POWER SENTENCES: BLOCK
Power sentences will make your writing more powerful and effective. Power Sentences will be collected
periodically before the new list is handed out, giving you one week to complete the sentences at home. Below are
the main rules you will ALWAYS focus on and follow while composing a power sentence. Other rules will be added as
the year goes on. It will be difficult and challenging and first, so hang in there and ask for help if you need it!!!
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Power Sentence Core Rules Checklist:
10 words or more (10+)
o Avoid Personal Pronouns
Contain an Independent
o Control Pronouns
Clause
o Part of Speech
Present Tense
o Show Understanding of
Active Voice: no to-be
Word
verbs
1. All sentences must be ten words or more and contain an independent clause.
2. Write sentences in present tense.
For example, instead of using thought (past tense), replace it
with thinks (present tense).
3. Sentences must be in an active voice. To accomplish this, do not use TO-BE
VERBS (is, was, were, are, be, being, been, am). Focus on using action verbs
and strong verbs. This is the most difficult part of power sentences.
4. Avoid personal pronouns (I, me, you, your, we, us). It is important to omit these
to maintain a formal voice.
5. Show control of other pronouns (he, she, it, they, their, etc.). Describe who or
what the pronoun is to make a more powerful sentence. For example, The silly, sarcastic
school girl plays hopscotch during afternoon recess sounds better than She plays hopscotch at recess.
Focus on using adjectives to describe the noun.
6. Use the word properly based on the part of speech. (verbs = action; adjectives =
description; noun = person, place, or thing)
7. Sentences may not state a definition of the word, but show understanding of the
meaning through content of the sentence.