Strategies for Taming
the Multi-Armed Octopus of
WRITING
Part 2: Words, Phrases, and Sentences
Kendra Wagner
Literacy Consultant
Learning Specialist
www.readingwritingthinking.net
Seattle, WA
SENTENCES ARE PATTERNS
A sentence is a statement one person tells or asks to a person, or a reader.
The JOB of a sentence is…
…to make the reader understand exactly what you are saying or writing.
One word is not a sentence.
You may see some authors use “Really!” or “Hey!” but they are not sentences.
Sometimes sentence patterns have 2 words, but not often.
Pat skipped.
A sentence must have 2 words, AT LEAST:
Noun
Verb
Write down those words:
____________
____________
You probably already know this, have heard this, or think you know it.
In the sentence Pat skipped, the Pat is the noun.
A noun is a subject: a person, place, or a thing, or feeling.
Skipped is a verb, a word that shows action. It’s what Pat did. It’s an action word.
Write a 2-word sentence. Use a different word than skipped.
____________________ ____________________
ADD a 3rd word, that explains something more about the 1st two words.
This new word can be added anywhere in the sentence.
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________
Now write another 2-word sentence.
____________________ ____________________
Write a 3-word sentence, adding to the one you wrote.
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________
Write a 4-word sentence. Put the new word anywhere.
___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________
Write a 5-word sentence. Put the new word anywhere.
________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________
Write a 6-word sentence, with the words in any order. Make sure they make sense.
___________________ ___________________ ___________________
___________________ ___________________ ___________________
You can add a 7th word if you want to.
Highlight or underline the noun and the verb.
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
ALL action words are verbs.
They make writing superb.
Heigh-ho the derry-o,
ALL action words are verbs.
A verb tells what you do,
Like jump or swim or chew
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
A verb tells what to do.
Each sentence must have oneThe verb adds all the fun.
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
Each sentence must have one.
Good sentences give details so that the reader FEELS or PICTURES something.
Readers can read words, but they can’t read minds.
Your writing needs enough details so they don’t say, “Huh?”
Good sentences are like math equations. They can be simple or complex.
SIMPLE:
1. He went.
WHO?
2. My uncle went.
Underline the Who and the Did What parts.
DID WHAT?
3. My uncle rode his bicycle.
COMPLEX:
WHY?
1. My uncle rode his bicycle to visit.
Underline the parts.
HOW?
2. My uncle slowly rode his bicycle to visit.
WHEN?
3. Last weekend my uncle slowly rode his bicycle to visit.
WHO?
4. Last weekend my uncle Henry slowly rode his bicycle to visit our family.
WHERE?
5. Last weekend my uncle Henry slowly rode his bike across town to visit our family.
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
Sentence Search
Write the kind of sentence part that is underlined in each sentence.
The sentence part will be one of the following:
WHO
WHERE
WHAT
WHY
DID WHAT
HOW
WHEN
1. The old tractor cut the grass on the hillside this morning.
2. A spaceship landed at noon on the red planet.
3. The captain of the team blew the whistle just for fun.
4. A ghost floated up the stairway without a sound.
5. A busy little spider spun a web in the attic.
6. The, train roared past the station at top speed.
7. A playful pup chased a blue ball down the street.
8. The bus driver drove slowly out of the parking lot.
9. Snow and ice covered the roads yesterday afternoon.
10. The mountain explorers climbed carefully up the mountain.
11. The baseball sailed out of the park for a home run.
12. The little girl let go of the balloon by accident.
13. Large waves rolled into the harbor because of the storm.
14. The old grandfather clock played music every hour.
13. Everyone saw the rainbow after the storm.
14. Just as the sun came up, the roosters crowed.
____________________
15. The kittens rolled around on the floor endlessly.
____________________
16. Songs were performed every morning at her school.
____________________
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
Preposition Song
(sung to Yankee Doodle Dandy)
Until, by, into after, from
Across, against, with, toward, on
Among, along, around, of, to
Beside, beyond, below, at, through
Upon, in, for, beneath, between
Behind, before, without, within
Up, over, under, down, about
Since, underneath, except, throughout
Prepositions are usually position words.
They show where:
The ball is under the box.
The ball is above the box.
The ball is in the box.
They can show when:
At midnight, Jill craved mashed potatoes with grape jelly.
In the spring, I always vow to plant tomatoes but end up buying them at the store.
During the race, Jill's legs complained with sharp pains shooting up her thighs.
They can show how:
Jason swam without any swim trunks on.
We won against the Titans in a tight game.
The car skidded out of control upon the ice.
The children hid from the one who was “it”, without making a sound.
Prepositions are followed by NOUNs. Complete these most popular prepositions.
with ____________________
to
_____________________
at
____________________
of
_____________________
by
____________________
for
_____________________
in
____________________
from _____________________
on
____________________
since _____________________
about
despite
outside
above
down
over
across
during
past
after
except
since
against
for
through
along
from
till
among
in in in
to to
around
inside
toward
at
like
under
before
near
underneath
behind
next
until
below
of
upon
beneath
off
with
beside
on
within
The
Noun
action verb + ed
Where Phrase
A
(who or what)
(plus a little more)
(above, at, near, on, upon, etc)
Complex Sentence Practice - to help the reader VISUALIZE the scene
When or How Phrase
A
The
adjective
(describes a noun)
noun
action verb + ed
(plus a little more)
where or when phrase
why, how, or to who
Sentence Fluency
Write a basic sentence containing a noun and a verb. Use THE or A if needed. Those are articles.
Then add more and more detail to make it more interesting.
Example: The girl swam.
What kind? Athletic
Where? In the West River
Why? She was in a race
How? Rapidly
Expanded sentence: Barb, an athletic swimmer, swam rapidly in the West River to win the race.
Article
Noun
Verb
Article
Adjective
Noun
Verb
Article
Adjective
Noun
Verb
(The or A)
Adverb
Where or When
Article
Adjective
Noun
Verb
Adverb
Prepositional
Phrase
Write
the whole sentence, adding a word, and changing the word order.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
HABIT: Ask yourself
Article
Who?
Noun
What kind?
Verb
Try this format, using a conjunction:
Article
Adjective
Article Adjective Noun
Noun
Verb
Where?
Conjunction
AND
Verb
Adverb
BUT
Why?
Article
When?
Noun
Verb
YET
Conjunction Article
Conj.
How?
Adjective
Article Adjective Noun
Noun
Verb
Verb
Adverb
Expanded Sentence: (you can add words or change the order)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
POSTER
WHAT IS A GOOD SENTENCE?
It is one complete thought.
It usually has only one AND, or one THEN, or one BECAUSE.
There is a subject and a predicate, and sometimes a little phrase.
There is either a strong verb or strong adjective that is the “muscle”.
It has just enough detail to make the reader visualize, or make their own connection.
You only have to read it once to understand, and again if it is interesting to read aloud.
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
Show Don’t Tell
Telling is like looking at something far away without a zoom lens or telescope.
Example: We took our dog to the vet.
Showing is like looking at something up close.
Our Shepard mutt was limping so much and wincing in pain that we finally decided to
have a doctor look at her hips. We boosted her up into the back of the car to drive to the vet.
I was sad because she used to be able to jump up so easily when we told her to get into the car.
Now she needs help. The vet’s waiting room was crowded with three other dogs, two cats in
cages, and a bird chirping on its owner’s arm.
Telling leaves readers confused, with NO picture in their mind.
Showing elaborates, using: details, adjectives, strong verbs, examples, or dialogue
Write a new sentence, using different words than the ones in the first box.
Telling
Showing
crazy
clothes
boring
afternoon
strict
teacher
fun
camping
trip
smart dog
long
sleepover
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
Tips for Using Exact Adjectives
nice
kind, friendly, helpful, polite
pretty
colorful, handsome, beautiful, striking
good
honest, huggable, wonderful, delicious, obedient
Tips for Using Exact Nouns
bug
black beetle, praying mantis, cockroach
stuff
activities, games, beliefs, clothes, belongings, supplies
camp
Lego Summer Camp, riverside RV site, overnight tent camping
USING “WOW” WORDS
ACTION WORDS - what people, things, or animals do:
•
•
•
•
____________________
He jumped and shouted at the basketball game.
The man worried and paced through the night.
The book fell on the floor.
The horse galloped down the road.
o My Own sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
ACTION HELPERS - how, where, or when the action is done:
•
•
•
The squirrels dug endlessly.
We took the bus through town.
The sailboat leaves tomorrow.
____________________
(how)
(where)
(when)
o My Own sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIBING WORDS - paint pictures about people, animals, places, or things,
with color, shape, amount, size, feelings, smells, sounds, & taste:
•
•
•
•
•
____________________
The sick girl went home from school.
There were five presents under the tree.
The rough surface hurt his feet.
Both mountain climbers were brave.
I love salty popcorn at the movies
o My Own sentence:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
© Kendra Wagner, Reading * Writing * Thinking
ADJECTIVES
WHAT ARE THEY?
words or phrases that add detail to nouns
W H A T D O TH E Y D O ? ( TO N OU N S )
•
•
Point out
Describe
HOW?
Whose
Which one
What kind of
How many or much
•
•
•
•
WHERE DO THEY BELONG?
Usually before the noun
HOW DO I REMEMBER?
T hey can oft en t ake “ very” in front
ADVERBS
W H A T A R E T H E Y ? words or phrases that add detail to verbs
W H A T D O TH E Y D O ?
Modify - or strengthen or weaken - verbs
HOW?
•
•
•
•
How
When
Where
Why
WHERE DO THEY BELONG?
Usually after the verb
HOW DO I REMEMBER?
T hey us ually end in - ly
STRONG VERBS
cry
giggle
allow
dance
give
apologize
dare
glare
argue
decide
grasp
assist
define
grunt
attack
demand
guess
beg
disagree
help
behave
embarrass
hike
belong
erase
hike
blame
expand
hunt
break
explore
hurry
burn
fail
ignore
buy
fight
improve
carry
find
introduce
catch
finish
investigate
coach
flunk
invite
complain
focus
jump
compliment
force
keep
creep
frown
kick
knock
predict
sneeze
laugh
pretend
sniffle
lead
promise
snooze
learn
promote
sparkle
list
protest
spit
listen
ruin
stretch
love
run
surprise
magnify
scare
swallow
marry
search
taste
measure
seek
tattle
meow
seize
teach
misbehave
settle
tease
move
shout
thank
mumble
show
throw
nibble
shuffle
whine
observe
sip
whip
perform
sizzle
wonder
plan
skip
worry
pounce
slurp
yell
ADJECTIVES
afraid
cooperative
guilty
nutritious
serious
aggressive
courageous
hard
obedient
short
agile
crazy
hazardous
old
shrewd
alert
crisp
healthy
ominous
silly
alive
dangerous
hectic
open
skilled
ancient
deep
heroic
optimistic
soft
angry
delicious
honest
ordinary
sour
annual
demanding
humid
organized
sparse
apathetic
dependable
hungry
original
steep
aquatic
disappointed
imaginary
outspoken
sticky
arid
dramatic
immune
patient
strenuous
aromatic
dry
independent
perilous
stubborn
awful
dull
indifferent
perishable
sustainable
beneficial
elaborate
indigenous
permanent
tactile
bent
empty
invisible
pessimistic
talkative
bitter
endless
jagged
playful
tall
bold
extinct
joyful
political
tense
bored
bland
faint
expensive
kind
jealous
pungent
pleasant
thirsty
tangy
bossy
familiar
last
puzzled
threatened
brave
fearful
lazy
quiet
tidy
bright
fierce
lost
radiant
transparent
brittle
firm
loud
raw
uninhabited
busy
flexible
luminous
real
unkind
calm
foggy
mad
relaxing
urban
carefree
forgetful
magnetic
reluctant
valuable
careful
forgiving
mischievous
rough
visible
careless
free
modern
rubbery
vivid
cheap
frustrated
moist
rude
waxy
clear
full
morose
rural
weak
clever
generous
mushy
salty
wet
cloudy
gentle
narrow
scarce
windy
coastal
glad
native
selfish
witty
committed
greedy
neat
sensitive
zesty
Adverbs
abnormally
essentially
increasingly
properly
sympathetically
absentmindedly
evenly
innocently
proudly
tenderly
absolutely
eventually
instantly
quaintly
tentatively
actually
evidently
intensely
quickly
terribly
anxiously
exactly
interestingly
rapidly
thankfully
arrogantly
excitedly
inwardly
really
thoughtfully
assuredly
extremely
kindly
reassuringly
tightly
badly
fairly
kingly
regularly
tremendously
bashfully
famously
knowingly
relatively
triumphantly
beautifully
ferociously
lightly
reluctantly
truly
bravely
fervently
likely
repeatedly
ultimately
briskly
finally
longingly
reproachfully
undeniably
broadly
foolishly
loudly
restfully
unusually
calmly
fortunately
madly
righteously
usually
carefully
frankly
meaningfully
rightfully
utterly
certainly
frantically
mechanically
sadly
vastly
clearly
freely
miserably
safely
vehemently
closely
frequently
mockingly
scarcely
viciously
coaxingly
frightfully
mostly
searchingly
violently
commonly
fully
naturally
sedately
virtually
completely
fundamentally
nearly
seemingly
vocally
confidently
furiously
neatly
separately
warmly
constantly
generally
nicely
sharply
weakly
continually
generously
normally
sheepishly
wildly
continuously
gently
notably
significantly
willfully
coolly
ghastly
obviously
slowly
willingly
correctly
ghostly
occasionally
softly
wisely
crossly
gradually
openly
solidly
wistfully
curiously
gratefully
orderly
steadily
woefully
dearly
greatly
physically
straggly
wonderfully
deceivingly
greedily
playfully
strictly
wonderingly
delightfully
happily
possibly
stupidly
worldly
diligently
helpfully
potentially
substantially
wrinkly
distinctly
helplessly
powerfully
successfully
yearningly
dreamily
highly
predictably
suddenly
zealously
enormously
hopefully
presumably
surely
entirely
hopelessly
primarily
surprisingly
especially
immediately
probably
suspiciously
We usually end in –ly and usually say HOW
Synonyms for the Major Feelings
sad
mad
glad
afraid
bored
disgusted
blissful
alienated
despairing
contemptuous
content
anguished
deprived
annoyed
needed
apprehensive
devastated
bored
nurturing
bewildered
shameful
arrogant
surprised
cautious
worthless
abused
calm
cowardly
empty
controlled
satisfied
disoriented
embarrassed
angry
happy
doubtful
foolish
enraged
joyous
frightened
grieving
appalled
free
hysterical
apologetic
blamed
esteemed
nervous
lonely
disgusted
exhilarated
overwhelmed
forgotten
bitter
ecstatic
paranoid
withdrawn
alienated
confident
pressured
distant
apathetic
cherished
restless
disregarded
aggressive
devilish
shaken
deflated
exasperated
elated
suspicious
miserable
envious
mellow
threatened
hurt
disapproving
amazed
torn
sad
mad
glad
afraid
desperate
victimized
enchanted
ambivalent
abandoned
unmotivated
comfortable
anxious
ashamed
superior
helpful
confused
regretful
negative
determined
daunted
humiliated
irritated
protective
fearful
burdened
shocked
peaceful
frantic
upset
manipulated
respected
hyper
jinxed
smothered
mischievous
jittery
resigned
irked
exuberant
panicky
agonized
horrified
interested
perplexed
overlooked
resentful
loose
spooked
rejected
stubborn
sympathetic
stretched
neglected
frustrated
playful
jumpy
disheartened
fuming
grateful
troubled
lost
furious
optimistic
uncertain
isolated
guilty
relieved
wary
gloomy
Crazed
generous
worried
disillusioned
lethargic
content
desperate