ESL 970G Advanced Grammar and Editing

Writing Assignment: Sentences with Adverb, Noun, and Adjective Clauses

Write ten complex or compound-complex sentences related to a topic of your choice. Compose at least two sentences with adverbial clauses, two sentences with noun clauses, and three sentences with relative clauses (at least one restrictive and one nonrestrictive). Set each dependent clause in square brackets. Use a different subordinator in each sentence. Include count and noncount nouns. Pay attention to prepositions, articles, determiners, noun forms, verb forms, and punctuation. On the appropriate discussion board, type a suitable title in the subject line, and enter the sentences in the body of the message. Annotate each sentence with an explanation of the complex sentence structure.

Entering an ESL Essay Contest

Marsha Chan

Mission College, where I teach, has an ESL program that offers classes for beginner to advanced students. Some students who take my classes have studied English for many years. After students have completed ESL 960 courses, they are eligible for 970G. Students can waive the ESL 960 course prerequisites if they demonstrate that they have learned English elsewhere. Advanced Grammar students realize that they need to review and refine their sentence writing skills so that they will be able to communicate more effectively. Diligent students try to learn whenever, however, wherever, and whatever they can during the semester.

In Fall 2006, when an adult essay contest was announced, Kim Le, an engineer, submitted an essay. Although she did not win that particular contest, she was among the top ten of over sixty submissions. Her essay A Profound Change was published in the Mission College Counseling Connections and the TESOL Newsletter As We Speak, which made me very proud and gave her confidence a big boost.. Whenever you wonder whether you can accomplish something, just remember that you can do whatever you put your mind to.

185 words

Sentence Structure Analysis

[dependent clause]
subordinator
Adverbial clause
Restrictive relative adjective clause
Nonrestrictive relative adverb clause
Noun Clause

Mission College, [where I teach], has an ESL program [that offers classes for beginner to advanced students].
Nonrestrictive relative adverb clause (NR rel adv cl)
Restrictive relative adjective clause (Res rel adj cl)
where = at Mission College
that = program, subj of offers
Some of the students [who take my classes] have studied English for many years.
Res rel adj cl
who = students, subj of take
[After students have completed ESL 960 courses], they are eligible for 970G.
Adv cl of time
Students can waive the ESL 960 course prerequisites [if they demonstrate [that they have learned English elsewhere]].
Adv cl of condition
N cl = obj of demonstrate
Advanced Grammar students realize [that they need to review and refine their sentence writing skills] [so that they will be able to communicate more effectively].
N cl = obj of realize
Adv cl of result
Diligent students try to learn [whenever, however, wherever, and whatever they can during the semester].
N cl = obj of learn
In Fall 2006, [when an adult essay contest was announced], Kim Le, an engineer, wrote and submitted an essay.
Adv cl of time
[Although she did not win that particular contest], she was among the top ten of over sixty submissions.
Adv cl of contrast
Her essay "A Profound Change" was published in the Mission College Counseling Connections and the TESOL Newsletter As We Speak, [which made me very proud and gave her confidence a big boost].
NR rel adv cl modifies the whole previous clause
[Whenever you wonder [whether you can accomplish something]], just remember [that you can do [whatever you put your mind to]].
Adv cl of time
N cl = obj of wonder
N cl = obj of remember
N cl = obj of do

Vocabulary Analysis

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A Profound Change

Click here to read the essay by Kim Le

Writing Assignment

Mission College AngelLearning