4. Simple sentence
Thispattern 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/
5. 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.
6. Compound Sentence
Thispattern 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. In Groups
Discuss the sentence patterns in Stranger in a Strange Land.
1.
In groups
Independent clause [ . ] 6. Independent clause
2. Independent clause [ , ] dependent marker
coordinating conjunction dependent clause [ . ]
independent clause [ . ]
and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet because, before, since, while,
although, if, until, when, after, as,
3. Independent clause [ ; ] as if.
independent clause [ . ]
4. Independent clause [ ; ] 7. First part of an independent
independent marker [ , ] clause [ , ] non-essential
independent clause [ . ] clause or phrase, rest of the
therefore, moreover, thus, independent clause [ . ]
consequently, however,
also. 8. First part of an independent
5. Dependent marker clause essential clause or
dependent clause[ , ] phrase rest of the
Independent clause[ . ] independent clause [ . ]
because, before, since,
while, although, if, until,
when, after, as, as if.
14. 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.
15. Write (or revise) a sentence
using this construction
ITWAS 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.
16. Try this one
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.
Introductory clause/subject/appositive
phrase/compound verb phrase with
object/prepositional phrase/appositive
phrase.
17. The photographs taken by the robot
vehicle showed a land unattractive by
And one more!
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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Homework
Post #15: A scene of body language
Bring: Three copies of your completed
fiction project.
