Just the Sentence Structures (MITS Supplement)

If you have been using the Mechanics Instruction That Sticks series, you will be quite familiar with the exercises contained within this workbook. If not, this workbook should serve as an introduction to the series. The basic premise underlying the workbook series is that older students (grades 7-12) need direct instruction and practice if we expect them to get better at writing clear sentences. Therefore, each unit begins with direct instruction via guided notes. Then, a series of practice activities requires students to apply that knowledge as they make corrections and draft sentences. Visual models, along with sample sentences, guide students as they learn how to properly punctuate simple, compound, and complex sentences. The exercises included in the MITS series generally take about 10-20 minutes to complete because they follow a four-step process:

1. Students activate background knowledge.
2. Students apply the background knowledge to a few sentences.
3. Students create sentences following a model.
4. Students complete a brief review exercise.

I advise teachers to use the MITS exercises two or three times a week depending on how the warm-ups fit with their lesson plans.

As all teachers know, plans change, and time is limited. Events frequently force us to alter our lesson plans, dropping activities or shifting instruction. Therefore, whenever teachers email me if they should shorten the warm-ups when time is tight, I tell teachers the same thing: do what makes sense in your classroom. For me, this meant cutting the warm-ups in half if need be. Most of the time, I would simply pop up two to four model sentences on the data projector and give the students three to five minutes to write those sentences. Then, they’d share their sentences with a partner (or partners). Finally, I’d call on some students randomly to read their sentences aloud. Very simple.

That’s the point of this book of warm-ups: SIMPLICITY. Each exercise focuses on one element of the MITS series: writing clear, properly punctuated sentences using a visual model. Because these exercises focus entirely on creating sentences, they take less time and require less direct instruction.

How each teacher uses these warm-ups is up to him/her:

1. Teachers could use this book as a supplement to the Mechanics Instruction That Sticks series. They could use these exercises in place of some of the warm-ups from the MITS series…

OR

2. Teachers could use this book as a stand-alone resource. If teachers tie these warm-ups to their writing and editing instruction, they should see improvement in their students’ ability to write clear, accurate sentences.

Either way, I think these warm-ups should prove to be a valuable resource for any teacher who uses them.

How to Use These Exercises

I’ve designed this workbook for use at the secondary level (grades 7-12). You’ll notice that I’ve included more exercises than a teacher would likely use over the course of a school year. This is done intentionally. I want you to be able to pick the exercises that work for you.

In Part One, the units provide background information before each exercise. If you decide to use these units, make sure to spend time going over the background information with the students prior to having them write their sentences. Part One begins with basic sentence structures. Gradually, new sentence elements are added so that students can see how the pieces fit together logically.

These exercises are not meant to be comprehensive. They do not show students how to write every possible sentence, nor do they cover every mark of internal punctuation. However, the exercises do help students practice writing straightforward, properly punctuated sentences.

Depending on the skill level of the students you’re teaching, you may choose to forgo Part One of the book and jump right into Part Two. Part Two is designed to show students how they can communicate similar ideas using different sentence structures. These exercises are great for hammering home the different uses of punctuation and helping students develop the ability to achieve sentence variety in their writing.

Part Three is a short section that includes three simple activities you may use to help link these exercises to student writing. As teachers, we know that the only way for students to become better writers is for them to write, edit, and revise frequently. The exercises I’ve put together focus on writing at the sentence level, but if students don’t apply these lessons to their own authentic writing, the lessons just won’t stick.

To supplement the exercises I’ve provided, I encourage you to modify or create exercises based on these sentence models as you see fit. If you want to shorten up the exercises, go ahead. I’ve had some teachers tell me they like to focus on just two sentence structures at a time; others will shorten up the background information at the start of the exercise.

Please experiment and do what works for you within the time constraints that you face.

Thanks,

Doug Stark

• What's Included?
• Introduction
• How to Use These Exercises

PART ONE: Basic Sentence Structures

• Independent Clauses and Phrase Openers - 4 exercises
• Independent Clauses and Phrase Closers - 4 exercises
• • Independent Clauses and Interrupters - 4 exercises
• Compound Sentences - 8 exercises
• Complex Sentences: Dependent Clauses - 4 exercises
• Complex Sentences: Relative Clauses - 4 exercises
• Complex Sentences: Dependent & Relative Clauses - 4 exercises
• Using Semicolons - 4 exercises
• Using Colons - 4 exercises
• Using Dashes - 4 exercises
• Blending Quotations - 5 exercises

PART TWO: Varying Sentence Structures

• Using Commas to Set Off Words, Phrases, or Clauses - 7 exercises
• • Comma or Semicolon? - 7 exercises
• • Comma or No Comma? - 7 exercises
• • Incorporating Lists - 7 exercises
• • Essential or Nonessential? - 7 exercises
• • Four Ways to Set Off or Connect Sentence Elements - 7 exercises
• • Interruption or Transition? - 7 exercises

PART THREE: Connecting to Student Writing

• Quick Write: Sample - 2 exercises

• Revision Exercise: Trying New Sentence Structures - 1 exercise

• Editing Activity: Sample Checklist - 1 exercise