 You will need to write effectively in many situations… › Job resumes and applications › Interoffice memos, , and communication › Parent and school communication › Letters of request › Even on-line dating!

 Writing says a lot about you.  It gives people a “first glimpse” into › Your educational background › Your general intellect › Your socio-economical status › Your personality

 Sentence fluency allows you to “build a rapport” with your reader; they begin to feel connected to you and your ideas, even without having met you!  A key to good sentence fluency is your ability to artfully connect independent and dependent clauses.

 You are going to answer a request for a date from an on-line dating organization. This is the profile you open: I like to take long walks on the beach. I take my dog with me. I have a German shepherd. He has been my life companion for years. He’s getting older. I want someone to walk with me. I also like fine dining and good music. My favorite restaurant is an out- of-the way place downtown. It serves Mexican food. There is a mariachi band. It plays while guests eat. They are amazing. I would love to meet someone. I would like to share my dog, my walks, and my dinner with someone. That person should share my interests.

OR

 You decided to open up at least one more profile to see what else is out there. This is the next profile you open: I like taking long walks on the beach with my dog. I have a German shepherd who has been my life companion for years, but he’s getting older. I’m looking for someone who can share our walks, and hopefully our lives. I also like fine dining and good music. My favorite restaurant is an out-of-the way place downtown that serves great Mexican food and sports a fantastic mariachi band that plays while guests eat. They are amazing. I would love to meet someone with similar interests with whom I can share my dog, my walks, and my dinner.

OR

Subordinate conjunctions connect two unequal parts, e.g., dependent and independent clauses. aftersincewhen althoughso thatwhenever assupposingwhere becausethanwhereas beforethatwherever but thatthoughwhether ifas thoughwhich in order thattillwhile lestunlesswhat

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which are a type of dependent clause. thatwhom whosewhich whenwhy whowhere

 The first on-line dater said, “I like to take long walks on the beach. I take my dog with me. I have a German shepherd.”  How can we make that into one sentence with a subordinate clause? Try it…

Coordinating conjunctions combine grammatical elements of equal importance foror andyet norso but

 The first on-line dater also said, “My favorite restaurant is an out-of-the way place downtown. It serves Mexican food. There is a mariachi band.”  With your group, write this information as one sentence with two or three independent clauses. Try it…

 Our wayward on-line dater closed by saying “I would love to meet someone. I would like to share my dog, my walks, and my dinner with someone. That person should share my interests.”  Try putting that information into one sentence that contains a subordinate clause.

 Use the worksheet to create ten sentences about yourself combining independent and subordinate clauses.  Then write ten more sentences that explain your qualities combining independent clauses.  Underline subordinate clauses twice and independent clauses once.

 I love to watch funny movies because I have a great sense of humor.  My favorite actress is Jennifer Aniston, who always makes me smile.

 I am fun to be around, and I always bring life to a party.