Download ppt - Lesson 5: Deconstructing Sentences

Lesson FiveDeconstructing Sentences

Neijiang Normal University - Week Six - Brent A. Simoneaux

Sentence Expansion

Subordination 1. Relative Clauses

2. Appositive Phrases 3. Adverbial Clauses 4. Participial Phrases 5. Absolute Phrases

Sentence Expansion 4. Non-restrictive Participial Phrases

Participial phrases are verb phrases headed by the –ing or the –en / ––ed form of the verb which

function as adjectives.

They enable you to work concrete details into your sentences without actually increasing the number

of sentences needed.

Writing AdviceI am glad to talk about my future career with

you. After I graduate, the first thing that I will do is to be a teacher. When I was young, I have a dream that is to be a teacher.

I'm glad to talk with you about my future career. Because my childhood dream was to be a teacher, the first thing that I'll do after I graduate is teach.

Sentence Variety

“In this paragraph there are short and long sentences, simple, compound and complex

sentences, and parallel sentences. As a result, the ideas they express are quite impressive.” --pgs

73-74

“Short sentences are not only emphatic, but effective in describing a series of quick movements and

actions. Generally speaking, both short and long sentences should be used; using one type of

sentences continuously would be monotonous.” –pgs 58-59

“The Intimately Oppressed”By Howard Zinn

Excerpted from The People’s History of the United States

The Intimately OppressedVocabulary

oppress (verb)- to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority

submerged (adj)- hidden, suppressedexploit (verb)- to make use of meanly or unfairly for one's

own advantagewarden (noun)- one having care or charge of somethingmonogamy (noun)- the state or custom of being married to

one person at a timesocialization (noun)- to fit or train for a social environmentpatronization (noun)- to act as patron of; provide aid or

support for

The Intimately Oppressed

The explorers were men, the landholders and merchants men, the political leaders men, the military figures men.

1. The explorers were men.

2. The landholders and merchants were men.

3. The political leaders were men.

4. The military figures were men.


The very invisibility of women, the overlooking of women, is a sign of their submerged status.

1. The very invisibility of women is a sign of their submerged status.

2. The overlooking of women is a sign of their submerged status.


The biological uniqueness of women, like skin color and facial characteristics for Negroes, became a basis for treating them as inferiors.

1. The biological uniqueness of women became a basis for treating them as inferiors.

2. Skin color and facial characteristics of Negroes were a basis for treating them as inferiors.


True, with women, there was something more practically important in their biology than skin color—their position as childbearers—but this was not enough to account for the general push backward for all of them in society, even those who did not bear children, or those too young or too old for that.


1. There was something more practically important in their biology than skin color.

2. Women’s position as childbearers was more practically important than skin color.

3. Women’s position as childbearers was not enough to account for the general push backward for all of them in society.

4. Those who did not bear children, or those too young or too old for that were pushed backward in society.


It seems that their physical characteristics became a convenience for men, who could use, exploit, and cherish someone who was at the same time servant, companion, and bearer-teacher-warden of his children.

1. It seems that their physical characteristics became a convenience for men.

2. Men could use, exploit, and cherish someone who was at the same time servant, companion, and bearer-teacher-warden of his children.

The Intimately OppressedSocieties based on private property and

competition, in which monogamous families became practical units for work and socialization, found it especially useful to establish this special status of women, something akin to a house slave in the matter of intimacy and oppression, and yet requiring, because of that intimacy, and long-term connection with children, a special patronization, which on occasion, especially in the face of a show of strength, could slip over into treatment as an equal.


1. Societies based on private property and competition found it especially useful to establish this special status as women.

2. Monogamous families became practical units for work and socialization in societies based on private property and competition.

3. The special status of women was something akin to a house slave in manner of intimacy and connection.


4. Intimacy and long-term connection with children requires a special patronization.

5. The special patronization, especially in the face of a show of strength, could slip into treatment as an equal.

Next Week:Features of a Paragraph

Writing AssignmentRewrite one of the compositions that you have

written this semester, paying special attention to your sentences. Combine sentences when it is

appropriate and use a good variety of sentences. You may choose whichever composition you feel

needs the most work.

Reading AssignmentCatch up on your reading of chapter 3. Finish

reading whatever you have not read of the chapter or review important concepts. Remember, you will be responsible for knowing the information in this

chapter even if we did not cover it in class. Start preparing now.

Office HoursEvery Tuesday 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Building 5, Second Floor

Radio showEvery Thursday 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Turn in your writing notebook.

Class 1

20050540138

20050540139

20050540140

20050540141

20050540167

20050540168

20050540169

20050540173

20050540201

20050540202


Class 2

20050540147

20050540148

20050540165

20050540174

20050540175

20050540176

20050540177

20050540178

20050540180

20050540221


Class 3

20050540156

20050540157

20050540158

20050540159

20050540184

20050540185

20050540186

20050540187

20050540188

20050540189


Class 4

20050540164

20050540166

20050540183

20050540194

20050540195

20050540196

20050540197

20050540198

20050540199

20050540200


Class 5

20050540273

20050540276

20050540277

20050540280

20050540285

20050540287

20050540288

20050540295


Class 6

20050540291

20050540292

20050540293

20050540294

20050540300

20050540301

20050540305

20050540306

20050540307

20050540310