Strategic Instruction Model™
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
Sentence Writing Memory Devices and Sentence Formulas
Please review the prerequisite information for professional development sessions in the SIM™ Paragraph
Writing Strategy noted below:
The precursors to the Paragraph Writing Strategy training are the Sentence Writing Strategies (“Fundamentals in the
Sentence Writing Strategy” and “Proficiency in the Sentence Writing Strategy”). These provide a strategies which are
recalled by mnemonic devices to help students construct sentences. In addition, sentence formulas are taught to
students so they have a structure in which to put the words/statements they want to use in order to effectively express
themselves in writing.
Please familiarize yourself with the information contained in this document, so that you can be adequately
prepared for the Paragraph Writing Strategy professional development sessions:
The Strategy for Sentence Writing, known as “PENS”, is as follows:
P ick a formula (see sentence formulas below)
E xplore words to fit the formula. (think about what you need to
write)
N ote the words (write the words down following the formula)
S earch and check…..
The Search and Check Step consists of these steps to assure
that a complete and accurate sentence was written:
Search: (a complete sentence must have both a subject
and a verb/predicate)
Look for the action or state-of-being word(s) to find the
verb(s).
Example: Kevin ran track after school. (verb: ran)
Tiffany was sick today.
(verb: is)
Ask yourself "Who or What (fill in the verb) " to find the
subject(s).
Example: “Who or what ran?” (Kevin)
“Who or what is?” (Tiffany)
Check: (to be correct, make sure the sentence has…)
Capital letters (at the beginning of the sentence)
End punctuation (at the end of the sentence)
Makes sense (read it to yourself—does is make sense?)
SENTENCE WRITING FORMULAS:
During SIM™ Sentence Writing Strategy Training, the following parts of sentences are taught and students
practice identifying them in sentences before they begin to write their own:
SIMPLE SENTENCE
A sentence that has one independent clause
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
A group of words that
1. makes a complete statement
2. has a subject and a verb
SUBJECT
The subject is the
person
place
thing
quality
idea
that the sentence is about.
VERB
A verb** is a word that shows the state of being or action of the subject of the sentence.
**in addition to action verbs all state of being, linking, and helping verbs are taught
INFINITIVES
Infinitive
• usually made up of two words
• made up of “to” plus a verb:
Jessica likes
(to + verb)
to eat
pizza.
Cross out all Infinitives!! They are NOT verbs!
PREPOSITIONS
Prepositional Phrase: A group of words that shows place or time (where or when an action takes place) and
contains a preposition word plus a noun.
Examples:
S
V
I
P
Jane likes to go (to the camp).
S
V
P
My sister eats (before noon).
S V
The cat sits
Adjective
P
(behind the door).
A word that describes a noun
Example:
That whining baby is getting on my frazzled nerves!
Main Subject
Example:
The one word that best tells what the sentence is about
My poor old dog panted heavily after out morning run. (dog is the Main Subject)
Complete Subject
Example:
Helping Verbs
Example:
Complete Verb
Example:
Adverbs
Example:
All the words that describe the main subject
My poor old dog panted heavily after out morning run. (My poor old dog is the Complete Subject)
Words that help the main verb show the action
She should have eaten all of her vegetables.
(should have are the helping verbs)
All the words that describe the main verb
She should have eaten all of her vegetables.
(should have eaten is the complete verb)
Words that add information about the action of the subject of the sentence.
They show: when, where, how, to what extent (how often, how much) the action takes place
The children shouted loudly as they waved to the passing cars. (loudly is the adverb describing waved)
SENTENCE WRITING FORMULAS
Below are the formulas for writing different types of sentences followed by an example. Note that 4
different types of sentences are taught, each of which have several different formulas:
SIMPLE SENTENCES:
SV: Simple Subject, Simple Verb
The monkey hangs by his tail.
SVV: Compound Subject, Simple Verb
The plane and the helicopter flew over the stadium.
My brother and his friend camped out in our backyard.
SVV: Simple Subject, Compound Verb
Lightning struck and burned our house beyond repair.
SSVV: Compound Subject, Compound Verb
The man and boy ate hot dogs and watched the game on TV.
COMPOUND SENTENCES:
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses.
A coordinating conjunction is a word that is used with a comma to join two independent clauses.
Coordinating Conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Compound Sentence Formulas:
I , c I formula: I = Independent clause, comma, c = coordinating conjunction,
(2nd) Independent clause
Example:
Kevin did not want to hurt Amy's feelings , so he said nothing about her mistake.
I ; I formula: I = Independent clause, semicolon, (2nd) Independent clause
Example:
There is no time to go back to the house now; the plane leaves in one hour!
Common Conjunctive Adverbs used in which independent clauses are joined with a
semicolon:
besides
however
because
meanwhile
furthermore otherwise
similarly
then
therefore
Example:
The gray horse galloped across the glistening field; meanwhile, the sun slowly sank below the
tree-lined horizon.
COMPLEX SENTENCES:
A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone.
Example:
I like Sally because she is funny. (because is a subordinating conjunction)
Note: Subordinating conjunctions are words that show the relationship of the dependent clause
to the independent clause. Other examples of subordinating conjunctions:
as if
as long as
as soon as
as though
because
before
in order that
just as
like
once
provided
rather than
Complex Sentence Formulas:
DI
Dependent Clause First (comma needed)
Example:
When I get to Phoenix, you will be sleeping.
ID
Independent Clause First (comma not needed)
Example:
You will be sleeping when I get to Phoenix.
COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES:
though
unless
until
when
whenever
while
A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause.
Compound-Complex Sentence Formulas:
Dependent Clause First:
D, I, c I
Example:
When you are ready, I will call the store, and we can talk to Tim.
D, I; I
Example:
Before the trick-or-treaters came, Jill made candied apples; they were delicious.
Dependent Clause Second:
I D, c I
Example:
Jean had a headache after the party was over, so Paul cleaned up the house.
ID;I
Example:
Jennifer calls Chris whenever she feels sad; he cheers her up.
Dependent Clause Third:
I, c I D
Example:
Jean had a headache, so Paul cleaned up the house after the party was over
I;ID
Example:
The doctors were busy with the serious cases; the slightly wounded soldier quietly waited while
they worked.
Summary of Sentence Writing Formulas
SIMPLE:
COMPOUND:
SV
SSV
SVV
SSVV
I,CI
I;I
COMPLEX:
COMPOUND-COMPLEX:
D, I
ID
D,I,cI
ID,cI
I, c I D
ID;I
I, c I D
I;ID