Group
similar ideas into classifications (such as Purpose, Content, Development, and
Form).
Audience Response
Determines Pattern of Organization
Composing
Creating Effective Sentences
Recognize phrases and clauses.
Use short sentences.
Emphasize important ideas.
Use the active voice for most sentences.
Use the passive voice to deemphasize the performer
and/or to be tactful.
Avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers.
Recognizing Phrases and Clauses
Clauses have subjects and verbs; phrases do not.
Independent clauses are complete; dependent clauses are
not.
Phrases and dependent clauses cannot function as
sentences.
Independent Clause: They were eating cold pizza.
Dependent Clause: that they want to return for a refund
Phrase: to return for a refund
Using Short Sentences
Sentence Length
8
words
15
words
19
words
28
words
Comprehension Rate
100%
90%
80%
50%
Emphasizing Important Ideas
Position the most important idea at the beginning of
the sentence.
Make sure the most important idea is the subject of the
sentence.
Place the main idea in a short sentence.
Use the Active Voice for
Most Sentences
Active voice: We lost
money.
Active
voice: I sent the e-mail message yesterday.
(The
subject is the performer.)
Use the Passive Voice To Deemphasize the
Performer and/or To Be Tactful
Passive
voice: Money was lost (by us).
Passive
voice: The e-mail message was sent yesterday (by
me).
(Passive
voice test: Ask By whom? If you can fill in the performer, the verb is
probably in the passive voice.)
Avoid Dangling Modifiers
Dangling modifier: To be
hired, an application must be completed.
Revision:
To be hired, you must complete an application.
Revision:
To be hired, fill out an application.
(In the last example, you is understood
to be the subject of fill.)
Avoid Misplaced Modifiers
Misplaced modifier: The patient was referred to a
psychiatrist with a severe emotional problem.
Revision:
The patient with a severe emotional problem was referred to a psychiatrist.