Guide to Responding to Using Varied Sentence Lengths and Styles Practice Exercises

Answer key for Using Varied Sentence Lengths and Styles Practice Exercises

The following are examples of appropriate responses to Exercises 1–7. There are many possible ways to respond. 

Exercise 1: Write a series of three sentences that include two longer sentences and a shorter sentence used for emphasis. Vary the placement of the shorter sentence in the sequence and consider the effect on the sentence.

The other day I went for a long run through my neighborhood, past the lake, and around the park. By the time I got back, I was sweaty and thirsty, and my face was red. It was very hot outside. 

The other day I went for a long run. I ran through my neighborhood, past the lake, and around the park. It was very hot outside, so by the time I got back I was sweaty, thirsty, and my face was red. 

 

Exercise 2: Combine the following two sentences into one sentence where the relationship between the two ideas is emphasized:

  • In size, Idaho is the fourteenth-largest state in the United States.
  • In population, Idaho ranks thirty-ninth in the United States.

In size, Idaho is the fourteenth-largest state in the United States, while in population, Idaho ranks thirty-ninth in the United States. 

Although in population Idaho ranks thirty-ninth in the United States, in size, Idaho is the fourteenth-largest state in the United States. 

In size, Idaho is the fourteenth-largest state in the United States; on the other hand, in population, Idaho ranks thirty-ninth in the United States. 

 

Exercise 3: Write a sentence with a series where the last item in the series is the most impressive or startling.

In the woods you will find lions, tigers, bears, and giant unicorns. 

Jorge has a busy day scheduled: he needs to buy groceries, pick up prescriptions, and watch his daughter compete in the state championship spelling bee.

 

Exercise 4: Compare "hourly workers" and "salary workers" in a sentence using either like words or paired words to emphasize the two ideas.

At Keisha's company, hourly workers receive neither health insurance nor life insurance, while salary workers receive either health insurance or life insurance.

At Keiko's company, hourly workers must work both evenings and weekends, while salary workers get both evenings and weekends off. 

 

Exercise 5: Write a paragraph about a childhood memory. Include about one-third short sentences (seven or fewer words), one-third medium sentences (between twelve and twenty-four words), and one-third long sentences (more than twenty-five words). Include at least ten sentences. After each sentence, include the number of words in parentheses.

When I was a child, I liked to go outside and climb trees (13). My favorite tree to climb was a big oak tree in our back yard (13). It was very tall (4). One day, I packed a backpack with snacks – juice, crackers, and the chocolate chip cookies my sister used to bake – as well as some books to read, and I climbed up to a very high branch in my favorite tree (40). I spent the whole day reading in my tree, enjoying my snacks (12). By the late afternoon, my family realized that no one had seen me all day (15). They started to worry (4). Everyone in the family decided to go out looking for me; my mom went to see if I was playing at the neighbor's house, my brother and sister checked around the house, and my dad decided to look around the back yard (42). I was up so high in the tree that my dad didn't notice me up there, and I was so absorbed in my book that I didn't hear him calling my name (32). Then I accidentally dropped my book (6). My dad shouted in surprise (5). I was so startled by his shout that I almost fell out of the tree (15)! I was lucky I didn't get hurt (7). It was scary (3). After that, I told my parents before I went out to climb trees (13). 

 

Exercise 6: Write a paragraph about something you have done during the last couple of weeks. Do not use more than two sentences with the same format or opening phrasing. Include at least eight sentences.

The other day, I went kayaking with my friend Joe. Joe kayaks frequently, but I had never done it before. I was nervous, I admit. Because I was new to kayaking, I had a hard time steering, unsure of how to use the paddle. I ended up steering myself in circles! Joe laughed at me a little, but then he helped me improve my technique. I was a master kayaker by the end of the day – with Joe's help, of course. I think I'll buy a kayak of my own and maybe enter a race.

 

Exercise 7: Write a paragraph about your family. From Table 16.1 "Varying Sentence Types Based on Clauses", use each of the four sentence types at least once. After the paragraph, include a chart showing each of the sentence types and your matching usage.

I have a big family. My mom has eight siblings, while my dad has ten. I have thirteen cousins on my mom's side of the family, and I have twenty cousins on my dad's side. That's a lot of cousins! They are all nice, but they can be a noisy bunch. Although it's a lot of fun when we all get together, I used to wish I had a smaller family, because I would get more attention that way. Now that I'm an adult, I'm happy with the family I've got, noisy cousins and all.

Sentence Type 

Number and Type of Clauses 

Example [Independent Clauses Underlined, Dependent Clauses in Bold]

Simple sentence

One independent clause

I have a big family.

That's a lot of cousins!

Compound sentence

Two independent clauses

I have thirteen cousins on my mom's side of the family, and I have twenty cousins on my dad's side.

They are all nice, but they can be a noisy bunch.

Complex sentence

One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

My mom has eight siblings, while my dad has ten.

Now that I'm an adult, I'm happy with the family I've got, noisy cousins and all

Compound-complex sentence

At least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause

Although it's a lot of fun when we all get together, I used to wish I had a smaller family, because I would get more attention that way.

Last modified: Monday, October 21, 2019, 6:57 PM