{"id":136,"date":"2017-09-04T06:32:52","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T06:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/?page_id=136"},"modified":"2019-02-14T15:17:07","modified_gmt":"2019-02-14T15:17:07","slug":"principles-of-composition-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/principles-of-composition-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Principles of Composition Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"twelve columns\" style=\"margin-top: 10%;\">\n<div class=\"advance\"><a class=\"button button-primary\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/principles-of-composition-part-i\">\u2b05 Previous Lesson<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"button\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/Writing-Strategies-and-Applications\/\">Workshop Index<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"button button-primary\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/principles-of-composition-part-iii\">Next Lesson \u27a1<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- CONTENT BEGINS HERE --><\/p>\n<h1 id=\"title\">Principles of Composition Part II<\/h1>\n<p><!-- --><\/p>\n<h4>Objective<\/h4>\n<p>In this lesson, you will learn about sentence mechanics, sentence variety, and word choice.<\/p>\n<h4>Previously Covered:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong> Outlining<\/strong> is a transitional writing technique designed to help writers move from the\u00a0idea-generation phase of writing to the formal construction and composition phase.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Principles of composition<\/strong> are guidelines and rules that help writers create prose that is\u00a0topic-appropriate and enjoyable to read.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>paragraph <\/strong>is a group of sentences that address a single major thought or idea.<\/li>\n<li>An <strong>introductory paragraph <\/strong>is the first paragraph in an essay that grabs the reader\u2019s attention\u00a0and introduces the essay\u2019s subject matter and central thesis.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>concluding paragraph<\/strong> is the final paragraph in an essay that unifies the essay\u2019s key ideas\u00a0and uses them as evidence for the essay\u2019s primary conclusion or thesis.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Transition words <\/strong> are words that segue between sentences and paragraphs while communicating to\u00a0readers the logical connection between ideas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<section>\n<h3>What Kinds of Sentences Can I Use in My Writing?<\/h3>\n<p>If the paragraph is the building block of writing, then the sentence is its atomic unit. Good composition starts\u00a0with good sentences. Well-written prose employs a variety of sentence structures and constructions while\u00a0avoiding syntactic missteps.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"lesson_subhead\">Sentences 101<\/p>\n<p>Before we delve into the discussion of the importance of varied sentence structure, a brief review of the basics\u00a0of sentence writing is in order.<\/p>\n<p>Sentences are made up two kinds of clauses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An <strong>independent clause<\/strong> presents a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence; it<br \/>\nhas both a subject and a predicate.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>dependent clause<\/strong> does not present a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a<br \/>\nsentence (most often because it does not contain a subject).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the sentence \u201cThe video store was closed because of the holiday,\u201d \u201cThe video store was closed\u201d is an\u00a0independent clause, while \u201cbecause of the holiday\u201d is a dependent clause.<\/p>\n<p>These two types of clauses are combined in various ways to produce the four basic sentence types.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/Images\/english\/images\/sentence-types.jpg\" alt=\"sentence types\" width=\"500\" height=\"295\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"lesson_subhead\">The Importance of Sentence Variety<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to intersperse each of those types of sentence throughout your writing. An essay composed\u00a0entirely of simple sentences would be choppy and simplistic, while an essay made up exclusively of\u00a0compound-complex sentences would be verbose and overly dense. Mixing up your constructions will enhance the\u00a0flow, rhythm, interest, and continuity of your writing.<\/p>\n<p>You can place a short simple sentence after a string of longer sentences to emphasize and call attention to the\u00a0content of the shorter sentence. Longer, more complicated sentence structures are better suited to explaining\u00a0difficult concepts.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, the structure of a compound-complex sentence naturally lends itself to explaining the\u00a0coordination and subordination of related ideas. By expressing the most important ideas in independent clauses\u00a0and the subordinate ideas in dependent clauses, a writer can use sentence structure to mirror and reinforce\u00a0conceptual relationships.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Combining Short Sentences<\/h3>\n<p>You can add sentence variety to your writing by combining short, related sentences into a single longer one.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p class=\"lesson_subhead\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/Images\/english\/images\/technique.jpg\" alt=\"techniques for combining sentences\" width=\"500\" height=\"267\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"lesson_subhead\">Parallel Structure<\/p>\n<p>A particular sentence construction you should look to incorporate into your writing is parallel structure.\u00a0<strong>Parallel structure<\/strong> is a sentence structure that employs consistent construction in relation to\u00a0all of its verbs, subjects, and objects.<\/p>\n<p>A telltale sign that a sentence employs parallel structure is that the verb phrases or subjects could switch\u00a0places in the sentence without creating any grammatical errors. For example, the following sentences exhibit\u00a0parallel structure:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When you get home tonight, make sure to feed the dog, lock the door, and turn off the lights.<\/li>\n<li>It matters not whether they come by land, by air, or by sea!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While this sentence employs a faulty and inconsistent construction:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When you get home tonight, make sure to feed the dog, that the door is locked and the lights are turned\u00a0off.<\/li>\n<li>It matters not whether they come by land, air or by sea!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The precision of parallel structure adds clarity to your writing. It also enhances your writing\u2019s\u00a0readability by maintaining a natural cadence to your language.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>What Kind of Sentences Should I Avoid in My Writing?<\/h3>\n<p>Sentence variety is important, but grammatical accuracy is equally important. As you work to incorporate novel\u00a0constructions into your writing, be sure to avoid these common pitfalls.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/Images\/english\/images\/construction.jpg\" alt=\"sentence construction errors\" width=\"500\" height=\"274\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"question\">\n<h4>Question<\/h4>\n<div>\n<p>Which one of the following sentences employs an erroneous construction?<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A region-wide transition to democratic governance is vital to future stability, the current\u00a0concentration of dictatorships and military regimes is a tinderbox poised to explode into conflict.<\/li>\n<li>That <em>A Modest Proposal<\/em> is one of the finest works the genre of satire has to offer\u00a0is a point that few will dispute, and its prestige continues to enjoy a steady ascent as the passing\u00a0years highlight the work\u2019s relevance to the contemporary political situation of virtually any milieu.<\/li>\n<li>The story of the Boston Red Sox\u2019 improbable run to and through the 2004 World Series was a\u00a0classic the moment the final out was in the books, an emphatic coda on a tale of love, suffering, and\u00a0redemption eighty-six years in the making.<\/li>\n<li>The installation pieces at the recent exhibition of young artists, in addition to being by\u00a0far the most popular works with the critics and mavens in attendance, also served to catapult the\u00a0previously obscure artists into the spotlight of the region\u2019s art world.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button button-primary q-answer\"> Reveal Answer <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"q-reveal\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p><span class=\"lesson_text\">The answer is A; it is an example of a comma splice. Choice B is a compound sentence. Choice C is a complex sentence with an appositive dependent clause, while Choice D is a complex sentence whose dependent clause is a prepositional phrase. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Active versus Passive Voice<\/h3>\n<p>One of the most common and easily avoidable mistakes in sentence writing is overuse of sentences written in\u00a0passive voice. <strong>Passive voice<\/strong> describes a sentence construction in which the subject of the\u00a0sentence is the receiver or object of the verb\u2019s action.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> Visitors were received by the President.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> The milk and cookies were enjoyed by the children.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> The flyer was posted to the bulletin board.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> The package was not received. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You can identify sentences written in passive voice because they:<\/p>\n<p class=\"style1\" align=\"center\">Use a \u201cto be\u201d verb (<em>am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> Closely follow the \u201cto be\u201d verb with a preposition (<em>by, from, to,<\/em> etc.)<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Active voice<\/strong> describes a sentence construction in which the subject\u2019s sentence performs or\u00a0undertakes the verb\u2019s action. Whenever possible, it is better to write using active voice than passive voice.\u00a0Active voice enlivens writing, quickens its pace, and improves word economy.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes you can convert a sentence written in passive voice to active voice simply by rearranging its\u00a0components:<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> The president received visitors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> The children enjoyed the milk and cookies. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Other times you\u2019ll have to specify a previously unnamed subject or object, which requires greater\u00a0modification:<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> Someone posted the flyer to the bulletin board.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> I did not receive your package. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This is not to say that it\u2019s never appropriate to write in the passive voice. Scientific writing, for example,\u00a0often employs passive voice to foster a detached, objective tone. Passive voice is also appropriate in sentences\u00a0that seek to direct attention toward their objects:<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> Side effects such as nausea and headaches were observed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong> The painting was stolen from the museum. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>However, those situations are rare. As rule of thumb, consistent use of active voice makes for stronger\u00a0writing.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>What Kind of Vocabulary Should I Use in My Writing?<\/h3>\n<p>Even the most well-constructed sentences will seem awkward and out of place if they are constructed using words\u00a0and phrases that are not germane to the topic at hand and consistent with the paper\u2019s purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Some rules of vocabulary and word choice are virtually universal:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use concrete terms instead of abstract ones whenever possible.<\/li>\n<li>Use descriptive action verbs instead of generic, everyday verbs.<\/li>\n<li>Minimize your use of adverbs. If you think an adverb is required, try picking a new verb instead.<\/li>\n<li>Use adjectives sparingly. Those you use should be specific and descriptive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, other idiosyncratic factors also influence word choice. Specifically, an essay\u2019s purpose and the\u00a0writer\u2019s voice both should influence the vocabulary of a piece of writing. Because those factors vary from essay\u00a0to essay, there are no hard and fast rules that dictate which word choices are prudent and which ones are\u00a0not.<\/p>\n<p>Specialized vocabulary and highly technical terminology would be appropriate in an article in a trade\u00a0publication, for example, but not in an expository essay targeted toward neophytes. Including colloquialisms and\u00a0slang might be crucial to the believability of some narratives but antithetical to the aims of a literary\u00a0analysis.<\/p>\n<p>As you select words and phrases to incorporate into your writing, keep the following questions in mind. Their\u00a0answers should strongly influence your writing\u2019s vocabulary:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who is my audience?<\/li>\n<li>What is their level of interest in and knowledge of this topic?<\/li>\n<li>What is the purpose of this writing? Am I explaining? Persuading? Analyzing? Summarizing?<\/li>\n<li>Do the connotations of my adjectives and verbs match up with the overall connotation of my work?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Review<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>An <strong>independent clause<\/strong> presents a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>dependent clause<\/strong> does not present a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a\u00a0sentence.<\/li>\n<li>An <strong>appositive <\/strong>is a word or phrase that serves as an explanatory equivalent to a previously\u00a0referenced article in a sentence.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>participial phrase<\/strong> is a dependent clause beginning with a participial verb form\u00a0separated from an independent clause by a comma.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>prepositional phrase<\/strong> is a phrase consisting of a preposition and its object that has\u00a0adjective or adverbial value.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Parallel structure <\/strong> is a sentence structure that employs consistent construction in\u00a0relation to all of its verbs, subjects, and objects.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>comma splice<\/strong> is a mistaken attempt to \u201csplice\u201d or connect two independent clauses using\u00a0only a comma instead of a period, a semicolon, or a comma and a conjunction.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>sentence fragment<\/strong> is a group of words used as if it were a sentence but is not a\u00a0sentence because it does not include a subject, verb, or some other vital component.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>run-on sentence<\/strong> is the joining of two independent clauses into one sentence without\u00a0punctuation or conjunctions.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Passive voice <\/strong> describes a sentence construction in which the subject of the sentence is\u00a0the receiver or object of the verb\u2019s action.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Active voice<\/strong> describes a sentence construction in which the subject\u2019s sentence performs or\u00a0undertakes the verb\u2019s action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- CONTENT ENDS HERE --><\/p>\n<div class=\"advance\"><a class=\"button button-primary\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/principles-of-composition-part-i\">\u2b05 Previous Lesson<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"button\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/Writing-Strategies-and-Applications\/\">Workshop Index<\/a>\u00a0<a class=\"button button-primary\" href=\"http:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/principles-of-composition-part-iii\">Next Lesson \u27a1<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a class=\"backtotop\" href=\"#title\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2b05 Previous Lesson\u00a0Workshop Index\u00a0Next Lesson \u27a1 Principles of Composition Part II Objective In this lesson, you will learn about sentence mechanics, sentence variety, and word choice. Previously Covered: Outlining is a transitional writing technique designed to help writers move from the\u00a0idea-generation phase of writing to the formal construction and composition phase. Principles of composition are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-136","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":627,"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/136\/revisions\/627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanboard.org\/Subjects\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}