Sentence+Imitating

1. Sentence imitating is the act of imitating the way that other writers, famous ones in this case write. The theory is that by imitating successful writers over and over the skills they have with writing will be imparted upon the person doing the practicing. The method can work with any form of grammar that you want to teach and can be very relevant for teaching in context if you use sentences drawn from material you are teaching in the class at the moment.

2. Example: Clauses as sentence openers.

Model: **In the city, when the word came to him,** he walked about at night through the streets, thinking about the manner. Sherwood Anderson, //"Winesburg, Ohio."//

Scrambled imitation: 1.a. wondering about his boss b. from the start c. Jackson worried constantly in dread during the day d. because the store opened with haste.

Answer: **From the start, because the store had opened with haste,** Jackson worried constantly in dread during the day, wondering about his boss.

3. This method can be effectively used for teaching in context as well as trying to improve the overall writing ability of students. I think that the best method for using it would to integrate it into the materials and curriculum we already have as it works in a way that can be easily done. Teachers should be able to assign reading for the night and the next day for a few minutes students can engage in sentence imitating examples from the work. That way you have a grammar lesson that is not isolated. It concerns the material being taught at the moment while also being versatile enough to impart any grammar lesson you need depending where you focus the lens of your selection.

More examples:
 * Absolute Phrase**


 * Model:** The motorcycle on the sidewalk speeded up and skidded obliquely into a plate-glass window, **the front wheel bucking and climbing the brick base beneath the window.** Frank Rooney, //"Cyclist's Raid"//


 * Scrambled Imitations:**

1.a. the other customers rallying and demanding the same reduction in cost b. one costumer in the line spoke out c. about the unfair price d. and ranted continuously

One customer in the line spoke out and ranted continuously about the unfair price, **the other customers rallying and demanding the same reduction in the cost.**

2.a. and moved quickly b. one couple heading and leading the rest through the complicated steps c. into two lines d.several dancers near the band joined together

Several dancers near the band joined together and moved quickly into two lines, **one couple heading and leading the rest through complicated steps.**


 * Activity Nine, Practice One**

1. Model: The bear dropped to all fours, whimpering.

My sentence: The class scattered in all directions, running.

2. Model: As time went on, I began to depend more and more on my left foot for everything.

My sentence: When the winner appeared in the stadium, the crowd started to shout louder and louder.

3. Model: Dazed, suffering intolerable pain from throat and tongue, with the life half throttled out of him, Buck attempted to face his tormenters.

My sentence: Refreshed, much improved because of vacation from pressure and performance, feeling tremendous relief, he started to swing his tennis racket.

4. Model: He felt a heavy, sighing peace, like a soldier who has been comfortably wounded and knows that war for him is over.

My sentence: He spoke one slow, nervous sentence of honesty, like a friend who has been hurt and believes that expressions of honesty now must be guarded.

5. Model: Six boys came over the hill half an hour early that afternoon, running hard, their heads down, their forearms working, their breath whistling.

My sentence: Prom dancers spun around during the last dance of that night, their arms up, stomping loudly, the band blaring in the gym.


 * Activity 11, Practice 2**

1. In the home up the street of where the murder had happened, there sat an unmarked grave which an unknown pious man had set up to remember the dead that nobody would remember.

2. There was also a homeless man, who, from the scattered bottles and torn sleeping bag, came there each night.

3. The fevered noise was there and the scent of color, lying, and the bright screaming light upon them.

4. The sound echoed on the slated walls and into the ears of the people swaying, swaying, their heads thrown back against the night sky.