Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing
Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing
Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing Basics
Sentence structure refers to the physical nature of a sentence and how the elements of that sentence are presented. Just like word choice, writers should strive to vary their sentence structure to create rhythmic prose and keep their reader interested. Sentences that require a variation often repeat subjects, lengths, or types.
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Related information about varying sentence structures listed below can be found through later in this Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing post:
Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences
Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Parallel Construction
Relative, Restrictive, and Nonrestrictive Clauses
Conjunctions
Modifiers
Commas
Semicolons
Read more on the above 8 topics herebelow.
Varying Subject or Word Choice
One of the easiest ways to spot text that requires variety is by noting how each sentence opens. Writers can often overuse the same word, like an author’s name, or a subject, like pronouns to refer to an author, when beginning sentences. This lack of subject variety can be distracting to a reader. Review the following paragraph’s sentence variety:
My philosophy of education is derived from my personal experiences. I have been an educator for 4 years, and I have learned a lot from more experienced teachers in my district. I also work mainly with students from a low socioeconomic background; my background was quite different. I will discuss how all of these elements, along with scholarly texts, have impacted my educational philosophy. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Notice how the writer of this paragraph starts each sentence and clause with a personal pronoun. While the writer does alternate between “I” and “my”, both pronouns refer to the same subject. This repetition of personal pronouns is most common when writing a Personal Development Plan (PDP) or other personal papers. To avoid this type of repetition, try adjusting the placement of prepositional phrases or dependent clauses so the subject does not open each sentence:
My philosophy of education is derived from my personal experiences. Having been an educator for 4 years, I have learned a lot from more experienced teachers in my district. I also work mainly with students from a low socioeconomic background that is quite different from mine. In this paper, I will discuss how all of these elements, along with scholarly texts, have impacted my educational philosophy.
Varying Sentence Length
Another way to spot needed sentence variety is through the length of each sentence. Repeating longer sentences can inundate a reader and overshadow arguments, while frequently relying on shorter sentences can make an argument feel rushed or stunted. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Overusing Long Sentences
The company reported that yearly profit growth, which had steadily increased by more than 7% since 1989, had stabilized in 2009 with a 0% comp, and in 2010, the year they launched the OWN project, actually decreased from the previous year by 2%. This announcement stunned Wall Street analysts, but with the overall decrease in similar company profit growth worldwide, as reported by Author (Year) in his article detailing the company’s history, the company’s announcement aligns with industry trends and future industry predictions. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Notice how this paragraph is comprised of just two sentences. While each clause does provide relevant information, the reader may have difficulty identifying the subject and purpose of the whole paragraph.
Overusing Short Sentences
In 2010, the company’s yearly profit growth decreased from the previous year by 2%. This was the year they launched the OWN project. The profit growth had steadily increased by more than 7% since 1989. (They stabilized in 2009.) This announcement stunned Wall Street analysts. However, it aligns with the decrease in similar company profit growth worldwide. It also supports future predictions for the industry (Author, Year).
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Notice how this paragraph uses the same information as the previous one but breaks it into seven sentences. While the information is more digestible through these shorter sentences, the reader may not know what information is the most pertinent to the paragraph’s purpose. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Alternating Sentence Length
Alternating between lengths allows writers to use sentences strategically, emphasizing important points through short sentences and telling stories with longer ones:
The company reported that profit growth stabilized in 2009, though it had steadily increased by more than 7% since 1989. In 2010, the year they launch the OWN project, company profit growth decreased from the previous year. This announcement stunned Wall Street analysts. According to Author (Year), however, this decrease is exemplar of a trend across similar company profit growth worldwide; it also supports future predictions for the industry.
Varying Sentence Type
One of the trickiest patterns to spot is that of repetitive sentence type. Just like subject and length, overusing a sentence type can hinder a reader’s engagement with a text. There are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. Each sentence is defined by the use of independent and dependent clauses, conjunctions, and subordinators.
Simple sentences: A simple sentence is an independent clause with no conjunction or dependent clause.
Compound sentences: A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so). Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Complex sentences: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The clauses in a complex sentence are combined with conjunctions and subordinators, terms that help the dependent clauses relate to the independent clause. Subordinators can refer to the subject (who, which), the sequence/time (since, while), or the causal elements (because, if) of the independent clause.
Compound-complex sentences: A compound-complex sentence contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. These sentences will contain both conjunctions and subordinators.
Understanding sentence type will help writers note areas that should be varied through the use of clauses, conjunctions, and subordinators.
In her article, Author (Year) noted that the participants did not see a change in symptoms after the treatment. Even during the treatment, Author observed no change in the statements from the participants regarding their symptoms. Based on these findings, I will not use this article for my final project. Because my project will rely on articles that note symptom improvement, Author’s work is not applicable.
Notice how the writer relies solely on complex sentences in this paragraph, even placing dependent clauses at the beginning of each sentence. Here is an example of merely adjusting the placement of these dependent clauses but not the sentence type:
In her article, Author (Year) noted that the participants did not see a change in symptoms after the treatment. Author observed, even during treatment, no change in the statements from the participants regarding their symptoms. I will not use this article for my final project based on these findings. Because my project will rely on articles that note symptom improvement, Author’s work is not applicable. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
While this change in the placement of dependent clauses does avoid a repetitive rhythm to the paragraph, try combining sentences or using conjunctions to create compound or compound-complex sentences to vary sentence type:
In her article, Author (Year) noted that the participants did not see a change in symptoms after the treatment. Author observed, even during treatment, no change in the statements from the participants regarding their symptoms, and based on these findings, I will not use this article for my final project. Because my project will rely on articles that note symptom improvement, Author’s work is not applicable.
Making these slight adjustments to sentence type helps the reader engage with the narrative rather than focus on the structure of the text. Adjusting your sentence type during a final revision is a great way to create effective prose for any scholarly document. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
1. Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences
Definitions and Examples of Basic Sentence Elements
Key: Yellow, bold = subject; green underline = verb, blue, italics = object, pink, regular font = prepositional phrase
Independent clause: An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and is a complete idea.
I like spaghetti.
He readsmany books.
Dependent clause: A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be attached to an independent clause to become complete. This is also known as a subordinate clause.
Although I like spaghetti,…
Because he reads many books,…
Subject: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that does an action. Determine the subject in a sentence by asking the question “Who or what?”
I like spaghetti.
He reads many books.
Verb: Expresses what the person, animal, place, thing, or concept does. Determine the verb in a sentence by asking the question “What was the action or what happened?” Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Ilike spaghetti.
Hereads many books.
The movieisgood. (The be verb is also sometimes referred to as a copula or a linking verb. It links the subject, in this case the movie, to the complement or the predicate of the sentence, in this case, good.) Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Object: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that receives the action. Determine the object in a sentence by asking the question “The subject did what?” or “To whom?/For whom?”
I like spaghetti.
He reads many books.
Prepositional Phrase: A phrase that begins with a preposition (i.e., in, at for, behind, until, after, of, during) and modifies a word in the sentence. A prepositional phrase answers one of many questions. Here are a few examples: “Where? When? In what way?”
I like spaghetti for dinner.
He reads many books in the library.
English Sentence Structure
The following statements are true about sentences in English:
A new sentence begins with a capital letter.
He obtained his degree.
A sentence ends with punctuation (a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point).
He obtained his degree.
A sentence contains a subject that is only given once.
Smith he obtained his degree.
Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
A sentence contains a verb or a verb phrase.
He obtained his degree.
A sentence follows Subject + Verb + Object word order.
He (subject) obtained (verb) his degree (object).
A sentence must have a complete idea that stands alone. This is also called an independent clause.
He obtained his degree.
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and modifiers. However, it contains only one independent clause.
Key: Yellow, bold= subject; green underline = verb, blue, italics = object, pink, regular font =prepositional phrase
Here are a few examples:
Sheread.
Shecompleted her literature review.
He organized his sources by theme.
They studied APA rules for many hours.
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses. These two independent clauses can be combined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon.
Key: independent clause = yellow, bold; comma or semicolon = pink, regular font; coordinating conjunction = green, underlined
Here are a few examples:
She completed her literature review, andshe created her reference list.
He organized his sources by theme;then, he updated his reference list.
They studied APA rules for many hours, butthey realized there was still much to learn.
Using some compound sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety.
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains at least one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Dependent clauses can refer to the subject (who, which) the sequence/time (since, while), or the causal elements (because, if) of the independent clause.
If a sentence begins with a dependent clause, note the comma after this clause. If, on the other hand, the sentence begins with an independent clause, there is not a comma separating the two clauses.
Key: independent clause = yellow, bold; comma = pink, regular font; dependent clause = blue, italics
Here are a few examples:
Although she completed her literature review,she still needed to work on her methods section.
Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
Because he organized his sources by theme,it was easier for his readers to follow.
Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
They studied APA rules for many hours as they were so interesting.
Note that there is no comma in this sentence because it begins with an independent clause.
Using some complex sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety.
Compound-Complex Sentences
Sentence types can also be combined. A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Key: independent clause = yellow, bold; comma or semicolon = pink, regular font; coordinating conjunction = green, underlined; dependent clause = blue, italics
She completed her literature review,but she still needs to work on her methods section even though she finished her methods course last semester.
Although he organized his sources by theme,he decided to arrange them chronologically, andhe carefully followed the MEAL plan for organization.
With pizza and soda at hand,they studied APA rules for many hours,andthey decided that writing in APA made sensebecause it was clear, concise, and objective.
Using some complex-compound sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety.
Pay close attention to comma usage in complex-compound sentences so that the reader is easily able to follow the intended meaning.
2. Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as complete sentences) are connected improperly. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Example: I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.
There are two complete sentences in the above example:
Sentence 1: I love to write papers.
Sentence 2: I would write one every day if I had the time.
One common type of run-on sentence is a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.
Example of a comma splice: Participants could leave the study at any time, they needed to indicate their preference.
Sentence 1: Participants could leave the study at any time.
Sentence 2: They needed to indicate their preference.
Some comma splices occur when a writer attempts to use a transitional expression in the middle of a sentence.
Example of a comma splice: The results of the study were inconclusive, therefore more research needs to be done on the topic.
Sentence 1: The results of the study were inconclusive
Transitional expression (conjunctive adverb): therefore
Sentence 2: More research needs to be done on the topic
To fix this type of comma splice, use a semicolon before the transitional expression and add a comma after it. See more examples of this on the semicolon page.
Revision: The results of the study were inconclusive; therefore, more research needs to be done on the topic.
You can correct a run-on sentence by connecting or separating its parts correctly. There are several easy ways to connect independent clauses. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Correcting Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to connect independent clauses.
Use a period. The easiest way to fix a run-on is to split the sentence into smaller sentences using a period. This revision works especially well with longer sentences. Check, however, to make sure that this solution does not result in short, choppy sentences.
Revision example: I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.
Use a semicolon. Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a grammatically correct sentence. Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a close relationship between the two sentences.
Revision example: I love to write papers; I would write one every day if I had the time.
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction. A comma, paired with a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or or), corrects a run-on sentence. This method emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses.
Revision example: I love to write papers, and I would write one every day if I had the time.
Use a subordinating conjunction. Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause. A subordinating conjunction (such as because, unless, and although) connects two clauses to create a complex sentence. This option works to cement the relationship between the two parts of the sentence and may improve the flow of the clauses.
Example: Because I love to write papers, I would write one every day if I had the time.
However you decide to revise for run-on sentences, remember that maintaining sentence variety helps to keep the writing clear and interesting for your readers.
Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a string of words that does not form a complete sentence; there is a necessary component of a complete sentence missing. This missing component may be a subject (usually a noun) or a predicate (verb or verb phrase) and/or when the sentence does not express a complete idea. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Here is an example of a fragment with a missing subject.
Example of a fragment: Shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.
The sentence above is a fragment since there is no subject (Who shows no improvement?). Fragments can be corrected by identifying the missing element and including it.
Revision:
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