1. Voice Lesson: Syntax On a sheet of notebook paper, write
“Voice Lesson: Syntax.” Then copy down the definition.
Syntax: the way words are arranged within sentences, word order, sentence length, sentence focus, and punctuation.

2. Copy the following quotation (and author’s name) onto your paper:
“I slowed still more, my shadow pacing me, dragging its head through the weeds that hid the fence.”
-- William Faulkner,
The Sound and the Fury

3. “I slowed still more, my shadow pacing me, dragging its head through the weeds that hid the fence.”
In this sentence, form imitates meaning. How does Faulkner slow the sentence down, reinforcing the sentence’s meaning?

4. How would the impact of the sentence change if we rewrote the sentence to read: I slowed still more. My shadow paced me and dragged its head through the weed-obscured fence.

5. “I slowed still more, my shadow pacing me, dragging its head through the weeds that hid the fence.”
Faulkner’s sentence expresses reluctance. (reluctance = hesitance, unwillingness, disinclined)

6. “I slowed still more, my shadow pacing me, dragging its head through the weeds that hid the fence.”
Write a sentence (also showing reluctance), copying Faulkner’s syntax. You can use this as a form:
I __________ (past tense verb) ___________, my __________ (another noun, related to “I”) _________ing ________________, _______ing _____________________________________.

7. Now, make a subtitle on your page, entitled:
[Your author]’s syntax
Look through your book, and find sentences from your author’s book that you find interesting. Copy one on to your page.
Then, write a sentence of your own, using syntax similar to your author!