Literature

Prepare to reveal your writing to your classmates' judging eyes...

**An Examination of Style**

The PSSA defines style as “precise control of language, stylistic techniques, and sentence structures that creates a consistent and effective tone.” For this assignment, we will examine sentence structures.

//If you are even considering what might constitute strong, vigorous, energetic and clear sentences - you are already far in advance of wherever you were before you were conscious of the sentence as something deserving our deep respect and enraptured attention.// -Francine Prose

1. Read the essays posted by the other members in your group. For each essay, identify a sentence that conveys a distinctive tone and explain how the structure creates the specific tone. Consider length, punctuation, transitional devices, modifiers, interruptions, rhythm, etc. 2. In addition to part one, identify another aspect of the work that you found either interesting or impressive. Briefly explain.
 * Directions**

DUE: WEDNESDAY

Hannah closes her second paragraph by stating, “I only had one thought on my mind, getting it all over with. Whatever it was.” I’m often impressed by brevity, and in this case the sentence emphasizes an idea that has been building up for the entire paragraph. Placing the sentence at the end of the paragraph also adds weight to the words. Grammatically, the sentence is a subordinate clause – it technically shouldn’t stand alone. Instead of being distracting, however, the fragment expresses the author’s confusion and simultaneously tightens the focus. On an unrelated matter, the sentence also reminds me of the Zac Brown Band song “Whatever it is.” **
 * Sample