1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. O_COMBIN.txt File Contents

O_COMBIN.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

Name: <  >
Class: <  >
Date: <  >


Combining

You know a lot about writing sentences. There are long ones. There are short ones. It's important to look at the sentences you write. You can revise. You can combine some short sentences. You can do that often. Doing this will make your ideas flow. That is better.

Would you want to read an essay or a story that was made up of sentences like those above? It sounds like a shopping list! Or a telephone book!

Here are the same ideas after the sentences were revised:

You know a lot about writing sentences. For example, you know that there are long ones and short ones. It's important to look at the sentences you write to see if you can revise them. Often you can combine some short sentences to make your ideas flow better.

Notice how some sentences were combined! Don't they sound better?

====================

You already know how useful connecting words can be to combine ideas. Here are some good ones:

because
since
but
if
when
while
and

For practice, choose from this list to complete the little speech below. Type a connecting word in each <  >.

"I would make a good school president <  > I am fair, dependable, <  > well-organized 
<  > I'm not shy, I would make good speeches <  > not long speeches. <  > you elect me, I'll make some changes around here. <  > I'm president, there will be two-hour recesses <  > I think kids need more free time."

[Suppose you were the candidate writing this speech. Add a sentence of your own at <  > below, to finish the speech.]

<  >


Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

====================

Sentence combining is a revising skill that you can use to improve any kind of writing. Below is the first draft for a science report on chameleons. You, the editor, can make it much better by combining some of the sentences. Think about connecting words you can use. Of course, you'll have to delete repetitious words, move some words around, and change punctuation in places. Talk over each sentence with your partner and collaborate on the revisions.

First copy the work below to the next screen at the <  >, and do your revising there.

Chameleons

Chameleons are lizards. The lizards are remarkable. They change color. They match their surroundings. They are often the color of leaves. They are green. They are yellow. They are brown. Some turn reddish. Some turn almost black.

A chameleon creeps along a branch. Its creeping is cautious. Its body sways back and forth. It looks like a leaf. The leaf is stirred by the breeze. To catch insects, a chameleon depends on surprise. It also depends on its tongue. Its tongue is long. Its tongue is sticky. Its tongue is lightning-quick. The chameleon can look in all directions at once. Each bulging eye can move independently. Each can move up. Each can move down. Each can move forward or backward.

Certain characteristics enable the chameleon to survive. One characteristic is the ability to disguise itself. One characteristic is the ability to surprise its prey. Another is the ability to see in all directions at once.


====================

Copy of work to be revised 

<  >

When you're finished, compare your revision with another group's (or with another person's revision). Make any changes in your revision that you would like to.

When you revise your own writing, look for opportunities to improve sentences by combining them. Remember -- You Are the Editor! ! ! ! ! !


If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.).

====================

end of activity
Copyright Renaissance Learning, Inc.