1. The secret of great writing is …
sentence variety
Tip: Look at how you are starting each sentence - circle or
highlight the first word and check you’ve used every type
on these posters
For a C grade – use all of these
For a B/A/A*- use them to control the pace
(speed) of your writing and to control the tone
(mood) – how do you want the reader to feel ?

2. Simple (short) sentences:These
sound direct and factual and are often a little
dramatic. They are very effective at the start
and end of a paragraph.
Tip: They contain ONE idea (can have AND in
them but the bit after AND doesn’t make sense
on its own)
For example:
I like Brad Pitt. He is an actor. Brad Pitt is
intelligent and handsome.

3. Compound sentences(2 simple
sentences JOINED together with and,
but, or)
A sentence containing two ideas
Tip: do not join two complete sentences
together with a comma. Also, when you do join
sentences using and/but/or, both sides of the
sentence should make sense alone.
For example:
I like Brad Pitt but sometimes he gets cross.

4. Complex (long/advanced)
sentences:
a) Extra information inside a sentence(the
bit inside the sentence often starts with
which, that, who) which is put in a pair of
commas, dashes or brackets.
Rule: the bit in-between the pairof can be
taken out and the sentence will make sense.
Brad Pitt,who is really hunky, sometimes
gets cross.

5. b) 2-part sentences where you start with a
connective (you pause - and use a comma- in
the MIDDLE)
Start with Although, Because, Whilst
Although Brad Pitt is really reasonable, he
can sometimes get cross.
Because Brad is so lovely, he often gets
hassled by the public.
Whilst Brad Pitt is really confident, he used
to be bullied at school.

6. c) Start with adverbs (words that often end
in ly) and put a comma where you pause (often
near the start)
Carefully, he handed out the sweets.
Aggressively, she slammed the
worksheets onto the desks.
d) Start with a simile (Like a ...)this often
has a comma in the middle
Like a train, he shot out of the house.

7. e) ing-sentences (the verb (doing word) + ing)
Don’t forget to put a comma where you pause
Getting quite cross, Brad Pitt shouted at
the men.
Brad Pitt sat down, needing to relax.
f) ed sentences (the verb (doing word) + ed)
Don’t forget to put a comma where you pause.
Frustrated by his good looks, Brad Pitt put
on his disguise to go shopping.