Unscrambling Sentences

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Sentence Composing # 2- Unscrambling Sentences to Imitate

The unscrambling of sentence parts helps you to see how those parts connected within the model sentence. As a result, you will glimpse the mind an author composing a sentence so you can go through a similar process when you compose sentences.

Directions: Unscramble the sentence parts to imitate the model. Then write your own imitation of the model (You are creating your own sentence using the same structure as the model)- Topic Idea: Anglo-Saxons or Old English

1. Model: Dumpster diving is outdoor work, often surprisingly pleasant.

--Lars Eighner, "On Dumpster Diving"

a.sometimes quite costly

b. is recreational activity

c. mall strolling

Mall strolling is recreational activity, sometimes quite costly

Frog catching is physical activity, sometimes quite tiring

2. Model: Near the car, idling in front of the mortuary, was a huge Oldsmobile.

--Stephen King, Hearts in Atlantis

a. was a skittering gecko

b. behind the pool

c. zigzagging in back of the cabana

Behind the pool, zigzagging in back of the cabana, was a skittering gecko.

In front of the man, running through the kitchen, was a small snake.

3. Model: Above the field and pastures, the mountains were just becoming visible as the morning fog burned away.

--Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain

a. were just becoming interested

b. when the fire alarm sounded

c. after the cartoons and previews

d. the kids

After the cartoons and previews, the kids were just becoming interested when the fire alarm sounded.

After the soccer game started, the fans were just arriving when it started raining.

4. Model: In the shallows, the dark, water-soaked sticks and twigs, smooth and old, were undulating the clusters on the bottom against the clean ribbed sand.

--E.B. White, "Once More to the Lake"

a. sweet and tasty

b. were beckoning to children

c. in their kiddie seats within their mom's grocery carts

d. on that aisle

e. the tempting, brightly colored candies and lifesavers

On that aisle, the tempting, brightly colored candies and lifesavers, sweet and tasty, were beckoning to children in their kiddie seats within their mom's grocery carts.

In the jungle, the loud, screeching monkeys, red and hairy, were yelling at the tribesmen as they were passing by on the trail.