The Rise and Fall of Devin Shields
Sentence Patterns for 1st Semester Essays
Variety in Sentence Structure
Wadell, Marie L., Robert M. Esch, and Roberta R. Walker. The Art of Styling Sentences: 20 Patterns for Success, 3rd edition. Hauppage, New York: Barron's Educational Series, 1993.
Pattern 1: Compound sentence: 2 short, related sentences joined by a semicolon.
Hard work is only one side of the equation; talent is the other.
Some people dream of being something; others stay awake and are.
Forget defensive driving; practice paranoid driving. Pattern 1a: conjunctive adverb follows semicolon connectors: e.g. however, hence, therefore, thus, then, moreover, nevertheless, likewise, consequently, accordingly.
This gadget won't work; therefore, there is no sense in buying it. Pattern 1b: a coordinating conjunction (and, or, for, but, nor, yet, so) is used in one of the independent clauses.
The squirrel in our front yard is a playful sort; he mocks us from his tree, but I can entice him from his treetop home with a few crusts of bread. Pattern 1c- 3 independent clauses joined by semicolons.
They begged to be taken in; they promised they would help with the housework; they tugged mercilessly at her heart.
Pattern 2: compound sentence with elliptical construction. This pattern is used to avoid using the same verb in the second clause. Listen to ensure that the sentence is rhythmic and balanced. An artist's instinct is intuitive, not rational; aesthetic, not pragmatic. A red light means stop; a green light, go.
Pattern 3: compound sentence with explanatory statement. The colon signals an explanation or-expansion of the first clause. Remember what the old saying prudently advises: Be careful what you wish for because you may actually get it.
No one would deny that Patton did what generals were primarily expected to do: he won battles.
Pattern 4: a series without a conjunction The coach is loud, profane, demonstrative.
With wisdom, patience, virtue, Queen Victoria
Variety in Sentence Structure
Wadell, Marie L., Robert M. Esch, and Roberta R. Walker. The Art of Styling Sentences: 20 Patterns for Success, 3rd edition. Hauppage, New York: Barron's Educational Series, 1993.
Pattern 1: Compound sentence: 2 short, related sentences joined by a semicolon.
Hard work is only one side of the equation; talent is the other.
Some people dream of being something; others stay awake and are.
Forget defensive driving; practice paranoid driving. Pattern 1a: conjunctive adverb follows semicolon connectors: e.g. however, hence, therefore, thus, then, moreover, nevertheless, likewise, consequently, accordingly.
This gadget won't work; therefore, there is no sense in buying it. Pattern 1b: a coordinating conjunction (and, or, for, but, nor, yet, so) is used in one of the independent clauses.
The squirrel in our front yard is a playful sort; he mocks us from his tree, but I can entice him from his treetop home with a few crusts of bread. Pattern 1c- 3 independent clauses joined by semicolons.
They begged to be taken in; they promised they would help with the housework; they tugged mercilessly at her heart.
Pattern 2: compound sentence with elliptical construction. This pattern is used to avoid using the same verb in the second clause. Listen to ensure that the sentence is rhythmic and balanced. An artist's instinct is intuitive, not rational; aesthetic, not pragmatic. A red light means stop; a green light, go.
Pattern 3: compound sentence with explanatory statement. The colon signals an explanation or-expansion of the first clause. Remember what the old saying prudently advises: Be careful what you wish for because you may actually get it.
No one would deny that Patton did what generals were primarily expected to do: he won battles.
Pattern 4: a series without a conjunction The coach is loud, profane, demonstrative.
With wisdom, patience, virtue, Queen Victoria