Academic Writing

Conventions of Academic Writing

Sentence Structure
Shabana Ahmed
Assistant Professor
School of Education
Beaconhouse National University
[email protected]
 Sentence Structure

What is a sentence?

• A sentence is a group of words put together in a way that

expresses an idea.
• An English sentence always contains a subject and a verb.
• It begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question
mark or exclamation mark.
• Sentences can be short or long; there’s no correct
number of words.
• Too many consecutive long or short sentences are
considered a mark of bad writing
• Good writing is a combination of both
• A sentence that goes on for lines is difficult to read
and understand and you should be split up into two
sentences.
• Writing that comprises many short sentences one
after the other appears uninteresting
• Short sentences must be joined to make longer
sentences
 Types of Sentences
• Simple sentences: a single independent clause
The library is always the first to open in the morning.
Compound sentences: two independent clauses
joined by a conjunction

Our centre is always the first to open in the morning

and it’s usually the last to close in the evening.
• Complex: An independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses
• I did my homework while the kids watched the
• Compound-complex: contains three or more
clauses (of which at least two are independent and
one is dependent)
• Sentence structure ensures the clarity in your text
• Sentence clarity depends on where each sentence
ends and where the next one begins.
• To be able to end and start sentences correctly, you
need to be able to identify sentences and
differentiate them from other kinds of ‘groups of
words’.
What is an Independent
Clause?
An independent clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and a verb and expresses a
complete thought. An independent clause is a
sentence.
1. Birds fly.
2. When I see the birds fly at twilight beyond
horizon.
What is an Independent
Clause?
• By itself, an independent clause (also known as
a main clause) is a simple sentence.

• An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause)

can stand alone as a sentence.
Independent Clause
Examples
• Farrukh plays football everyday.

• Erum studied all night for her English Exam.

• I am going to Lahore next week.

Identifying Independent Clauses

Independent clause:

a. The articles in this journal are irrelevant.

Not an independent clause:

b. The articles in the journal.

Identifying Independent
Clauses
Independent clause:
a. Primary education in Pakistan presents an
inefficient model.

Not an independent clause:

b. Primary education in Pakistan.

Independent clause must include a verb.

Identifying Independent
Clauses
Independent clause:
a. I visited 26 schools in the area.

Not an independent clause:

b. visited 26 schools in the area.
Identifying Independent
Clauses
Independent clause:
a. ICT in education has been proven very effective.

Not independent clause:

b. Has proven very effective.
Independent clause must include both subject and
verb.
Identifying Independent
Clauses
Independent clause:
a. I arrived at the library.

Not independent clause:

b. When I arrived at the library.
 Identifying Independent
Clauses
Independent clause:
a. My presentation is scheduled for next month.
Not independent clause:
b. Since my presentation is scheduled for next month.

• An independent clause must have a subject and a

verb, and must express a complete thought.
• The addition of a subordinate conjunction at the
beginning of an independent clause makes it
incomplete.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
after how till ( or 'til)
although
if unless
as inasmuch   until
as if in order that when
as long as lest whenever
as much as now that where
as soon as provided (that)   wherever
as though since while
because so that  even if
before
than  

that though  even though

Run-On Sentences
1. a. I love documentaries I would make one
every year after I
graudate.
b. I love documentaries. I would make
one every year after I
graudate.
2. a. ‘Saving Private Ryan’ is a fantastic movie it
has a great scrip and
wonderful actors.

b. ‘Saving Private Ryan’ is a fantastic movie. It

has a great scrip
and wonderful actors.
3. a. She ran out of the room the shadows in the corner had
scared her.
b. She ran out of the room. The shadows in the corner had
scared her.
c. She ran out of the room; The shadows in the corner had
scared her.

4. a. She never walks anywhere she is really lazy.

b. She never walks anywhere. She is really lazy.
c. She never walks anywhere; She is really lazy.
Comma Splice
1. a. Farhan loves to travel, he visits at least one
foreign country every year.
b. Farhan loves to travel; he visits at least
one foreign country every year.
Comma Splice
1. a. My mother and sister bake nearly every
evening, we then enjoy eating together.
b. My mother and sister bake nearly every
evening. We then enjoy eating together.
Comma Splice
2. a. I liked the film, it was very informative.
b. I liked the film, for it was very
informative.
Comma Splice
3. a. I always find writing essays difficult, I
usually leave them to the last minute.
b. I always find writing essays difficult, so I
usually leave them to the last minute.
Comma Splice
5. a. Farah wore a black dress, Maria wore a
white one
b. Farah wore a black dress, but Maria wore a
white one
Connecting Independent
Clauses
You many join independent clauses with a period.
------Independent ------- . ----------- Independent
Clause Clause

• He opened the store at 8 ‘o’ clock. There were few

customers already waiting.
• Imran likes pizza. Fiza likes burgers.
Connecting Independent
Clauses
You many join independent clauses with a semi
colon.
------Independent ------- ; ----------- Independent
Clause Clause

• He opened the store at 8 ‘o’ clock; there were few

customers already waiting.
• Imran likes pizza; Fiza likes burgers.
 Connecting Independent
Clauses
• You many join independent clauses with a comma and a
coordinating conjunction.
and
but
------Independent ------- , for ----------- Independent
Clause or Clause.
nor
so
yet
Connecting Independent
Clauses
Using sentence connectors
Two independent clauses can also be joined using
sentence connectors. Some examples include:
however therefore
furthermore for example
on the other hand in addition to
still otherwise
that is
Most Common Coordinating Adverbs

Result:
Therefore accordingly thus
hence consequently then
Addition:
Moreover likewise besides
furthermore Similarly also
Contrast:
However nevertheless meanwhile
instead nonetheless otherwise
 Connecting Independent Clauses
Using connectors
Sentence connectors can be used to form one compound
sentence, punctuated with a semicolon (;) and a comma (,).
Example:
• In hot climates water evaporates quickly; therefore, the
concentration of salt is greater.
• Ocean salinity varies in different climate zones; for
example, the Baltic Sea is much less saline than the Read
Sea.
Connecting Independent
Clauses
• Sentence connectors can also be used to form two
sentences, the second of which begins with the
sentence connector followed by a comma (,).
• In hot climates water evaporates quickly.
Therefore, the concentration of salt is greater.
• Ocean salinity varies in different climate zones. For
example, the Baltic Sea is much less saline than the
Read Sea.
What is a Dependent Clause?
• A dependent clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and verb but does not express a
complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a
sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by
a dependent marker word (subordinator).
• The addition of a subordinate conjunction at the
beginning of an independent clause makes it
incomplete.
Connecting an Independent and
a Dependent Clause

Since dependent clauses cannot stand on their own,

they have to be joined with an independent clause to
make a complete (complex) sentence.
Connecting an Independent and
a Dependent Clause
Dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence is
followed by a comma.
Examples:
• Because water evaporates rapidly in hot climates,
the surrounding oceans have higher salinity.
• If the climate is cold, the surrounding water will be
less saline.
Dependent clause at the end of a sentence may not
need a comma.
Examples:
• Oceans in hot climates have higher salinity because
the water evaporates more rapidly.
• The surrounding ocean will be less saline if the
climate is cold.
Fragments
• A fragment is a portion of a sentence that is
punctuated as though it were a complete sentence.
• If there is no subject or no verb in a clause, this
sentence is incomplete. If it is punctuated as a
complete sentence, it is considered a fragment.
When Tahir called for the job. He was told that it had
already been taken.
• A sentence can consist of multiple combinations of
independent and dependent clauses
• Fragments happen when there is a dependent
clause in it
Correcting Fragments
• They cannot stand alone and depend on other
statements to complete the thought. Therefore
they must be attached to a statement that makes
sense standing alone.

When Tahir called for the job, he was told that it had
already been taken.
 Contd…
Types of Fragments
Dependent-Word Fragments
• Some word groups that begin with a dependent
word are fragments.
Examples: 
When Tahir called for the job. He was told that it had
already been taken.
 Contd…
Correct a Dependent-Word Fragment
a. Attach it to the sentence that comes after it or
the sentence that comes before it.
Mr. Danish always hires reliable workers. Who will always
get to work on time.
• Mr. Danish always hires reliable workers, who will always
get to work on time.
 Contd…
b. You can re-write the sentence, completely
eliminating the dependent word.
 
Tahir called for the job to find out that it had already
been taken.
 Contd…
Ing and To Fragments
• When an –ing word appears at or near the start of a
word group, a fragment may result.
 Contd…
Correct –ing and to Fragments
• Join the fragment to the preceding sentence.
A car was double-parked in the street. Blocking me
into my parking place. I was furious.
• 
A car was double-parked in the street, blocking me
into my parking place. I was furious.
 Contd…
• Join the fragment to the following sentence.
 
Teaching himself to use a word processor. Hafeez
really impressed his boss. The next week he was
promoted.
 
Teaching himself to use a word processor, Hafeez
really impressed his boss. The next week he was
promoted.
 Contd…
• Re-write the fragment as a complete sentence by adding a
subject and changing the –ing part to the correct form of
the verb.
 
When I first bought a house, I was very naive. Thinking that
my installment would be my only monthly expense. I didn’t
think about utilities, insurance, or maintenance.
 
When I first bought a house, I was very naive. I thought that
my installment would be my only monthly expense. I didn’t
think about utilities, insurance, or maintenance.