Simple vs. Compound Sentences & A Journal Topic:

Tuesday April 20th, 2010:

Simple vs. Compound Sentences:
Try using a variety of basic sentence structures. We can categorize sentences into four main types, depending on the number and type of clauses they contain:

Simple (one independent clause):
We drove from Connecticut to Tennessee in one day.

Compound (more than one independent clause):
We were exhausted, but we arrived in time for my father's birthday party.

Complex (one independent clause and at least one dependent clause):
Although he is now 79 years old, he still claims to be 65.

Compound-complex (more than one independent clause and at least one dependent clause):
After it was all over, my dad claimed he knew we were planning something, but we think he was really surprised.

An independent clause (or main clause) is a clause that can stand by itself, also known as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate; it makes sense by itself.

A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is usually attached to an independent clause. Although a dependent clause contains a subject and a predicate, it sounds incomplete when standing alone.

Food for Thought:

When writing try to vary your sentence structure, perhaps by character if you have a dim-witted character perhaps they speak in simple sentences. However, you may have a character that is gaining knowledge and becoming self-enlightened in this instance we might see their speech grow over the course of the novel. Finally, perhaps you have a wise man or woman who is older and that too can be reflected in the complexity of their tone and your effective placement of compound and complex sentences.
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Journal Entry:
Please title your journal entry "A Piece of Fiction - name" (do not put name, put your name whatever it may be for example if it were me writing a journal I would title it "A Piece of Fiction - Miss. Storkey) some of you are wise guys...

Then proceed to journal about the following topic:

Is fiction easier or harder to write than reality or an autobiography and why? Reflect on your own process and challenges you have already faced or can foresee facing in the future while writing your fiction.

Length: You should aim to write 500 words or more please.

Your journal will be due this Friday April 23, no excuses I don't feel like I am asking all that much of you!

Some of you have multiple blogs etc. because I am new to this and you have all watched my struggles and plights when it comes to this thing we call "blogging" please be so kind as to direct me in class at some point as to where I can find said journal that you will be writing for me. I would hate to mistakenly give someone a zero due to my lack of technical know how.

Also, some of you have conferences at the end of this week if that someone is you then you may want to ensure you are writing enough to meet your page goals; if you need to be reminded about what goal you set for yourself please take it upon yourself to ask me.

That is all for today!