create exciting sentences

Creating Exciting Sentences : 

Creating Exciting Sentences

Important Ideas : 

Important Ideas Write sentences that are longer than 3 or 4 words Longer sentences give the readers a better, clearer picture of what you want them to know

Important Ideas : 

Important Ideas Use adjectives like colors and sizes Use action verbs to make a story or sentence come alive Start sentences in different ways

Example : 

Example Acceptable sentence: The cat was unusual. Better sentence: The cat was unusual because she had 2 different colored eyes. Excellent sentence: The white cat, with her 2 different colored eyes, was really unusual because I have never seen that before! (*notice the prefix “un” meaning “not”?)

Why is the last sentence the best one? : 

Why is the last sentence the best one? The white cat, with her 2 different colored eyes, was really unusual because I have never seen that before! It adds color (the cat is white), and it adds a personal detail (the writer has never seen a cat with 2 different colored eyes). These details make sentences much more interesting!

Example : 

Example Acceptable sentence: I am cooking dinner. Better sentence: I am cooking spaghetti for dinner tonight. Excellent sentence: Because my mother has to work late, I am cooking spaghetti and meatballs tonight for my whole family because that’s our favorite meal. (*notice the suffix “ing,” which makes “cook” a present tense verb?)

Why is the last sentence the best one? : 

Why is the last sentence the best one? Because my mother has to work late, I am cooking spaghetti and meatballs tonight for my whole family because that’s our favorite meal. The reader learns why the person has to cook (his mom will be late because of work), what he is cooking (spaghetti and meatballs), when he is cooking (tonight), for whom he is cooking (his whole family), and why he chose that meal (it’s his family’s favorite). Notice that it also starts differently, with “because” instead of “I.” These details make the sentence much more interesting (and they make me hungry ).

Example : 

Example Acceptable sentence: I am uncomfortable. Better sentence: My foot hurts, so I am uncomfortable. Excellent sentence: My right foot hurts so much because I broke my toe skateboarding, and now I am really uncomfortable in my tennis shoes. (*notice the prefix “un” meaning “not” and the suffix “able,” which means “can be done”?)

Why is the last sentence the best one? : 

Why is the last sentence the best one? My right foot hurts so much because I broke my toe skateboarding, and now I am really uncomfortable in my tennis shoes. The reader learns which foot hurts (the right), why it hurts (a broken toe), how it got hurt (skateboarding), and what makes it so uncomfortable (wearing tennis shoes). These details make this sentence much more interesting because the reader can get a clear picture of what happened.

Your Turn… : 

Your Turn… On a sheet of paper, rewrite the following “Acceptable” sentences on the next slides and make them “Excellent” sentences. There are hints to guide you in case you need some help. Show your Excellent sentences to your classroom teacher or one of your classmates!

Acceptable Sentence 1 : 

Acceptable Sentence 1 Sue is afraid. Hint: Why is Sue afraid? Where is she that might be scary? How do you know Sue (friend, relative?) What’s your Excellent sentence?

Acceptable Sentence 2 : 

Acceptable Sentence 2 Jeff likes animals. Hint: What kinds of animals does Jeff like? Who is Jeff (friend, relative)? Why does he like animals? What’s your Excellent sentence?

Acceptable Sentence 3 : 

Acceptable Sentence 3 Morgan watches t.v. Hint: Who is Morgan (friend, relative)? What shows does she watch? What type of t.v. does she have? How much t.v. does she watch? What’s your Excellent sentence?

Reminders : 

Reminders Add details, such as size, shape, color, to sentences. Start sentences in different ways. Help the readers get a “picture” in their heads about what you’re writing. Be creative! Make the sentences exciting and ones you would like to read!