Page 299 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade7_Flipbook

ACTIvITy 4.4
continued
Analyzing and presenting a dramatic monologue
my Notes
Language and Writer’s Craft: Varying Syntax for Effect
Syntax refers to how words and phrases are arranged to create well-formed sentences. Writers and speakers make choices about syntax based on their audience and purpose. For example:
• A simple sentence that follows a longer, more complicated sentence can be used to emphasize an important idea.
Because my brother is younger than me and always makes a mess with his toys and breaks my things everytime he touches them, the last thing I wanted was for him to share my room. My parents had a different idea.
• A compound sentence links two ideas together, so it can be used to communicate a relationship between ideas or provide another layer of information.
Mom should trust me to keep an eye on the new baby; I am the best baby-sitter I know.
• A complex sentence can be used to establish context or to show a cause/effect relationship.
I can’t believe that girl ripped up my homework; she’s probably just mad, since she doesn’t get as good grades as I do.
Parallel structure is used to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
I’m going to faint if I see him looking over at me one more time. On the other hand, I’ll die of shame if I don’t work up the courage to communicate with him.
• Sentence fragments are used by writers to create sharpness and emphasize emotion.
I hate it when my parents tell me I’m too young! Too young for pierced ears! Too young for dating! Too young for makeup! Infuriating!
Writers and speakers use varied syntax for fluency, reader interest, and style. Too many of the same type of sentence can make ideas seem choppy, uninteresting, or even confusing to the reader.
272 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 7
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