Sentence Construction

Overview/Description
 Writing sentences is a basic skill. But this "basic" skill seems to cause a lot of problems. Meanings are misinterpreted. Sentences run on and on, leaving the reader lost and confused. Poor word choice and organization make the writer look confused, sounding unintelligible and fuzzy. You're not alone if you're thinking, "That's how I write!" In the course, "Sentence Construction," you'll review basic sentence construction, including subjects, predicates, phrases, and clauses. Then, you'll discover how to eliminate the three most common sentence-writing errors--things you're probably doing right now and don't even realize. Finally, you'll learn how to develop sentences that are logical, clear, and powerful--the basis of any sound business document.

Target Audience
 Supervisors, Managers, Team Leaders

Expected Duration
2.0 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Sentence Structure

  • recognize the importance of writing structurally sound sentences.
  • correctly identify the subjects and verbs in sentences.
  • differentiate among the various types of phrases and clauses.
  • identify the types of sentence functions by matching them with their definitions.

    • Common Sentence Errors

  • recognize the importance of eliminating common errors from sentence construction.
  • identify sentence fragments.
  • choose the methods for eliminating comma splices.
  • identify run-on sentences.

    • Logic and Clarity

  • recognize the importance of writing sentences that are logical and clear.
  • choose the sentences that have subject/verb agreement.
  • choose the sentences in which the pronouns and antecedents are correct.
  • identify the sentences with dangling or misplaced modifiers.

    • The Well-written Sentence

  • recognize the value of constructing well-written sentences.
  • identify the elements of writing style by matching each element with its definition.
  • differentiate between the active and passive voices.
  • identify the techniques that keep writing consistent while offering variety to the reader.

    • Course Number: COMM0202