Sentence FluencySentence Fluency

A lesson on writing smooth, rhythmic

sentences.

Sentence Fluency

• rhythm and flow of words• poetic and musical

• sound of word patterns• easy to read aloud• natural cadence

• formation of sentences• smooth phrasing• length enhances meaning

Characteristics of Sentence Fluency

• a variety of sentence beginnings

• a variety of sentence lengths

• Rhythm

• Transitions

Hesse’s Sentence Beginnings

Notice how Herman Hesse begins the sentences in the first paragraph of Siddhartha. Click on the sound button to hear a reading of these sentences.

Hesse’s Sentence Beginnings

Sentence 1

Sentences 2, 5 and 6

Sentences 3 and 4

Hesse’s Sentence Lengths

Parallelism and Repetition Create Rhythm

Hesse uses parallelism – the repetition of a grammatical structure – and repetition to

create rhythm in Siddhartha.

Parallelism

Parallelism in writing is similar to parallel lines in math.

Repetition is just that, repeating words, phrases or sentences.

Parallelism and Repetition

He already knew…to speak it silently into himself while inhaling…

He already knew how to speak the Om silently, the word of words, to speak it silently into himself while inhaling, to speak it silently out of himself while exhaling, with all the concentration of his soul, the forehead surrounded by the glow of the clear-thinking spirit.

He already knew…to speak it silently out of himself while exhaling…

The End