions 1. What is your main reason for coming to college? I come to college because 2. What is your favourite food? My favourite food is because / as . home page

More on conjunctionssubordinate conjunctions These conjunctions explain why: because as since Question: Why are you so happy today? Answer: I am happy because the sun is shining! Answer: As it’s my birthday today, I’m buying a new car! Answer: Since it’s my birthday, I’m going to the salon. More on conjunctions home page

More on conjunctionssubordinate conjunctions These conjunctions are to do with time ( when): after, when and since. Question: Are you doing anything nice this evening? Answer: When I have done all of my work, I will go to the cinema. After I have finished my work, I will go running. home page Writing complex sentences

Writing for business Points to consider: • you need to have a clear idea of what you want to say (make a plan) • you need to be concise (brief) • you need to proof-read and revise your writing • avoid ‘flowery’ language (overly descriptive) • there are ‘stock phrases’ that you can use (see common phrases) • think about your format: are you writing a report, a memo, an email or a letter? • think carefully about who you are writing to • use formal language – i.e. do not use contractions (shortened words e.g. it’s, I’ve, you’ve, we’ve, don’t etc.) Study common phrases home page

Common phrases for business writing home page More common phrases

More on formal writing Common phrases for business writing home page

home page How to address people More on formal writing

home page How to finish a formal letter Business writing summary

Business writing Activity: fill in the boxes with the missing parts of the letter. home page

home page Writing assignments / essays Points to consider: • essay writing is about arguing a point. • usually, there is a key question to be answered and you must refer back to this throughout your writing. • in an essay you may have to put forward other people’s views, and then argue a case for your own. • it is useful to think about topic sentences and link sentences for essay writing to help to structure your argument in a clear way.

home page The topic sentence Example: Billy is a brilliant driving instructor and has a lot of experience. Billy has taught hundreds of students to drive over the past seven years. They liked him for his patience, his skill and his great sense of humour. These qualities have enabled him to have a successful career. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in any paragraph and it Introduces the main point of that paragraph. The concluding sentence ‘sums up’ that main point. More on concluding sentences

Concluding sentences Write a concluding sentence for the following paragraph: I like all sorts of fruit. I eat strawberries, apples, oranges, pears, blueberries and apricots. I prefer strawberries to pears because they are sweeter.I eat fruit for breakfast and with my lunch. home page

home page Link sentences Each paragraph needs to be linked to the one before. This will make your writing ‘flow’ and your arguments will be easier to follow. Link sentences can act as a bridge between your paragraphs, linking one idea to the next. Examples of link sentence following on from the last paragraph on ‘fruit’ might be: I like fruit very much, but there are also many other foods that I enjoy including… Click here for some useful phrases for structuring an argument

home page Useful phrases I would argue that… In my opinion… It is my view that… There is evidence to suggest that… Furthermore… Interestingly…

Discovering sentence styles & structures for successful writing