Wednesday 24th September

Varying Sentence Structures

Learning Objectives:
1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect.
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.

Starter activity:

In this pack you will find SEVEN sentences.

In pairs, you must work together to put these

sentences into 3 pairs (with one sentence left over)
based on similarities that they have.

Challenge- explain why the 7th sentence is the ‘odd one out’. Why is it
different? Can you identify the sentence structure?
Outcomes
Success Criteria
Level 7: WAF5:
I can evaluate how writers use sentence Vary sentences for
structures effectively; I have thoughtfully
How can I get up deployed a variety of sentence structures to clarity, purpose and
achieve overall effect with no loss of control.
there? effect.
Level 6:
I can explore, in detail, how writers vary In order to make your
sentence structures for effect; I have used a
variety of sentence structures (simple/complex) gothic writing effective,
in a controlled manner to achieve effect. you need to be able to
Level 5:
use a variety of
I can show some awareness of the effect of sentence structures
using a variety of structures; I have used a
variety of sentence structures (simple/complex)
effectively.
to provide emphasis.
 Simple Sentences
Pair One:
A woman’s scream echoed around the ruins.

The black crow flapped its wings furiously.

Main verbs

What is a simple sentence?

A simple sentence is a main clause which has ONE main verb and
usually ONE idea.
1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.
 Compound Sentences
Pair Two: Main clause
The heroine raced frantically through the eerie corridors but the
exit was nowhere to be found.

The fog descended over the land so it was impossible to see through
the dense forest.
Coordinating conjunction
What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is formed of TWO (or more) main clauses/simple
sentences joined together with a coordinating conjunction: and, but, so, yet.
1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.
 Complex Sentences
Pair Three: Subordinate clause

Although it was a cloudless day, the castle was shrouded in

darkness.
Main clause

As the vile creature approached, the woman screamed!

Subordinating Conjunctions
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence contains more than one idea. It has a main clause and a subordinate clause (does not
make sense on its own). It will usually have a subordinating conjunction: if, when, because, although, even
though, despite.
1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.
 Minor Sentences
Odd one out:

No!

What is a minor sentence?

A minor sentence will usually be a short sentence which does not
contain a main verb but can still be understood.
1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.
 Pair work
Collaboration; communication; working together; feedback.
Independently read through the extract ‘Breathe’.

Then, in pairs, work together to identify at least

ONE of each sentence structure (simple,
compound, complex) and discuss how the writer
has varied their use of sentence structures to
create an effect (and what the effect is!).
Annotate your extracts with notes!
Challenges:
1. Identify a minor sentence within the extract.
2. Evaluate which sentence structure is used the most effectively in this piece and say why.

1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.
 Jack screamed. A small, thin woman, face as pale as a
white candle, was draped across his bed. Her arm was
extended tenderly towards him. Her eyes, in the moonlight,
were black as a bird’s. Clearly startled that Jack could see
her, she backed off. Her arms drifted, her body appearing to
rise gradually off the bed.
Jack lunged for the door. Even before he reached it, he was
struggling to find air. By the next breath, he was
hyperventilating – inhaling too rapidly for enough oxygen to
enter his lungs.
Staggering to the door, he opened it, crawling into the
corridor. ‘Mum! MUM!’ he rasped. The words barely
emerged. He fumbled in his pyjama top pocket for his
inhaler, but he’d left it on the table in his room. He couldn’t
go back. The woman was there.

1. To be able to identify and explore how writers use a range of sentence structures for effect
2. To be able to vary sentence structures for effect.
Extract from The Haunted House:
 
The boy was very small. He looked up
at the haunted house. It was big and
scary. He wondered what was waiting
inside. He opened the door. It was
very dark. There was silence. He could
feel himself shaking. A floorboard
creaked. He jumped. He looked up the
staircase. There was nothing there.
He couldn’t shake the feeling he was
being watched. He turned around…
Challenge: can you use a minor sentence for effect in your writing?
Individual task:
Your task is to rewrite this extract from a
gothic text using a variety of sentence
structures for effect.
Remember, think carefully about what
effect you want to achieve before you
select your sentence structures as this will
allow you to achieve a higher level!
Prior learning: strive to use ambitious
vocabulary choices too!
You have 10minutes…
 Peer Assessment
Read through your partner’s work and complete the following: Stuck for targets?
• Could your partner have
used a wider range of
Identify the different sentence structures within your partner’s sentence structures?
work (write in the margin: simple, compound etc.) • Have they used simple or
minor sentences to build
tension?
Comment on which sentence structures they’ve used effectively. • Could they use a
complex/compound
Set your partner a WAF5 target- how could they improve their sentence to build detail
more effectively in a
use of sentence structures for effect further? specific place?

Which is the most effective sentence structure for creating tension? Why?
Which is the least effective sentence structure for creating tension? Why?