Writing inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’: varying sentence types to create rhythm | English

Starter quiz

Match each term to its definition.
- verb
  
  ⇔
  
  a doing or being word ✓
- pronoun
  
  ⇔
  
  a word that replaces an already named noun ✓
- proper noun
  
  ⇔
  
  the name of a specific person, place or thing ✓
- subject
  
  ⇔
  
  the person or thing doing the main verb in the sentence ✓
Match each sentence type to its definition.
- simple sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  has one verb ✓
- compound sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  joins two simple sentences together with connectives ✓
- complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause ✓
In ‘Skin of the Sea’, why is Simidele following the ship in the opening of the novel?
- to punish the slavers
- to protect the ship from sharks
- to rescue the souls of those who are thrown overboard ✓
- to try and become mortal again
- by instinct
Starting with the first plot point, order these events from the opening of ‘Skin of the Sea’.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele is swimming alongside a ship and some sharks.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele has a flashback to when she was a mortal.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele is sad that she can’t remember more of her flashback.
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele refocuses on the ship.
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele sees a body in the water.
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele doesn’t allow the sharks to touch the body.
- 7
  
  ⇔
  
  Simidele looks at the woman who has been badly beaten.
Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’, are complete sentences?
- Even though there were sharks.
- Simidele swam. ✓
- The ship plunged up and down. ✓
- Which was terrifying for her.
- Despite the crashing of the waves, Simidele followed the ship easily. ✓
Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’, are accurate sentences?
- The ship was tossed violently in the storm. ✓
- The storm, which was aggressive.
- Crashing from side to side, the ship continued to move forward. ✓
- The storm didn’t scare her. ✓
- Furious and full of burning anger.

Exit quiz

A ______ sentence is a sentence that has a main clause and a subordinate clause.
- 'complex' ✓
What is true of a complex sentence?
- They are always about complex ideas.
- They include at least one subordinate clause. ✓
- They are the best type of sentence to use to show off your skills.
- You must always contrast a complex sentence with a simple sentence.
- They always include at least one main clause. ✓
Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’, are complex sentences?
- Simidele travelled for many miles with the ship.
- Whilst there were many Mami Watas.
- Even though Simidele could control the sharks, she still feared them. ✓
- Menacingly hungry, the sharks followed the ship. ✓
Which of these complex sentences, all inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’, is punctuated correctly?
- Although Simidele is a Mami Wata she was once mortal.
- Although Simidele, is a Mami Wata she was once mortal.
- Although, Simidele is a Mami Wata she was once mortal.
- Although Simidele is a Mami Wata, she was once mortal. ✓
Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea', uses the word 'defiantly' correctly?
- The sharks obeyed Simidele’s orders defiantly.
- Simidele remembered her defiant mission to gather the souls of the enslaved.
- The sharks disobeyed Simidele’s orders defiantly. ✓
- Simidele was grateful to Yemoja and defied her at every opportunity.
Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘Skin of the Sea’, use the word oscillates correctly?
- Many on the ship felt sick as it oscillated from side to side. ✓
- The calm waters made the ship oscillate.
- The sharks oscillated as they swam, taking one steady, straight course.
- The ship oscillated, buffeted by the wind and rain. ✓

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

A complex sentence is made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause.
Complex sentences are divided by a comma when the subordinate clause begins the sentence.
Writers use a range of sentence types and lengths in their work to create rhythm and pace.
You should consider the rhythm of your own writing just as you would consider which word to use, or which technique.

Common misconception

The term complex sentence is a synonym for a long sentence.

A complex sentence is a technical term. It refers to a sentence that has a main clause and a subordinate clause. Sentences can be long but if they don't have a subordinate clause, they are not a complex sentence.

Keywords

Rhythm - the beat, flow, or pattern of a piece of music or writing.
Oscillate - to move repeatedly from side to side.
Defiant - boldly disobedient.
Subordinate clause - a clause of a sentence which doesn’t make sense by itself.
Complex sentence - a sentence made up of a main clause (a sentence which makes sense by itself) and a subordinate clause.