The document provides examples and tips for improving sentence structure and variety, including using different sentence types (simple, compound, complex), placement of modifiers (initial, mid-sentence, terminal), and avoiding common errors like fragments, run-ons, and lack of parallelism. It offers exercises asking the reader to apply these tips by adding or changing modifiers in sample sentences. Tips include varying modifier placement, using conjunctive adverbs, and maintaining parallel structure.

1. Sentence variety CSU East Bay English 3001-Spring 2009 Professor: Paul White Assistant Teacher: Jennifer Wu

2. Activity : After treating his last patient, the tired doctor arrived home and greeted his mother, who had finished all her housework, and was already cooking dinner in the kitchen.

3. Pre-task: Sentence Types Simple sentence Compound Sentence Complex Sentence Complex-Compound Sentence

4. China’s Han Dynasty marked an official recognition of Confucianism. We drove from Connecticut to Tennessee in one day.

5. The clown frightened the little girl, and she ran off screaming. We were exhausted, but we arrived in time for my father's birthday party. Coordinators : FANBOYS for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

6. Although he is now 79 years old, he still claims to be 65. The plane had gone when I arrived at the airport. Subordinators: although, though, since, because, if ,unless, when, why, where, how, who, which, that, until, whereas, if only, rather than…

7. The clown frightened the little girl, and she ran off screaming when she saw it. After it was all over, my dad claimed he knew we were planning something, but we think he was really surprised.

8. Tip One : Try using a variety of basic sentence structures. Drill I

9. Many really good blues guitarists have all had the last name King. They have been named Freddie King and Albert King and B.B. King. The name King must make a bluesman a really good bluesman. The bluesmen named King have all been very talented and good guitar players. The claim that a name can make a guitarist good may not be that far fetched. What makes a good bluesman? Maybe, just maybe, it's all in a stately name. B.B. King. Freddie King. Albert King. It's no coincidence that they're the royalty of their genre. When their fingers dance like court jesters, their guitars gleam like scepters, and their voices bellow like regal trumpets, they seem almost like nobility. Hearing their music is like walking into the throne room. They really are kings.

10. Using initial modifier placement Dependent clause: Although/Since… Infinitive phrase: To please… Adverb phrase: Quickly and quietly,… Participle phrase: Hoping to feel better,…

11. Using mid-sentence modifiers Appositive: Maria, an obedient child, went to sleep. Participle phrase: Tom, looking down from the building, can’t help crying.

12. Using terminal modifiers Present participle phrase: The teacher walked into the classroom, holding a book in her hand. Past participle phrase/adj. phrase Maria went to sleep, lulled by music. Maria went to sleep, awakening to scary dreams, relieved when it was morning.

13. Combing modifiers Quickly and quietly, Maria, a young girl, went to sleep hoping to please her Mom.

14. Add an initial modifier: The storm roared across the countryside. Paige listened to music Add a mid-sentence modifier: Taylor ate the cookie. Add a terminal modifier: Leaves are falling. The computer broke. Add mid and terminal modifiers: The cat chased the mouse. Add all three modifiers: The wedding was approaching. Although it wasn't forecast, the storm roared across the countryside. To forget about her boyfriend, Paige listened to music. . Taylor, a chubby six-year-old boy, ate the cookie. Leaves are falling, coming down in dancing streams of gold and brown. The computer broke, leaving us all without a means of communicating. The cat, a fat Cheshire, chased the mouse, pouncing on it with glee. Since it was September, the wedding, an extravagant affair, was approaching, sending the future bride into fits of apprehension. Drill II

15. Tip Two Variety in modifier placement

16. Tip Three: avoid the following errors Sentence fragments Run-on sentences Faulty parallelism

17. In Japan, during the last war and just before the armistice. Working far into the night in an effort to salvage her little boat. Some of the students working in Professor Espinoza's laboratory last semester. Even though he had the better arguments and was by far the more powerful speaker. , he lost the case because he didn't understand the jury . , the Japanese decided to remove the officer. She worked worked

18. Mr. Brown has sent his four children to ivy-league colleges, however, he has sacrificed his health working day and night in that dusty bakery. This computer doesn't make sense to me, it came without a manual. The sun is high, put on some sunscreen. RUN-ON SENTENCE COMMA SPLICE Jack and his relatives plan to visit Disneyland leave next Wednesday. . They they . However, /; however, Conjunctive adverbs: afterwards, consequently, nevertheless, moreover… .It ,so put/;put/. Put

19. Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed. My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure; second, that it is unconstitutional. They are either give up their education opportunity or they have to working to support themselves. My income is smaller than my wife. Faulty parallelism ; now it was taught by the laboratory method that the measure is unjust; wife’s

20. SC Exercises Drill III

21. Ezra Pound said that writing aspires to music, "which is the art of arts." Good academic prose is not poetry, and it is not music, but there is surely no reason for it to remain on the dull plains of sameness.

22. Resources: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm