Using Sentence Variety
Grade 8
Lesson Title:
Using Sentence Variety
Lesson Overview:
The purpose of this lesson is to help students vary sentence structure by using various sentence types and combining
sentences.
Materials Needed:
PowerPoint Presentation, Using Sentence Variety Handout, and Using Sentence Variety Answer Key
Instructional Focus Addressed:
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
Explicit Instruction (steps):
1. Explain to students that today they will learn how to vary sentence structure through:
using various sentence types
combining sentences
Modeled Instruction (steps):
1. Explain to students that varying sentence structure keeps the reader’s attention and varying
sentence length helps the writer emphasize important points and connect related ideas. Explain
that short sentences can be POWERFUL, but too many short sentences make writing sound choppy.
Long sentences can provide details and description, but too many long sentences can make writing
hard to follow.
2. Explain to students that simple sentences have a subject and a verb and express a complete thought.
3. Explain that compound sentences are two or more complete sentences joined by a comma and a
conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Explain that compound sentences can also be joined with
a semicolon and conjunctive adverb when the ideas are very closely related (moreover, otherwise,
therefore, however).
4. Explain to students that complex sentences are sentences that contain an independent clause and a
dependent clause, which is a phrase that can’t stand on its own. Explain that complex sentences can
be joined with subordinating conjunctions like after, although, before, how, if/then, since, though,
when, where, whether, which, while, because, that, etc.
5. Explain that combining sentences is a way to add variety. Sentences can be combined by using
adjectives. Explain that two related sentences can be combined by taking an adjective from one
sentence and using it to describe a noun in the other sentence.
6. Explain that sentences can also be combined by using adverbs. Explain that an adverb is a word that
describes a verb, adjective, or other adverbs. It is used to show time, manner, place, or degree.
Explain that it is not always necessary to start with the subject of the sentence. Explain that once
students have mastered sentence construction, they can begin to play around with how to order
parts of a sentence. In this case, moving an adverb to the beginning of the sentence is an interesting
way to add sentence variety.
7. Explain to students that appositives are nouns or pronouns that modify other nouns. Explain that
beginning with an appositive phrase can add detail as well as interest to sentences.
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8. Explain to students that ideas from multiple sentences can be combined by listing them in a series
separated by commas.
9. Explain to students that a clause contains a subject and verb used to convey meaning and a phrase is
a group of words that add meaning or details to a sentence. Explain that sentences can be combined
by using a clause or phrase.
Guided Instruction (steps):
1. Tell students to turn to a partner.
a. Read and discuss each sentence.
b. Combine the sentences as indicated in parentheses.
2. Allow students time to discuss.
3. Once all partner groups have finished, have students share their answers in whole group.
4. Check for understanding and correct any misconceptions.
Independent Practice (steps):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Review each sentence from the previous exercise.
Write a paragraph about year-round school.
Use a variety of sentence types.
Use details from the previous exercise or ideas of your own.
Mark each sentence with:
S - Simple
C - Compound
X - Complex
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