Sentence Structure in Essay Writing

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Questions and Answers

What is the main benefit of using good sentence structure in an essay?

To show off the writer's vocabulary

To increase the length of the essay

To make the essay more complex

To make the essay easier to read and understand (correct)

What is the primary cause of sentence structure problems?

Using active voice

Not following grammar rules

Having sentence fragments, run-on sentences, or misplaced modifiers (correct)

Lack of transitional words

What is the purpose of the six steps to improve sentence structure?

To reduce the use of active voice

To identify sentence fragments

To make sentences more complex

To ensure clarity and follow grammar rules (correct)

What is the main issue with mixed structure sentences?

They jumble together different sentence construction types Signup and view all the answers

How do you fix a mixed structure sentence?

By identifying and separating the different sentence structures Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of using sentence fragments, run-on sentences, or misplaced modifiers?

Sentence structure that suffers Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to use active verbs in sentence structure?

To improve sentence clarity Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge in fixing mixed structure sentences?

Knowing how to fix the error Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for using the passive voice in writing?

When the doer of the action is unknown Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of writing in active voice?

It makes the writing clearer and easier to read Signup and view all the answers

What happens when you read your essay backward, one sentence at a time?

You are more likely to spot mixed sentence structure errors Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of using mixed sentence structure?

You are more likely to lose points on your essay scores Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the subject in active voice and passive voice?

The subject in active voice is the doer of the action, while the subject in passive voice is the receiver of the action Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of reading your essay aloud to yourself?

You are more likely to spot mixed sentence structure errors Signup and view all the answers

What is the verb in passive voice composed of?

The proper form of the verb + the past participle of the verb Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of writing in first-person active voice?

It prevents vagueness in writings because the reader knows the writer is the doer of the action Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Importance of Sentence Structure

Good sentence structure makes essays easier to read and understand.
Common sentence structure problems include sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and misplaced modifiers.

Improving Sentence Structure

Ensure clear information within the sentence.
Use transitional words.
Use care with subordinate clauses.
Use active voice.
Use active verbs.
Follow grammar rules.

Mixed Structure Sentences

Mixed structure sentences occur when writers combine different sentence constructions.
To fix mixed structure sentences, identify the faulty sentence and restructure it.
Examples: "Because the Electoral College offers a way to honor the importance of individual state populations, so it should be preserved" should be rewritten as "Because the Electoral College offers a way to honor the importance of individual state populations, it should be preserved".

Avoiding Mixed Structure Sentences

Read your finished essay aloud to yourself to catch errors.
Read your essay backward, one sentence at a time, to catch errors.

Active and Passive Voice

In active voice, the subject is the doer of the action.
In passive voice, the subject is the receiver of the action.
Active voice is clearer, less wordy, and easier to read and understand.
Passive voice is suitable when the receiver of the action is more important or when the doer is unknown.
Writing in first-person active voice prevents vagueness in writings.

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Description

Learn about the four types of sentences and how to improve your essay's readability with good sentence structure. Identify common mistakes like sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and misplaced modifiers.