Home School Writing Cooperative

Week Seven - Fluency

Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of work patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear - not just to the eye. Sentence Fluency In any piece of writing, there are many possible ways to write any sentence correctly, but usually, of those correct versions, one or two will sound better than others. A writer who can pick out those versions and can use them frequently will have a strong sense of sentence fluency. This does not mean creating longer sentences, but means using long sentences when they would be best and short sentences when they would suit better. It means creating a sense of rhythm with the sentences and a flow that the reader finds enjoyable to follow along. Good sentence fluency stands out when a piece of writing is read aloud.

Lesson

1) Begin by showing students a simple, unadorned but complete sentence. Example: "I went for a walk."

2) Ask students to verbalize the questions a sentence like this hopefully brings to their minds--Where did you go? Were you alone? Why did you go on this walk? What did you see or do on this walk? When did you go? Did you come back?

3) Using these ideas, students will then add some life to the sentence-details, description, etc.-to help it become a "super sentence."
Example: "Last night, my dog Rufus and I took a long walk through the dark woods."

4) These super sentences should be shared aloud before being displayed (a Super Sentences bulletin board) under the original sentence to emphasize the changes that were made.

• Read the paper all the way through.
• Read the criteria item and enter Y for Yes, N for No, and S for Sort of.
• Mark your score in the space provided.
• Give 1 point for each Y, 1/2 point for each S and 0 points for each N
• Read it OUT LOUD

___ ___ My sentence begin in different ways.

___ ___ Some sentences are long and some are short.

___ ___ It has an easy flow when you read it.

___ ___ My sentences have power and punch. .

___ ___ My writing flows easily from sentence to sentence.

Homework Week Seven

Students will write a five paragraph Persuasive essay uniting their interest and other discipline such as science, history, etc. Student will present topic to teacher orally first Students will also write persuasive articles to

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