Understanding Sentence Fluency in Writing
Sentence fluency in writing refers to the graceful, varied, and rhythmic flow of sentences that are easy to read aloud and well-structured. It involves logical and creative phrasing, parallel construction, and attention to word order. Mem Fox emphasizes the importance of beautifully crafted sentences that engage readers. Writers working on sentence fluency focus on phrasing, quality, sentence variety, transitions, and creating patterns in their writing to enhance the overall reading experience. It goes beyond correct structure to emphasize sentence variety and flexibility in conveying meaning.
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Sentence Fluency What do we mean by sentence fluency?
Fluent writing is graceful, varied, rhythmic-almost musical. It s easy to read aloud. Sentences are well built. They move. They are varied in structure and length. Strong sentence fluency is marked by logic, creative phrasing, parallel construction, alliteration and word order that makes reading feel natural.
Sentence fluency has two important dimensions: The grammar that makes a group of words a sentence and the way the sentences sound to the ear. 6+1 Traits of Writing
Mem Fox says While conflict, fear, heartache and humor may be desirable, they are not sufficient to hold the attention of readers. It s fine writing that keeps the audience rapt: it s exquisitely constructed sentences; it s carefully honed cadences; it s the marvellous satisfaction of the sensual rhythm of perfect prose.
Signs that writers are working well with the sentence fluency trait include: Working with several words in a row, with attention to phrasing. Being more concerned about sentence quality than sentence correctness. Experimenting with different sentence beginnings. Crafting sentences of various lengths. Weaving questions and statements into the text. Using transitional words to connect one sentence to the next. Repeating sounds, words and phrases to create a pattern. Writing passages that can be read aloud with ease. 6+1 Traits of Writing
Mem Fox wonders whether we, as teachers of writers, focus too much on the mind, or did we ever know, the explosive power, the necessity of focusing also on the ear.
Sentence fluency is more than teaching writers to use correct sentence structure. The scoring guide emphasises sentence variety and correctness, but also stresses how those sentences word together to create a fluent piece of writing To become fluent, students need to look at sentence structures as flexible-able to be bent and shaped to convey meaning. 6+1 Traits of Writing
Signs that writers are working well with the sentence fluency trait include: Working with several words in a row, with attention to phrasing. Being more concerned about sentence quality than sentence correctness. Experimenting with different sentence beginnings. Crafting sentences of various lengths. Weaving questions and statements into the text. Using transitional words to connect one sentence to the next. Repeating sounds, words and phrases to create a pattern. Writing passages that can be read aloud with ease. 6+1 Traits of Writing
Three key qualities of sentence fluency: 1. Establishing flow, rhythm and cadence Learning to hear the page means listening to how the words work together in sentences. To develop an acuity for fluency, student writers must use both their eyes and their ears as they write.
Three key qualities of sentence fluency: 2. Varying sentence length and structure How the sentence sounds to the ear depends greatly on their construction.
Three key qualities of sentence fluency: 3. Constructing sentences that enhance meaning The way sentences are constructed can serve to enhance the idea or obscure it. When a writer is trying to make a point, drive home an issue, or take a stand, a short declarative sentence is perfect. However, if the writer is trying to set the scene for a story at the beach, a cool winter mist hovering over the waterline and a calming stillness to the air, the ideas are better served by a more complex sentence pattern that allows the writer to explore the senses and create a picture in the mind
Teaching Sentence Fluency One of the best ways to teach fluency is to read beautifully written pieces to students. Use poetry. Poetry helps early writers make rhythms in language. Play music as students write. Allow students to talk and share, during the writing process. Deconstruct text to allow students to become familiar with the techniques used by authors. Encourage students to edit their work aloud.
