On Sentence Crafting
What’s the big idea?
Sentences can be classified by form (how they are constructed or put together).
Sentences can be classified by function (what the sentences were constructed to do).
Form:
We will learn about the parts of a sentence, how dependent and independent clauses work
together to create four different kinds of sentences, simple, compound, complex and
compound-complex, and how to avoid common errors in sentence construction.
Function:
We will review how to punctuate sentences based on sentence function.
Lesson One:
Subject and Predicate
What’s the big idea?
Every sentence can be divided into subject and predicate.
Subject
*Who or what the sentence is about; usually a noun or pronoun
*Subjects can be simple – only one noun or pronoun
Example: Charlotte climbs the mast.
*Subjects can be compound – two or more nouns or pronouns
Example: Charlotte and Zachariah lead the crew.
*Subjects can also be gerunds: –ing words that functions as subjects
Example: Sailing the Seahawk is fun.
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Predicate
*The action or state of being of the subject
NOTE: Being verbs include these 8 verbs:
is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been
*Predicates can be simple – only one action or state of being associated with
subject
Example: Charlotte wears the clothes of a sailor.
*Predicates can be compound – more than one action or state of being associated
with subject
Example: Charlotte wears the clothes of a sailor and performs
their duties as well.
Stop and Practice
Underline the subject of each sentence once. Underline the predicate twice. Put a CS
over the compound subject and CP over the compound predicate. Put a G over the
gerund.
1. Zachariah is the only black sailor on board the Seahawk.
2. Charlotte Doyle represents the sole girl abroad.
3. Zachariah and Charlotte have their uniqueness in common.
4. Zachariah and Charlotte are the only ones who stand up to the captain and
challenge his authority.
5. Sailing is the life for Zachariah and Charlotte.
Now it’s your turn.
Make up your own set of two sentences in which you identify the subject and the
predicate in the same way.
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Lesson Two:
Independent and Dependent Clauses
What’s the big idea?
Clauses are groups of words that can either stand on their
own or must rely on other groups of words for their
meaning.
Independent Clause
*A group of words that has a subject and predicate and makes sense on its own
Example: Captain Jaggery abuses his crew.
Dependent Clause
*A group of words that has as subject and predicate but does not make sense on
its own
Example: Because Captain Jaggery abuses his crew
When looking for dependent clauses look for Dependent Clause Markers –
Words at the beginning of dependent clauses
Examples:
after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to,
since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, while
Stop and Practice
Underline independent clauses twice and dependent clauses once.
1. Although Charlotte is a girl
2. Charlotte is a girl
3. Since she is alone.
4. She is alone
5. Before Charlotte can join the crew
6. Charlotte must prove herself in order to join the crew
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Now it’s your turn.
Make up your own set of two sentences in which you identify the dependent and the
independent clauses the same way.
Lesson Three:
Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences
What’s the big idea?
Sentences are made when we write using an independent clause (IC)
alone or in combination with another independent clause (IC) or with
one or more dependent clauses (DC).
Simple Sentence
*Contains one independent clause
Example: Cranick is shot.
Compound Sentence
*Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a semicolon or a
conjunction
Example: Cranick is shot, and the crew surrenders to Jaggery.
Complex Sentence
*Contains an independent and dependent clause together
Example: After Crancik is shot, the crew surrenders to Jaggery.
Compound-complex Sentence
*Contains a compound sentence with a dependent clause
Example: After Cranick is shot, the crew surrenders to Captain
Jaggery and Zachariah is whipped severely.
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Punctuation Patterns for these sentence types by form:
Simple:
Subject + predicate (otherwise known as an IC)
Ex. Charlotte keeps the dirk.
Compound: IC + comma + coordinating conjunction + IC
Ex. Charlotte keeps the dirk, and it is cause for the captain to
accuse her of murder.
IC + semicolon + IC
Ex. Charlotte keeps the dirk; it is cause for the captain to
accuse her of murder.
IC + semicolon + adverbial conjunction + IC
Ex. Charlotte keeps the dirk; therefore, it is cause for the captain
to accuse her of murder.
Complex:
IC + DC
Ex. Charlotte keeps the dirk although it is cause for the captain
to accuse her of murder.
DC + comma + IC
Ex. Because Charlotte keeps the knife, she is accused of murder
by the captain.
Compound-Complex:
IC + semicolon/comma + conjunction + IC + comma + DC
Ex. Charlotte intended to be a lady; she obeyed her parents,
although she realized later that her lifestyle was like living in a
prison.
DC + comma + IC + semicolon/comma + conjunction + IC
Ex. Although Charlotte later realizes her life was like a prison,
she begins the story with the intention of being a lady, and she
obeys her parents in everything.
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A note about conjunctions-
Conjunctions are words that connect and relate two parts of a sentence. There are 4
types of conjunctions. Depending on how the conjunction is used, it is a coordinating
conjunction, correlative conjunction, subordinating conjunction or a conjunctive
adverb (adverbial conjunction).
Coordinating Conjunctions
Connect words of equal rank
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
(Remember FANBOYS)
Correlative Conjunctions
Pairs of coordinating conjunctions
that work together
Neither…nor
Either…or
Subordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctive Adverb (Adverbial Conjunctions)
Begin a dependent clause and connect it to an An adverb is a conjunction when it connects
independent clause. Sometimes they are
two independent clauses.
called dependent clause markers (DCMs).
These show how one idea in a sentence is
subordinate (of lesser importance) to the
other idea.
After
So that
Wherever
Also
Although
That
While
Consequently
As
Though
Why
However
As if
Unless
Indeed
Because
Until
Therefore
Before
When
If
Whenever
Since
Where
Stop and Practice
Label each sentence as simple (S), compound (CD) or complex (CX).
1.
Charlotte Doyle thought of herself as a proper young lady.
2.
Charlotte was accused of murder along the way, and she lived to tell about it.
3.
Although she was not alone on the ship, Charlotte felt very lonely.
4.
Zachariah gave Charlotte a dirk; therefore, he must have thought she is in danger.
5.
Because he is a gentleman like her father, Charlotte trusts the captain.
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6.
Mr. Grummage treats Charlotte like a bale of cotton.
7.
Charlotte’s room is private though it is small, dirty and vermin-infested.
8.
At the name of Captain Jaggery, men flee.
9.
Charlotte explains that she is no longer the same girl she was at the beginning of
her voyage; her journey has changed her.
10.
Since her parents left no other plans, Charlotte was forced to board the ship.
***Did you notice that there is a comma separating dependent clause from independent
clause when the dependent clause comes first.
Now it’s your turn.
Make up your own sentences, one simple, one compound, and one complex. Circle the
conjunction and underline the DCM (dependent clause marker).
Lesson Four: Sentence Punctuation (You’ve got this!)
What’s the big idea?
Depending on the function of sentence, the punctuation will
vary.
Write the Rules Review
When punctuating sentences, use a ______________________ for a statement, a
_______________________ for a question and a ____________________ for an
exclamation or command. Statements are also called declarative sentences. Questions
are also called interrogative sentences. Commands are also called imperative sentences
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while exclamations are called exclamatory sentences.
Stop and Practice
I) Match the following items in each column
Sentence Name
Function
Punctuation Mark
Imperative Sentence
Statement
!
Interrogative Sentence
Exclamation
?
Exclamatory Sentence
Question
!
Declarative
Command
.
II) Quick Review of What We Just Learned:
When punctuating a compound sentence, separate independent clauses by using a
_____________________ and a _____________________, or a ___________________.
When punctuating a complex sentence, separate the independent clause from the
dependent clause with a comma when the dependent clause comes __________________
the independent clause.
Lesson Five: Avoiding Common Sentence Errors
What’s the big idea?
Follow the new sentence writing rules you just learned and you will
avoid sentence errors occur.
Sentence errors include fragments, run-on sentences and comma splices.
A sentence fragment is a dependent clause or a phrase (group of words without a
subject and verb) that does not make sense on its own.
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For example:
When Zachariah gave Charlotte the dirk.
Although the captain is like a father to his children.
As captain of the Seahawk commanded his crew.
I know you hear it. You’re waiting for the writer to say something more in order for the
words to make sense. These fragments (pieces of sentences) can be corrected by adding
an independent clause. Then a sentence can be made.
For example:
When Zachariah gave Charlotte the dirk, she became uncomfortable.
Although the captain is like a father to his children, he can be a cruel parent.
As captain of the Seahawk he commanded his crew, but he also insulted and
abused them.
Stop and Practice
Correct these fragments by adding an independent clause.
1. Because Charlotte is different from other girls her age
2. Since rats and roaches liked ships
3. While getting her clothes in the hold
Another common sentence error is the comma splice. This occurs when two
independent clauses are joined together with a comma rather than correct punctuation. In
most cases, this is corrected by adding a period or a semicolon between the two clauses.
Consider the following examples:
Comma Splice:
Zachariah is trying to be a friend to Charlotte, Captain Jaggery is trying to be her
friend as well.
Corrected:
Zachariah is trying to be a friend to Charlotte. Captain Jaggery is trying to be her
friend as well.
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Comma Splice:
Up to this point in her life, Charlotte has thought her best feature was her hair, she
did not consider her character nearly as important.
Corrected:
Up to this point in her life, Charlotte has thought her best feature was her hair; she
did consider her character nearly as important.
Stop and Practice
Correct these comma splices rewriting the sentences and replacing the comma with a
period or a semicolon or a comma and a conjunction.
1. The ship groaned in the night like a restless sleeper, Charlotte began to feel just
like the ship.
2. The motion of the sea can cause those who are not used to it to become very ill,
the illness is called seasickness and can last for many days.
3. Even though she is only thirteen years old, Charlotte is accused of murder,
eventually she is found guilty as well.
The final sentence error to eliminate in sentence writing is the fused sentence, or
run-on. A run-on occurs when the writer has fused two or more complete sentences
together without correct end punctuation. The following examples demonstrate this
error.
Run-on or Fused sentence
Captain Jaggery wanted Charlotte to spy on the crew he wanted to make sure there would
be no round robin he convinced Charlotte that it would be in her best interest to tell the
captain of any grumbling or oaths against him.
Corrected Run-on
Captain Jaggery wanted Charlotte to spy on the crew. He wanted to make sure there
would be no round robin. He convinced Charlotte that it would be in her best interest to
tell the captain of any grumbling or oaths against him.
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Stop and Practice
Correct the following run-ons (fused sentences) by rewriting the sentences and adding
correct punctuation where it is needed.
1. As a proper young lady, Charlotte ought never dress like a man, let alone a sailor
she is a disgrace to her class, her family, and herself.
2. The crew enjoyed having Charlotte read to them she enjoyed their stories as well.
3. Captain Jaggery abused the crew by having them carry out orders that were not
necessary he did this to intimidate them he reminded them of their place.
Lesson Six: Combining Sentences
What’s the big idea?
No instruction on sentence writing would be complete without a
discussion of combining sentences. Beginning writers often “over
write,” that is, they say in four sentences what should be said in one.
Another effect of a lack of sentence combining is a lack of sentence
variety so that a paper may be written entirely of simple sentences,
which can be boring.
A study of the example and correction below will demonstrate this concept.
Original Sentences:
Charlotte thinks she is destined to become a lady. She is obedient and submissive to
men. She admires men who are orderly and punctilious like her father and Captain
Jaggery.
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By combining these three sentences, our new sentence has more interest and a greater
impact on the reader. As you combine sentences, figure out which ideas can be made into
independent and dependent clauses and how you will put those clauses together to make
the best possible sentence.
Combined and improved sentence:
Since Charlotte is destined to become a lady, she is obedient and submissive to the
orderly and punctilious men in her life, including her father and Captain Jaggery.
Stop and Practice
Rewrite the following sentences by combining them.
1. The captain is cruel. He beats his men. He is demanding and unreasonable.
2. Zachariah is old. He is black. He is a cook. He does not have any religion.
3. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is historical fiction. It takes place in
1832. It takes place on a ship sailing from England to America. The ship is
called the Seahawk.
4. Avi uses foreshadowing. He uses foreshadowing to build suspense. His
foreshadowing creates a mood of danger.
Stuff About Sentences to Know
Subject
Predicate
Being Verbs
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
Simple Sentence
Compound Sentence
Complex Sentence
Dependent Clause Markers Imperative Sentence
Semi-colon
Exclamatory Sentence
Coordinating Conjunction
Fragment
Correlative Conjunction
Run-on
Subordinating Conjunction Comma Splice
Conjunctive Adverbs
Noun
Declarative Sentence
Pronoun
Interrogative Sentence
Verb
Implied Subject (in commands)
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