A Syntax Primer Sentence Structure Big Idea Focus

A Syntax Primer Sentence Structure

Big Idea ● Focus on how syntax contributes to the: ○ ○ ○ Meaning of a work Purpose Effect ● Move beyond entry-level syntax

The star of this show. . .

Sentence Classifications ● Consider when analyzing syntax ● Learn the terminology ● Use them (purposefully) in your writing

Four Types of Sentences ● Declarative: Makes a statement. Provides information. ○ Example: Taqutio is a bad dog. ○ Example: Taqutio, stop rolling on that dead fish! ○ Example: Did Taquito just roll on a dead fish? ○ Example: Taqutio is the worst! She rolled on a dead fish again! ● Imperative: Gives a command or makes a plea. May convey an imperious tone or hierarchy. ● Interrogative: Asks a question. May convey inquisition, curiosity, or uncertainty. ● Exclamatory: Makes an exclamation. May convey excitement, anger, fear, protest, insight, love, or any strong emotion.

Practice! Write one example of each of the four sentence classifications: ● ● Declarative Imperative Interrogative Exclamatory

Four Basic Sentence Structures ● Simple: one independent clause ○ Example: Taqutio went to the beach today. ○ Independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction—and (shows addition), but (shows contrast), or (shows option), for, not, yet, so—or a semicolon. ● Compound: two or more independent clauses demonstrate a somewhat higher level of conceptual thinking than a simple sentence. ○ Examples: Taqutio went to the beach today, and she rolled on a dead fish. ○ Example: Taqutio went to the beach today, but not the park. ○ Example: Taqutio did not need a bath because she did not go to the beach today, so she did not find any dead fish. ● Complex sentence: one independent clause and one or more dependent (subordinate) clauses. ● Compound-complex: two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent (subordinate) clause(s).

Application in your writing Complex thinking, a goal of the course and a practice rewarded by readers of the exam, can be readily demonstrated by an agile use of complex sentences. Complex sentences often correspond to the higher-order thinking skills that characterize mature writing. Here are some subordinating conjunctions that signal purpose in complex sentences: ● Time: after, before, once, when, while ● Place: where ● Hierarchy: than, that ● Condition: as if, unless ● Concession: although, even though, unless ● Purpose: in order that, so that, that ● Causation: because, since

Practice! Write a complex sentence that employs one of the subordinating conjunctions.

Sentence Length ● How does a writer use sentence lengths to achieve his or her purpose? ● Are the sentences: ○ Telegraphic (shorter than 5 words) ○ Short (approximately 5 to 10 words) ○ Medium (approximately 15 to 20 words) ○ Long (approximately 30 words or more)?

Practice ● What is a rhetorical situation in which you might use a: ○ ○ Telegraphic sentence? Short sentence? Medium sentence? Long sentence?

Sentence Beginnings and Endings Is there variety or does a pattern emerge?

Word Order Are words set out in a special way for a specific purpose or effect?

Word Order Types ● Natural: a sentence where the subject comes before the predicate (main verb). ○ Example: Taqutio loves the beach. ○ Example: The beach is where Taqutio loves to go. ○ Example: At the beach Taqutio plays. ○ Example: Taqutio—wild, free, and energetic—loves the beach. ● Inverted: a sentence where the predicate (main verb) comes before the subject. ● Split: divides the predicate into two parts with the subject coming in between. ● Interrupted: the subordinate elements come in the middle, often set off by dashes.

Rhetorical Question ● A question that expects no answer. ● It draws attention to a point or leads a reader to a specific view, answer, etc. ○ Examples: Why is Taqutio so crazy? Who’s a good dog?

Arrangement of Ideas Are ideas set out in a special way for purpose or effect?

Some basic patterns of syntax arrangement ● Loose sentence: makes complete sense if brought to a close before the actual ending. The main point is “front loaded. ” ○ Example: Taqutio finally left the beach after finally being tricked/bribed to jump in the car. ○ Example: That evening, after we tricked and bribed her with treats to get her to jump in the car, Taqutio finally left the beach. ● Periodic sentence: makes sense only when the end of the sentence is reached. The main point is “end loaded. ” ● Parallel structure: a grammatical or structural similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence. An arrangement of words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs so that elements of equal importance are equally developed and similarly phrased. A particular kind of repetition. ○ ○ Wrong example: Taqutio likes chasing children and to steal tennis balls. Right example: Taqutio likes chasing children and stealing tennis balls.

Practice! Write three sentences using different types of syntax arrangement: ● Loose sentence ● Periodic sentence ● Parallel structure

Passive Voice ● A verb is passive when it expresses an action performed upon its subject or when the subject is the result of the action. In general, writing is better when the author uses active voice.

Trick: if you can add the words “by zombies” to the end of the sentence, the passive voice is being used. . . by zombies.

Passive Voice ● Passive voice ex: Children were chased, tennis balls were stolen, and dead fish were rolled on. ● Active voice ex: Taqutio chased children, stole tennis balls, and rolled on dead fish. ● Though the use of passive voice should be limited, it does serve distinct rhetorical functions: ○ ○ ○ Allows the writer to be unclear and ambiguous because both a lack of clarity and an ambiguity are called for. ■ Example: Chaos was sown at the beach. Provides the right tone for violence, disaster, and accident. ■ Examples: A child has been bitten! The ball was stolen!! Hides agency and responsibility: ■ Example: A child was chased. ● When we see passive voice in writing, we need to ask ourselves if this is a result of mediocre writing or if it serves some rhetorical function.