Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sentence 7

His sentence:
Dr. Johnson, suspecting nothing so grave as this, had sent Johnny into Greenfield that morning--luckily with a nurse--for his metabloism test.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

This sentence uses two appositive phrases. One set apart by commas and the other set apart by dashes.

My sentence:
The mother, hoping that everything was alright, had rushed to the hospital that evening--luckily wtih a friend--for her son.

Sentence 6

His sentence:
I talked to Traeger, I called Deerfield back, I got in touch with Frances who was out in Madison, I reached Putnam, I consulted Traeger once more, and by half-past four I was at 168th Street, waiting in Putnam's office.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

In this sentence, Gunther uses a series of parallel phrases telling what all he did--leading up to where he was.

My sentence:
I went to work, I got food, I got to the school, I organized everything I needed, I talked with my friends, and by twelve o'clock I was ready for the band competition, waiting in the band room.

Sentence 5

His sentence:
He was always obedient--if only because he wanted so desperately to get well.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

The sentence is set apart by a dash--describing why he was obedient.

My sentence:
Bob was always sweet--if only because he wished so badly to have a girlfriend.

Sentence 4

His sentence:
Johnny's generosity--he would give anything away--his affectionateness and amiability, concealed a considerable sturdiness of character.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses an appositive phrase set apart by dashes, giving more incite about Johnny and his character. Then, the sentence continues on describing more about him by listing--showing more of what his character was like.

My sentence:
Karen's love--she would care for anybody--her affection and grace, held a sturdiness of character.

Sentence 3

His sentence:
His intelligence was, above all, detached and reasonable--and what is a mind for, except to reason with?
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

He describes "his intelligence" by using an appositive and descriptive words. Then, he uses a dash to, once again, go into deeper thought, leaving the sentence as a rhetorical question.

My sentence:
Her clothes were, above all, cute and fashionable--and what are clothes for, except to characterize with?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sentence 2

His sentence:
From Frances he got a tremendous lot--his gift for fantasy, the realism and long view of his intelligence, his delicacy of perception, his creative curiosity.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Using a prepostional phrase, Gunther explains the main topic of his sentence. Then, he goes into deeper thought telling why it was a tremendous lot by using a dash that follows parallel phrases.

My sentence:
From restrauants he got amazing service--his food for taste, the greatness and politeness of his waitress, his moment of relaxing, his satisfied body.

Sentence 1

His sentence:
As the prize in one of the quizzes he won, he chose an advanced college text on the atom--something far beyond his powers at the time.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther is using continual prepositional phrases leading up to the main point he is trying to make. Then, he uses a dash to go into deeper meaning and thought about the subject.

My sentence:
As the group of students in one of the classes had done, they chose a challenging topic of history--something more advanced than their brains could understand at that age.