Learning Sentence Composing: Lesson One

Learning

Sentence

Composing

from Sentence Composing for Elementary School from Don and Jenny Killgallon

​Imitation, or copying, is a really good way to learn. Really! When you started to walk and talk, you probably imitated the adults around you. You imitated most things to learn--think about it.

Here's some things you may have imitated from someone else to learn it:

• ​playing a sport

• making a snack

• using a new word

• riding a bike

​Imitation

in this practice is to learn how to compose (make/write) better sentences by imitating model sentences by real authors. You will practice using the same tools authors' use to build their sentences.

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Imitating how authors skillfully use those tools can help you become a better writer.

​It might seem a bit funny, but that's okay!

Your Goal

Multiple Choice

Let's see if you were paying attention!

What is your goal for this lesson?

• to become a writer

• literally to copy sentences from better writers

• to become a student

• to make pancakes

2. Select the sentence that makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks."

1. Read each pair of sentences a chunk (sentence part) at a time.

To do:

Practice #1: Chunking

from Sentence Composing for Elementary School

​People read and write sentences one sentence part at a time. Each sentence part is a "chunk" of meaning in the sentence.

Multiple Choice

Let's Practice: Chunking

Which sentence makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks?"

• The/ idea of cutting and sewing a/ dress by/ herself was novel and exciting.

• The idea/ of cutting and sewing a dress/ by herself/ was novel and exciting.

The idea/

of cutting and sewing a dress/

by herself/

was novel and exciting.

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When divided like this, the sentence is broken into chunks that make sense and have meaning.

Simply put, you could speaking like this out loud to another person, and the sentence would make sense. But, if you did it the other way-- it would be very confusing.

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Now, let's practice a bit more.

from Sentence Composing for Elementary School

​Answer:

Multiple Choice

Chunking #2

Which sentence makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks?"

• They walked into/ the bull/ ring in the bright daylight of five/ o'clock.

• They walked/ into the bull ring/ in the bright daylight/ of five o'clock.

Multiple Choice

Chunking #3

Which sentence makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks?"

• Sixteen children/ and young people/ were stricken with the mysterious fever,/ and none of the familiar remedies/ seemed to be of any benefit.

• Sixteen children and young/ people were stricken with the mysterious/ fever, and none of the familiar/ remedies seemed to be of any benefit.

Multiple Choice

Chunking #4

Which sentence makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks?"

• The next day after/ school, Jess went down and got the lumber he/ needed, carrying it a couple of/ boards at a time to the creek bank.

• The next day after school,/ Jess went down/ and got the lumber he needed,/ carrying it a couple of boards at a time/ to the creek bank.

Multiple Choice

Chunking #5

Which sentence makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks?"

• When the/ people in Central/ Park learned that one of/ the toy sailboats was being steered by a mouse in/ a sailor suit, they all came running.

• When the people/ in Central Park/ learned that one of the toy sailboats/ was being steered by a mouse/ in a sailor suit,/ they all came running.

Multiple Choice

Chunking #6

Which sentence makes sense because it is divided into meaningful "chunks?"

• I saw/ a gray-green slimy thing/ like a snail/ without its shell,/ only bigger,/ the size of a rat.

• I saw a/ gray-green slimy/ thing like a snail without its/ shell, only bigger,/ the size of a rat.

2. Copy and divide the imitation sentence into the same chunks.

1. Read the sentences and take note of the slash marks used to divide each chunk.

To do:

Practice #2: Chunking to Imitate

from Sentence Composing for Elementary School

Alright! Hopefully, you got the hang of that first part. Now, we will step it up a bit:

Fill in the Blanks

Ok, as long as you have passed this lesson. You may move on to the practice.

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How do you know that you are done? You've passed this lesson with an 80% or higher AND you got the very last question right.

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If both of those things are true, you can move along to the next assignment.

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Have fun being a copy cat!

from Sentence Composing for Elementary School

​Done!