Sentence Fluency

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Sentence Fluency

• Vary? Very Important!

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Sentence Fluency

• Is the Rhythm and flow of the writing

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Does Your Writing

• Have rhythmic patterns
• Have easy-on-the-ear flow
• Seem easy to read aloud
• Have variety
• Sounds natural

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If so

• Then it has Sentence Fluency

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Varying Sentence Length

• Writing needs variety
• Sentence length is one area where this works
• Sentences all the same length is boring
• The result your reader falls asleep
• Varying length makes reading more pleasant

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Track the Fluency

• Read excerpt on page 80, Into Thin Air
• Complete Your Response, page 81

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What Do the Numbers Say?

• No 2 sentences are the same length
• This variety gave the writing an interesting
  rhythm and flow
• A clear main idea, strong word choice and
  sentences of varying lengths all work together to
  keep the readers attention

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Your Turn

• Read TV Time on page 82
• Complete, You Do the Math

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You Do the Math

• Number of sentences 16
• Number of words in each sentence
• 8, 8, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 8, 8, 5, 7, 7, 8, 8, 7, 7
• Revision strategies
• - Combining sentences
• - Rewriting sentences so they begin in
  different ways
• - Shortening some sentences
• - Eliminating sentences that arent needed
• - Adding a new sentence to add detail and add
  variety

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Putting the Strategies to Work

• Read TV Time once again
• Your revision goal for this piece is to vary
  sentence length to improve fluency
• Mark the original passage first as you think
  through your revision
• Rewrite your revision in the space provided on
  page 83
• Answer AWriters Question

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Look at Best Big Cove Experience

• You should have revised for sentence combining
• Now look at your sentence length
• Find out
• - How many sentences?
• - The number of words in each sentence?

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Homework

• Revise for fluency using the sentence length
  strategy
• Rewrite your piece (it may be typed)
• Place Draft 3 on top of piece
• Due Day 2

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Questions to consider

• Is my story easy to read?
• Do my sentences begin in differentways?
• Did I use some long and some shortsentences?
• Does my paper sound smooth as I readit aloud?

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How to get a WOW Paper!

• My sentences are clear, varied, and a treat to
  read aloud!

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So.

• Go ahead-read it aloud. No rehearsal necessary!
• Sentence variety is my middle name.
• Deadwood has been cut.
• Smooth as a ski run in December.

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How to get an OK Paper!

• My sentences are clear and readable

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• Pretty smooth and natural withjust a bump or
  two.
• Some sentences could merge. Some need to be cut
  in two.
• A little deadwood-but it doesnt bury the good
  ideas!
• Yeah, I got into a rut with those sentence
  beginnings.

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How to get a So-So Paper!

• I have to admit, its a challenge to read aloud

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• You might have to stop or re-read to make sense
  of this.
• Its hard to tell where one sentence stops and
  the next begins.
• Bumpity, bump, bump, bump.

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Activity

• Tell a story or explain something aloud to a
  partner before you try to write it. Ask your
  partner to write down the beginning of each
  sentence as you speak. Look at your list when you
  are done, and discuss with your partner how you
  could improve your writing.

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If this describes your writing

• Varied and purposeful beginnings,
  powerful,graceful, from long and stretchy to
  short and snappy, smoothconnections, natural
  dialogue, and delightful to read aloud
• Then you have fabulous SENTENCE FLUENCY!