Sentence Expansion

Turn your boring writing into a best-selling novel!

By Kally Kibitlewski

Multiple Choice

Which sentence creates a better picture in your head?

• I walked home.

• I slowly walked home.

• I dragged my feet as I slowly trudged home.

• My mind wandered as I slowly trudged home. I wasn't even paying enough attention to pick up my feet as I walked.

Why did the last one sound better?

Multiple Choice

Which sentence gives you more details and makes the idea clear in your head?

• "Ok" I said.

• "Ok" I responded with a sigh.

• I dropped my head down with a sigh. "Ok" was all I could manage to say.

• My heart pounded in my chest as the realization dawned on me. I dropped my head in defeat and sighed. "Ok" I squeaked out as I tried to hide my tears.

Why did the last one sound better?

How do your words change the meanings of sentences?

"Are you kidding?!" Ella asked with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes and a wide smile that stretched from ear to ear.​

"Are you kidding?!" Ella cried. Her eyes welled up with tears and her bottom lip began to quiver. She felt her heart begin to beat quicker.

"Are you kidding?!" Ella screamed. Her eyes narrowed with anger and she glared at the boy standing in front of her. Tapping her foot, she waited for a response.

Open Ended

How would you make this sentence higher quality?

I walked home.

Open Ended

Rewrite this sentence to make it more interesting.

"No" Timmy said.