Product Description
Unlike traditional grammar books that emphasize sentence analysis, this worktext asks students to imitate the sentence styles of professional writers, making the sentence composing process enjoyable and challenging…. More >>
Sentence Composing for High School: A Worktext on Sentence Variety and Maturity
Tags: Composing, grammar books, High, Maturity, professional writers, School, Sentence, sentence analysis, sentence variety, traditional grammar, Variety, Worktext
#1 by Michael Armbruster on April 18, 2010 - 6:59 pm
I like Killgallon’s basic approach: students learn grammar and sentence fluency best by imitating the sentence structures of professional writers. I question, however, his focus on categorizing sentence parts and his use of these categories as the organizing principle for the book. Will a student really benefit from knowing the difference between an appositive phrase and an abolute phrase? Why is this distinction important? If we take a purely functional approach to this material, why split hairs over the different types of phrases and clauses? This seems counterproductive to me. I’m not even convinced it’s important to teach students the difference between a phrase and a clause, if our goal is not grammar for grammar’s sake but grammar for the sake of improved writing.
On the other hand, I love Killgallon’s very simple, useful distinction between sentence openers, subject-verb splits, and sentence closers. His choices of professional writers’ sentences are also excellent, as is his series of sentence combining exercises. I will make use of this textbook in class, but will condense and adapt it to fit what I see as my students’ needs as developing writers.
Rating: 3 / 5
#2 by Happy-go-lucky on April 18, 2010 - 9:23 pm
Though a late learner in my forties, I bought this book in order to study sentence variety.
I find that this book is replete with examples of stunning sentences. A great book that should not be overlooked by many adult learners, who see it as a book written for teenage students.
This book is fantastic not just for teenage learners, also for adults, for any aspiring writer or student, even for those who suffer from Writer’s Block.
If you love this book and are keen on studying sentence variety, then you will love the other books of same kind, those of the following below, all with my five-star ratings:
The first two must-buy books by the same authors
1. “Grammar for High School: A Sentence-Composing Approach”
2. “Sentence Composing for College: A Worktext on Sentence Variety and Maturity”
3. “The Art of Styling Sentences” by K.D. Sullivan (Author).
A must-have book for all aspiring writers and students. This book teaches sentence variety and has examples of stunning sentences. To say how great this book was for me, the pages have gone all dog-eared from much reading and is well-thumbed.
4. “Sentence Combining: A Composing Book”
by William Strong (Author)
A very charming book with sparkling examples of sentences. Great exercises for brainstorming. I often bring this lightweight book with me into cafes. Great readings with my teas and lattes.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Peter Babb on April 18, 2010 - 10:58 pm
My experience has been that 9th and 10th grade students are engaged by the lessons in this book. The examples come from both popular and literary works. The exercises build logically. Most students can do the work without questions, allowing time to work one-to-one with struggling students. Using these lessons gave the class a common language around creating complex sentences, which helped in the transfer of skills from the writing exercises to the use of complex sentences in essays and other written work.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Carol Hale on April 18, 2010 - 11:19 pm
This guide provides many sentence revisions for the working English classroom. It is an excellent choice for the beginning teacher and can be used as a standby for the master teacher. Useful at all high school levels. I highly recommend this text for any high school English curriculum!
Rating: 4 / 5