Grammar is the sound, structure, and meaning system of language. Rewrite the paragraph, combining sentences to improve the flow, or print the lesson to mark your corrections. The second copy of the organizer includes the definitions with key words missing for. Use these graphic organizers to help your students take a short, simple sentence, and make it into a descriptive sentence.
Style and sentence boundaries learning how to correctly combine independent clauses is important because short sentences are often considered choppy and undesirable in academic contexts. During oral reading, stop and ask students if sentence makes sense or how could it be better. Five basic tips to help improve your grammar advice from udm writing center consultant brendan barkume, business 1. During the revision process, writers should attempt to make the intended meaning of each sentence clear by experimenting with a variety of. Share with students that these sentences are often referred to as sentence kernels, just like the kernels of a cobb of corn the parts that make up the whole.
Additional practice in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Combining choppy sentences thoughtful learning k12. Take a narrative and rewrite to expository and vice versa. Turn the following compound sentence into two simple sentences. Pdf this article addresses teaching sentence construction skills to young writers of various ability. Notice repeated subjects beginning the choppy examples below, e. Margaret and maizon have been friends for a very long time. You may have lots of short and choppy sentences that follow the subjectverb pattern. Below are a few suggestions for acknowledging counterarguments and limiting factors short, choppy sentences. Choppy sentences problem too many short simple sentences can make your writing appear unsophisticated and your ideas seem disconnected. If adobe reader is your default pdf program, just doubleclick the pdf file that you want to open to open it in acrobat reader. Faint, light, choppy or distorted display in adobe acrobat. Choppy sentences are a sign of poor writing, as sentences are too short and there is a lack of cohesion between ideas.
Choppy sentences are commonly written by young children and older students who did not learn how to combine sentences with conjunctions. Writing effective summaries school of liberal arts. You can often combine related sentences into compound sentences by using the conjunctions and, but, or, and so. Revise your summary, inserting transitional words and phrases where necessary to ensure coherence. The first has lines where students write definitions and sample sentences. The following paragraph has both choppy sentences and stringy sentences. If all of your sentences are the same length, your writing will be choppy or jarring. Choppy definition for englishlanguage learners from.
And its easytouse, the conversion quality is pretty good. Las vegas high school 201011 writing workshop combining sentences. Combine the following sentences by subordinating minor ideas or by coordinating ideas of equal importance. This impression can also be caused by too many sentences in a row that begin with a simple subject. Hopefully, it will provide a convenient framework that works with my another two websites english grammar and english conversation to be an effective crossreferential tool. The shades of black and gray as well as the quality of the pdf will change with the zoom level of the pdf. If you continually use short sentences in your writing, your paragraphs will sound very choppy. Pdf improving sentence writing ability through sentence. Problems with short sentences short, choppy sentences demand attention from the reader. If you are reading the text to gather information for an analysis, your. Your grading rubric says clearly that youll be graded on your ability to form complex sentences of various types, to make your sentences more interesting and less repetitive, and furthermore to guide your readers through the logic of your paragraph. By comparison, experienced writers edit for the conventions of writing as they proceed with composing their ideas and during the postwriting stage for. Check for grammatical correctness, punctuation, and spelling.
Instructional note a sequence for teaching the sentence. Choppy sentences are sentences that are too short and often repeat the same words. Example, but he tim allen is a well known television and movie actorhe has overcome many obstacles on his way to becoming successful. The god dionysus granted the kings wish, and it was for an unusual power, and it was called the golden touch. You must decide which ideas are minor because the sentences are given out of context. Long sentences in long sentences, it may be more difficult for writers to control the sentence structure and the flow of ideas. The goal is not to produce longer sentences, but this often is the result of making them more effective and utilizing different sentence types. Some students experiment with polysyllabic words to make their 6word sentences. This combining choppy sentences lesson plan is suitable for 4th 7th grade. A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no subordinate clauses. Curtis fears all kinds of wild creatures, but the family very kindly did not tease him about his apprehensions. There are probably fragments andor run on sentences.
Sentences are too short and have many repeated words. Teaching writing avoid choppy sentences main idea esl students can improve their writing style by learning how to notice and fix choppy sentences with combined clauses that create smooth text with an elegant flow. You can convert the restricted pdf files into word format then you can copy as you wish. Choppy definition and meaning collins english dictionary. If your writing contains lots of short sentences that give it a choppy rhythm, consider these tips. Besides, by participating in sentence combining activities, students can learn to identify short, choppy sentences in their own writing and then learn to combine ideas in more fluid and sophisticated ways. However, an overly long and complex sentence, even if it is technically correct, may make it hard for a reader to follow your meaning. Clauses and phrases for proper sentence structure purpose. Im using anybizsoft pdf to word converter, which supports protected pdf files conversion.
Beverly ann chin, professor of english, university of montana. Combining choppy sentences lesson plan for 4th 7th grade. Choppy sentences grammatically, there is nothing wrong with choppy sentences. Las vegas high school 201011 writing workshop rpdp. Grammar intertwined throughout the writing process. Choppy sentences worksheet answers combine the following sentences by subordinating minor ideas or by coordinating ideas of equal importance. In order to understand an authors intentions and understand hisher ideas, it is important to read a text more than once. When students use both simple and compound sentences in their writing, it increases their sentence fluency and makes it easier for the reader to understand.
Tim allens life changed when he was eleven years old. The more successful ones find a way to introduce variety into these 6word sentences. When she dressed in gray pants and a turtleneck, she looked somewhat like a university student. The understanding of sentence structure is essential for communication with other people. Here are some tips for avoiding or correcting this problem. Combine each set of short, choppy sentences into one sentence. Authors purpose the authors purpose is the reason or reasons the author has for writing. On the line, identify each sentence as either simple or compound. The speaker enunciates clearly and uses a pleasant expression.
Paul newman, a movie star who dazzles audiences, played the part example. In this sentence combining worksheet, students read combining rules and complete a 2part practice section, combining sentences given and choosing sentences that have been correctly combined. Authors may write to persuade, inform, express ideas or feelings, or entertain. Avoid a series of short, choppy sentences by combining sentences for a smooth, logical flow of ideas.
Rather than small, choppy sentences, construct ones that have some weight and. When viewing a pdf created by autocad in adobe acrobat or reader, there is a choppy or distorted display of text and linework. Exercise 141 choppy sentences combine the following sentences by subordinating minor ideas or by coordinating ideas of equal importance. Writing is the primary basis upon which your work, your learning, and your intellect will be judgedin college, in the workplace, and in the community. Learn your apostrophes apostrophes can make a huge difference in the way a sentence is perceived, either as. The noun paris is the object of the preposition through. Name 7 scholastic success with grammar grade 6 7 simple and compound sentences grammar a. Combining short, choppy sentences complex ideas clearly. Featuring educational materials mainly youtube videos in english, this english academic writing website aims to facilitate english teaching and learning for teachers and students that are interested in it.
When water is choppy, there are a lot of small waves on it because there is a wind. People saw shop figures as oldfashioned, so shopkeepers stopped using them. Thus, the repetition of simple sentences and frequent use of runon sentences are common mistakes exhibited by these students. An independent clause or simple sentence should contain what two elements. Carol begins her lesson by deconstructing a passage by lowry into a piece of writing any middle school writer might have written, using simple constructions, limited syntax and minimal description. On a separate sheet of paper, revise the paragraph to form sentences that vary in length. If you find yourself writing series after series of short choppy sentences, you might want to. Combine the following sentences by subordinating minor.
Then read the paragraph, which has too many short, repetitive sentences. Definition of choppy written for english language learners from the merriamwebster learners dictionary with audio pronunciations, usage examples, and countnoncount noun labels. Using coordination to join two sentences 173 combine each of the following pairs of sentences by using coordination. Believe me, not many converter support protected pdf conversion. Combining and subordinating in writing well, donald hall and sven birkerts write that while a simple sentence is direct and clearthe simple sentence will not always embody a complete thought 7. Paul newman, a movie star who dazzles audiences, played the part. A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, a noun or pronoun called the object of the preposition, and any modifiers of that object. Click file, click open in the dropdown menu, select your pdf, and click open in the bottomright corner of the window. Short sentences short, choppy sentences can make your writing appear disjointed. Too many short simple sentences can make your writing appear unsophisticated and your ideas seem disconnected.
The xmen comic books and japanese woodcuts of kabuki dancers were part of marlenas. Choppy sentences worksheet combine the following sentences by subordinating minor ideas or by coordinating ideas of equal importance. An essay full of too many long sentences, even if they are wellconstructed, can become monotonous for the reader. Grammatical errors, illogical constructions, and choppy sentences make writing difficult to read and, therefore, unconvincing. Reconsidering english grammar teaching for improving non. Reading to analyze a text how an author presents hisher ideas can be just as important as what the author has to say. Grammatically, there is nothing wrong with choppy sentences. Combining choppy sentences your turn read the rules about combining choppy sentences. Show examples of writing that have very short, choppy sentences.
Reworking short, choppy sentences if you have short, choppy sentences, try combining several ideas into one sentence. For proper sentence structure social transformation. She took, she had, she solutions show logical connections between ideas by using words that show cause and effect such as because, since, and so, and words that show contrast. Combineeach set of short, choppy sentences into one sentence. Short sentences, when combined properly, can become quality compound sentences. Good writing achieves a rhythm by using a variety of sentence patterns and lengths. The volume of the speaker and other effects are poorly implemented.
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