Page 57 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Writing Workshop 5 (continued)
• Parallelism is using the same structure for similar parts of a sentence. Use parallelism to add balance, rhythm, and clarity to a sentence. Examples: I stand here today, grateful for clean air to breathe, humbled by enough food to eat, and thankful for fresh water to drink. (parallel adjectives)
The ecologist’s briefcase held three environmentally friendly notebooks, two biodegradable writing utensils, and one recyclable water bottle. (parallel objects)
• An analogy compares two things and expresses the relationship between them. Use an analogy to explain or clarify an idea or object. Example: My need to recycle is like my need for food and water.
• A rhetorical question is one for which the writer expects no reply, or the writer clearly directs the reader to one desired reply. Use rhetorical questions to emphasize an idea or to draw a conclusion from the facts. Example: Is that truly what we want for the environment? How can these facts lie?
A coherent essay is one that presents ideas that tie together and flow smoothly, making the essay easy to follow for the reader. Two ways to revise for coherence are to use transitional words and to use varied sentence structures.
Review the class draft and revise to help the reader move through the essay by adding appropriate transitions.
• Transitions to show examples: for example, for instance, such as, in other words • Transitions to show importance: more importantly, most important, most of all,
least, last but not least
• Transitions to show comparison and contrast: similarly, on the other hand, in
contrast, different from, like, unlike, same as, in the same way, nevertheless,
likewise, by contrast, conversely
• Transitions to conclude: as a result, therefore, finally, last, in conclusion
Varied Sentence Structure
Review the draft to see where the sentence structure in your paragraphs can be varied by starting with something other than the subject. For example you can begin the sentences with a prepositional phrase or an adverb. Notice that prepositional phrases and adverbs beginning a sentence are usually set off by commas.
• With a little extra thought and care, we can collaborate on a plan to recycle on
campus. (prepositional phrase)
• Generally, the lunchroom is littered with trash that could be recycled.(adverb)
Review the draft to see where you can insert word groups, such as appositives or appositive phrases, into sentences to add variety to your sentence structure. An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that adds information to sentences by renaming nouns (person, place or thing). Appositives and appositive phrases are located next to the nouns that they rename and are offset by a dash (a punctuation mark that indicates that more text is to follow) or commas.
• Appositive using commas:
Kevin, a talented pianist, inspired musicians, athletes, and artists alike to work hard to achieve their dreams.
The bat, a midnight scavenger who roams the night sky looking for food, enjoys eating mosquitoes.
• Appositive using a dash:
“The qualities of a writer’s images—the details, colors, shapes, movement—derive from visual perception.” —Harry Noden
8 SpringBoard® Writing Workshop with Grammar Activities Grade 8
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