Grammar and Language Workbook

323
Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Name ___________________________________________________ Class _________ Date ____________________
Composition

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 Exercise 2
Organize the following topics and details into an outline for a report on air
pollution. Create three main topics in your outline.
Photochemical smog
Exhaust from vehicles
Eyes water and sting
Heart and brain receive less oxygen
Acid rain
Types of air pollution
Industry
Trash burning
Major causes of air pollution
Smog
Effects of air pollution on our health
Irritates nose, throat, and lungs
Sulfurous smog
Name ___________________________________________________ Class _________ Date ____________________
324 
Grammar and Language Workbook, Grade 12
Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Composition

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Lesson 107
Writing Effective Sentences
Effective sentences are one of the most powerful tools a writer has. You can alter the tone
and style of your writing simply by changing the patterns of your sentences. Consider
these strategies when writing sentences. Vary the length of your sentences. Don’t use all
long sentences or all short sentences. Also vary the structure of your sentences.
Following a rigid sentence pattern can become repetitive and boring. In some cases,
parallelism (the deliberate repetition of certain words, phrases, or sentence structures)
can be used to achieve a desired effect. Another strategy is to use interruption for
emphasis. A sudden break in thought calls attention to itself. Use this device to
emphasize an important point or detail. Another way to add emphasis is to use an
unusual sentence pattern that stands out from the rest. 
Pay special attention to topic sentences. When writing a topic sentence for a paragraph
make it specific enough to arouse or “hook” your readers so that they will want to read on.
Use the active voice as often as possible in your sentences. In a sentence in the