Using Sentence Length For Effect Learning Objective To

Using Sentence Length For Effect

Learning Objective • To understand how writers use sentence length for effect. Success Criteria • To identify short sentences in a text and explain why they are effective. • To punctuate a piece of writing to include long and short sentences to create effect. • To produce your own piece of creative writing making good use of long and short sentences for effect.

Starter Imagine you are on a holiday when you see a huge tsunami heading towards you. What might you be thinking or feeling? Tsunami A tsunami is a large wave on the ocean, usually caused by an undersea earthquake, a volcanic eruption, or coastal landslide. A tsunami can travel hundreds of miles over the open sea and cause extensive damage when it encounters land.

Identify the Short Sentences In this lesson, you will be learning how to use sentence length in order to emphasise feelings and create mood in a piece of creative writing. Read the text on the next slide. The narrator is on the beach watching a huge tsunami head towards her. Copy the short sentences used in the extract and be prepared to discuss their effect on the reader.

Identify the Short Sentences The water is only feet away now. I stand frozen on the beach, praying that the ocean will merely tickle my toes with its cooling surf. But it does not. A huge, roaring sea tiger devours me in one ravenous bite, lifts me off my feet and tosses me like a rag doll towards the hotel. I can’t see. I can’t breathe. This is it. I am going to die. .

Short Sentences for Effect The writer uses the short sentence ‘But it does not’ to emphasise the narrator’s horror in response to the sheer power of the water coming towards her. The effect of this is to draw attention to her rising panic about being caught up in the huge wave. Your turn. Furthermore, the writer uses other short sentences such as ‘ to. The effect of this is ’.

Punctuate for Effect The story continues on the next slide. Here, the punctuation has been removed. Copy it out, putting the punctuation where you think it would be most effective. Try to punctuate it to emphasise the narrator’s thoughts and feelings at this point. Use a mixture of long and short sentences in order to highlight the most dramatic parts of the text.

Punctuate for Effect Round and round I go like an old pair of socks in a giant washing machine I am thrown against chairs and tables and plant pots and parasols thwack a heavy cocktail glass falls from the bar and strikes me on the head blood fills my eye and I cannot see frantically I thrash my arms and legs about, trying to reach the palm tree I can just make out to my left my finger tips brush against the tree trunk and I struggle to grab hold of it then I am caught up in the spin cycle again round and round I go scraping against walls and steps and sun-beds and broken bottles I cannot possibly survive this

The Effect of Longer Sentences Here’s an example of how you might punctuate it. Did you do anything differently? Round and round I go, like an old pair of socks in a giant washing machine. I am thrown against chairs and tables and plant pots and parasols. Thwack. A heavy cocktail glass falls from the bar and strikes me on the head. Blood fills my eye and I cannot see. Frantically, I thrash my arms and legs about, trying to reach the palm tree I can just make out to my left. My finger tips brush against the tree trunk and I struggle to grab hold of it. Then, I am caught up in the spin cycle again. Round and round I go, scraping against walls and steps and sun-beds and broken bottles. I cannot possibly survive this. The writer uses longer sentences like ‘ to show The effect of this is ’. .

Plenary: Peer Assessment Write a paragraph describing how you are chased by a hungry, flesh-eating zombie. Remember to use a mixture of long and short sentences for effect. Long sentences can: • create a slow rhythm; • include plenty of descriptive detail; • create a sense of time dragging. Short sentences can: • create a choppy, punchy rhythm; • draw attention to dramatic thoughts or actions; • create a sense of panic or breathlessness. Challenge Start one sentence with: • An. . . ly word • An. . . ed word • An. . . ing word

Plenary: Peer Assessment Swap books with a partner. Identify one long sentence used for effect and one short sentence used for effect. Write a PEE chain explaining what effect one of these sentences has on the reader. The writer uses the long/short sentence ‘ to The effect of this is ’. .