1. Three Sentence Structures
Basic Building Blocks for Better Writing

2. Why are we discussing this?
“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.”
- Gary Provost

3. Type 1: Simple Sentence Requirements: Examples: Has a subject
Has a verb
Can stand on its own as a complete thought.
Examples:
“The Office is one of the best sitcoms ever made.”
“I declare bankruptcy!”

4. Which are simple, which not?
Because Kevin’s forehead was shiny.
The floor was wet because of Senior Loadenstein.
The irrigation room around the corner.
Mose Schrute is hiding behind you.
Inside Shrute farm well beyond where the paved road ends.

5. Practice Writing Simple Sentences
On the next slide, write three simple sentences about the image you see.

7. Type 2: Compound Sentences
Requirements:
Two simple sentences
Joined with a comma and FANBOY
Examples:
“Dwight knew that Jim was playing pranks on him, but he let his guard down.”
“. . ., and he got hit in the face with a snowball.”

8. List of FANBOYS (coordinating conjunctions)
For
And
Nor
But Or
Yet So

9. Which are compound, which not?
I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.
I should have a Tweeter account.
Prison Mike came in the room and he said the worst thing about prison was the Dementors.
I am Beyoncé, always.

10. Practice Writing Compound Sentences
On the next slide, write two compound sentences about the image you see.

12. Complex Sentence Requirements: Example:
FIRST: One simple sentence starting with a subordinate conjunction (dependent clause).
Followed by a comma
SECOND: One simple sentence.
Example:
“When the son of the disposed king of Nigeria s you directly asking for help, you help him.”

13. List of Subordinating Conjunctions
after
although as
because
before
even if
even though if
in order that
once
provided that
rather than
since
so that
than
that
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether
while

14. Which are complex, which aren’t?
I think Creed might be my favorite side character, but Ryan is really funny sometimes.
When Michael Scott left the show, I may or may not have got a little weepy.
I think Andy was a pretty funny replacement as boss before he went absolutely crazy.

15. IMPORTANT
If you put the simple sentence first and the dependent second, remove the comma.
Example:
“When the son of the disposed king of Nigeria s you directly asking for help, you help him.”
“You help him when the son of the disposed king of Nigeria s you directly asking for help.”

16. Practice Writing Complex Sentences
On the next slide, write two complex sentences about the image you see.
Either type is fine.

18. Activity
Using the sentence types we just discussed, write me a paragraph using… · 3 simple sentences · 2 compound sentences · 2 complex sentences The entire paragraph should be describing the SAME object. Feel free to either write something from your story OR google an image and describe that if you need something more visual.