Use sentence construction activities to teach compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence types¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The guide recommends introducing a sentence construction activity so students learn three sentence types: compound sentences (at least two independent clauses that are joined), complex sentences (an independent clause and at least one dependent clause), and compound-complex sentences (at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause). Teachers draw material from classroom books, students' lives, school events, articles, or students' own writing, model constructing each type, provide independent practice, and have students discuss their sentences in pairs or small groups. The tip is adapted from Saddler, Behforooz, and Asaro (2008); Saddler (2005); and Saddler and Graham (2005).

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• A source of sentence material (books, school events, articles, or student writing)
• Teacher modeling followed by independent practice and peer discussion

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• elementary school students

Target Learning Goals¶

• constructing compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

Related Strategies¶

• Sentence Combining
• Manipulatives: Sentence Combining
• Sentence Expansion
• Provide sentence evaluation criteria (clarity, intended audience) and model revision against them

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Graham, S., Bollinger, A., Olson, C. B., D'Aoust, C., MacArthur, C., McCutchen, D., & Olinghouse, N. (2012). Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers: Instructional Tips Based on the Educator's Practice Guide. What Works Clearinghouse, NCEE 2012-4058. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide/17