Combining Sentences and Introducing Sentence Variety Start combining
Combining Sentences and Introducing Sentence Variety
Start combining sentences instead of having several short, choppy ones. Example: In “Button, ” there is a main character. Her name is Norma has a conflict. Her conflict is internal. She is torn. She has a desire for money. She also has a sense of morality. Her greed influences her. She makes the wrong choice. This can (and SHOULD) be one complex sentence. Example, corrected: In “Button, the main character, Norma, experiences an internal conflict in which she is torn between her desire for money and her sense of morality, and her greed is what influences her to make the wrong choice.
What tools can I use to combine sentences? Punctuation… The major problem that people with choppy sentences have is that the period mark (. ) is the only punctuation they are using. These writers with choppy sentences are not making full use of the wide variety of marks that are out there! Try the following: A Comma (, ) connects a sentence or phrase that cannot stand alone to a sentence or phrase that can stand on its own. Semicolons (; ) connect two thoughts that can stand independently. Colons (: ) show that more information is coming, and they show cause and effect, like this:
What tools can I use to combine sentences? Eliminate all repetition. Example: Norma is impatient. Norma is selfish. Her selfishness causes her to hate Arthur doesn’t want Norma to push the button. The button represents Norma’s moral compass. Notice any words that repeat, and eliminate the repetition. Example, Corrected: Norma is impatient and selfish, and her selfishness causes her to hate Arthur, who doesn’t want her to push the button, which represents Norma’s moral compass.
What tools can I use to combine sentences? #2 Add words as connectors Try transition words like therefore, which, because, consequently, although. Add conjunctions: and, or, nor, for, but, yet, so
Sentence Variety Begin each sentence differently. It is important not to start every sentence with the same word. Use certain phrases such as “in the story” or “this shows” only once. Use CTRL-F to see how many times you are using a particular word. Microsoft Word will show you that. Use CTRL-R to replace a frequently used word with a different one.
Adjectives, adverbs, and synonyms also introduce sentence variety. start using adjectives and adverbs! Example: Norma wanted to press the button. Example, corrected: The inquisitive Norma wanted to secretly press the button. Use a variety of words to refer to the concept laid out for you by the prompt. For example, if the prompt asks you to write about one character’s moral test, you should use a variety of words for test such as “examination, ” “breaking point, ” “moment of truth, ” “ultimate challenge, ” etc.
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