complex sentences creative writing

What Is a Complex Sentence? A Guide with Examples

Marcus Froland

March 28, 2024

Understanding the building blocks of English can turn a simple conversation into an engaging story. One such cornerstone is the complex sentence . It’s not just about throwing words together; it’s about crafting sentences that breathe life into ideas. But what exactly makes a sentence complex, and why should you care?

The answer lies in the subtle dance of clauses and how they’re woven together. A complex sentence does more than convey a message; it adds depth, emotion, and clarity to what you’re trying to say. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to elevate your speaking or writing with this powerful tool, you’re in for a treat. The journey into mastering complex sentences starts here, but where it takes us is a story only time will tell.

A complex sentence is a type of sentence that combines one independent clause (a complete thought that can stand alone) with at least one dependent clause (a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence). The key to understanding complex sentences is knowing they show a relationship between ideas. This relationship often involves a connection like cause and effect, contrast, or time. For example, “Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.” Here, “Although it was raining” is the dependent clause that adds context to the independent clause “we decided to go for a walk.”

Defining the Complex Sentence in English Grammar

A complex sentence can be best understood by examining its two core components: the independent clause and the dependent clause. When you define a  complex sentence , it is essential to recognize that it contains one independent clause that could stand alone as a complete sentence, paired with at least one dependent or subordinate clause that cannot stand alone. These sentences offer enriched context and detail within writing, often employing subordinating conjunctions as grammatical markers to bind the clauses together.

Complex sentences are invaluable constructs within English grammar, offering writers the tools to express comprehensive thoughts that simple sentences cannot fully capture. The proper understanding and application of grammar rules for complex sentences enable writers to develop a well-rounded writing style that is not only grammatically accurate but also engaging and expressive.

Let’s learn more about the complex sentence structure by looking at its essential components and the relationships between them:

• Independent clause: A complete sentence consisting of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause can stand alone as a coherent thought and does not rely on other clauses for its meaning.
• Dependent clause: A group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and typically require an independent clause to convey a clear meaning. Dependent clauses often begin with a subordinating conjunction.
• Subordinating conjunction: A word or a group of words that connect dependent clauses to independent clauses. Subordinating conjunctions set the relationship between the two clauses and denote the purpose or goal of the dependent clause in the overall sentence.

‘Although the weather was harsh, they continued hiking.’ In this example, ‘Although the weather was harsh’ is the dependent clause, and ‘they continued hiking’ is the independent clause. The subordinating conjunction ‘although’ defines the relationship between the two clauses and explains the contrasting nature of the information presented.

Complex sentences are fundamental elements of English grammar that allow writers to articulate detailed and multi-layered thoughts effectively. By applying the proper grammar and understanding the relationships between independent and dependent clauses, writers can craft compelling, complex sentences to enhance their writing and communication skills.

The Anatomy of a Complex Sentence: Independent and Dependent Clauses

Complex sentences are built from the combination of independent and dependent clauses. Understanding the individual characteristics of these clauses and the role of subordinating conjunctions in connecting them is crucial to crafting effective, complex sentences in your writing.

What Makes a Clause Independent?

An independent clause is a complete sentence on its own, containing all the necessary elements, such as a subject and a predicate. It conveys a complete thought, maintaining coherence without needing any additional information, and does not rely on other clauses for its meaning. These standalone sentences can be as simple as:

“The cat sat on the mat.”

Or more complex, like:

“She studies for the exam while listening to music.”

Characteristics of Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses, on the other hand, require an independent clause to form a complete idea, as they cannot stand alone. These incomplete sentences begin with subordinating conjunctions and serve to either complement the main clause or alter its meaning by providing additional information or context. Some key dependent clause characteristics include the presence of subordinating conjunctions , their reliance on independent clauses, and their function as subordinate clauses within the sentence.

Here are some examples of dependent clauses:

• “ Because she was tired , she went to bed early.”
• “He finished his work before his boss arrived .”

How Subordinating Conjunctions Bind Ideas Together

Subordinating conjunctions are the linguistic glue connecting independent clauses to their dependent counterparts. They indicate the relationship between the two and bring depth to the sentence’s overall meaning. These conjunctions can show a wide range of relationships, such as:

By understanding the function of subordinating conjunctions in connecting clauses and the characteristics of dependent and independent clauses, you can create complex sentences that convey sophisticated thoughts. This knowledge is essential in achieving nuanced grammar subordination in your writing.

Examples of Complex Sentences to Enhance Your Writing

Understanding and applying the structure of complex sentences in writing can significantly improve the depth and quality of your writing. In this section, we’ll provide you with several complex sentence examples and tips on how to write complex sentences effectively, exploring a range of subordinating conjunctions that can create diverse complex sentences, suitable for a wide array of writing needs, from academic to creative writing.

First, let’s take a look at the influence of the dependent clause’s position on punctuation and emphasis:

When a dependent clause comes before an independent clause, it usually requires a comma before the independent clause.

If a dependent clause follows an independent clause, the comma is often omitted, considering the emphasis of the sentence.

Let’s explore some complex sentence examples that showcase these punctuation rules:

• Because she practiced every day, Sarah became an expert pianist.
• Since they were on sale, I bought three oranges.
• She decided to go for a run, even though it was raining.

Now, let us look at a number of subordinating conjunctions that can help you break up long sentences and show how they relate to each other:

Mastering the art of sentence crafting by understanding the structure of complex sentences and their punctuation rules, as well as exploring different subordinating conjunctions, can greatly enhance your writing. Providing complex sentence examples and practicing regularly will help you develop the skills needed to create compelling and diverse complex sentences for both academic and creative writing purposes.

Why Use Complex Sentences? Advantages in Communication and Writing

Complex sentences offer several advantages in both communication and writing, making them essential components of expressive and sophisticated writing . By implementing these multifaceted structures in your work, you ultimately enhance the clarity and depth of your ideas. This section will explore the key benefits of utilizing complex sentences for effective communication and creating high-quality writing.

• Introduction of additional details: Complex sentences allow writers to incorporate more information within their text, enriching the content and providing a thorough understanding for readers.
• Clarification of the time sequence: The use of complex sentences can help in establishing the order of events mentioned in your writing, enabling readers to follow along with ease.
• Showing cause and effect or contrast: With complex sentences, you can depict causal relationships or contrasts between ideas, contributing to the overall coherence and logic of your message.

By embracing the advantages of complex sentences and integrating them into your work, you will find that your writing becomes more precise and nuanced. This, in turn, makes it easier for readers to comprehend your thoughts and engage with your work.

It is crucial to highlight the significance of complex sentences in academic writing . The ability to concisely convey sophisticated connections between ideas sets complex sentences apart from other sentence structures and makes them indispensable when presenting complex topics or arguments.

“In academic writing, the ability to connect and convey ideas is what turns information into knowledge. Complex sentences are invaluable tools for achieving that goal.” – Dr. Sandra Jones, linguistics professor and author

Writers who proficiently employ complex sentences in their work demonstrate a mastery of language, as they communicate nuanced thoughts and intricate relationships between ideas with ease. It is within the domain of effective communication and sophisticated writing that complex sentences truly shine, propelling your writing to new heights of clarity and depth.

Insights from Literature: Complex Sentences Across Famous Works

Famous literary works often employ complex sentences to convey profound or intricate thoughts, thereby adding richness and texture to the narrative. These sentences encapsulate the themes, emotions, and philosophical insights of the authors, exhibiting the power of complex sentence structures to shape the reader’s experience and understanding of a text. In this section, we explore some famous complex sentences in literature and analyze their impact on the reader.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens masterfully uses a complex sentence structure to establish a stark contrast between opposing states of existence in the opening line of his novel, A Tale of Two Cities . This sentence unstintingly mirrors the tumultuous nature of the French Revolution and sets the stage for the story’s dual themes of love and hate, life and death. While this sentence structure provides an immense level of detail, it also establishes clarity by separating conflicting ideas with commas and parallelism.

“In the midst of life, we are in death: Of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?” – Thomas Cranmer, Book of Common Prayer

Thomas Cranmer’s complex sentence from the Book of Common Prayer highlights a fundamental human paradox: even as we live, we are destined to die. The dependent clause “Of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord” clarifies that our help and comfort can only come from a higher power, further deepening the significance of the sentiment expressed in the independent clause.

• Orhan Pamuk, Snow: “I would stare at the bright screen while a writer who had taken on my name and identity pretended to be inside my brain, watching me struggle with my obsessions and my life…”
• Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter: “In either case, there was very much the same solemnity of demeanour on the part of the spectators, as befitted a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical, and in whose character both were so thoroughly interfused, that the mildest and the severest acts of public discipline were alike made venerable and awful.”
• James Joyce, Ulysses: “And as he sat in Eustace Street, Dublin, tipping in the beautiful thing, he saw pass him by something of a hind whose spouse stood some distance behind, a harm done to him for a harm done to another intertwined fate with fate and for thought another thought, husband with husband.”

Above is a list of famous complex sentences from renowned literary works. These examples show the versatility and power complex sentences have in enriching narratives, providing nuanced insights, and conveying profound thoughts

The use of literary complex sentences not only enhances the reader’s experience but also demonstrates the boundless possibilities of language when writers embrace complex sentence structures in their work.

The Role of Subordinating Conjunctions in Complex Sentences

Subordinating conjunctions play a pivotal role in creating complex sentences, as they establish the connection between independent and dependent clauses. They initiate the dependent clauses and serve as vital grammatical components that guide the flow and intricacy of a complex sentence. Employing subordinating conjunctions correctly is essential for crafting complex sentences that are both structurally sound and meaningful.

• Time-related subordinating conjunctions: after, before, since, until, when, whenever
• Causal subordinating conjunctions: because, now that, since, in order that, so that
• Contrast-related subordinating conjunctions: although, though, whereas, while
• Condition-related subordinating conjunctions: if, unless, provided that, in case

Interpreting the roles of different subordinating conjunctions is crucial in understanding complex sentence composition . Recognizing and categorizing them according to their functions — such as expressing time, causality, contrast, or condition — will enable you to become proficient in conveying complex ideas and relationships through your writing.

“Although it rained all day, we decided to continue with our picnic plans because we had already prepared everything.”

In the example above, the two subordinating conjunctions — although and because — provide an insight into how these conjunctions help establish relationships between independent and dependent clauses. The first conjunction, although , portrays contrast, while the second, because , presents the motive behind the subject’s decision. This intricate composition allows the writer to effectively express a more nuanced message compared to a simple sentence.

Utilizing the appropriate subordinating conjunctions in complex sentence composition enhances the overall coherence and clarity of your writing. By mastering the correct usage of these conjunctions, you’re able to create meaningful connections between your ideas and elevate your writing to new heights.

Constructing Your Complex Sentences: Tips and Practices

Mastering the art of constructing complex sentences can greatly enhance your writing and communication skills. By following some simple tips and practices, you can effectively incorporate complex sentences into your writing and convey your ideas with greater depth and clarity.

Begin by understanding the relationship between independent and dependent clauses and the role of subordinating conjunctions . Once you have a strong grasp of these concepts, focus on balancing the rhythm of your sentences and using punctuation correctly. For instance, if a dependent clause precedes the independent clause, use a comma to separate them; if the independent clause comes first, no comma is needed unless the dependent clause is nonessential to the main idea.

Finally, practice makes perfect. Consistently analyze and create complex sentences using various subordinating conjunctions in different contexts. Consider revising and editing your writing to improve the flow and clarity of your complex sentences. By honing these skills, you will be able to produce dynamic, engaging, and informative content that resonates with your audience and effectively delivers your message.

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Mastering Complex Sentences: A Guide to Writing Like a Pro

Are you looking to improve your writing skills? One way to enhance your writing is by using complex sentences. A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. These sentences are an essential tool in writing because they allow you to convey more information and add variety to your writing.

Learning how to create complex sentences can be a challenge, but it’s a skill that can be developed with practice. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of complex sentences, provide examples of how to use them, and offer tips on how to avoid common mistakes. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to use complex sentences to improve your writing.

Understanding Complex Sentences

As you advance in your English writing skills, you will encounter complex sentences. A complex sentence is a sentence that has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. The dependent clause(s) in a complex sentence cannot stand alone as a sentence because they do not express a complete thought.

To create a complex sentence, you need to use a subordinating conjunction to connect the dependent clause to the independent clause. The subordinating conjunctions include words such as because, although, since, while, and if.

Here are some examples of complex sentences:

• Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
• Although I studied hard, I did not pass the test.
• Since it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.

In each of the above examples, the dependent clause is italicized, and the subordinating conjunction is bolded.

Complex sentences are useful when you want to provide more information to explain or modify your sentence’s main point. They can help you to express your ideas more clearly and precisely.

It is important to note that complex sentences are different from compound sentences. Compound sentences are sentences that have two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, so.

Here is an example of a compound sentence:

• I went to the store, and I bought some milk.

In this example, there are two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction “and.”

Components of Complex Sentences

Independent clauses.

An independent clause is a complete sentence that can stand alone. It contains a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought. In a complex sentence, an independent clause is joined with one or more dependent clauses.

Here are some examples of independent clauses:

• She went to the store.
• I am going to the beach.
• They are playing soccer.

Dependent Clauses

A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It contains a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought. Dependent clauses are used to provide additional information to the independent clause in a complex sentence.

Here are some examples of dependent clauses:

• When she went to the store
• Although I am tired
• Because they are playing soccer

In a complex sentence, the dependent clause is joined to the independent clause with a conjunction. Common conjunctions used to join dependent clauses include “although,” “because,” “since,” and “when.”

Here are some examples of complex sentences with independent and dependent clauses:

• Although she was tired, she went to the gym.
• When the movie ended, we went to get ice cream.

In each of these examples, the dependent clause provides additional information to the independent clause. The use of complex sentences can make your writing more interesting and varied. However, it is important to use them correctly to avoid confusing your readers.

Remember to use a comma before the conjunction when joining an independent and dependent clause. Also, be sure to use the correct conjunction to show the relationship between the clauses.

Forming Complex Sentences

When you want to add more detail or explanation to your sentence’s main point, you can use complex sentences. These sentences contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause provides additional information, and it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Here’s how to form complex sentences.

Using Subordinating Conjunctions

One way to form a complex sentence is by using subordinating conjunctions. These words connect the dependent clause to the independent clause, and they show the relationship between the two clauses. Here are some common subordinating conjunctions:

Using Relative Pronouns

Another way to form a complex sentence is by using relative pronouns. These words introduce the dependent clause, and they refer back to a noun or pronoun in the independent clause. Here are some common relative pronouns:

Remember that the dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. It needs the independent clause to make sense. Here are some examples of complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns:

• Although it was late, she continued to work on her project.
• The man who won the race received a medal.
• Because the weather was bad, they decided to stay home.
• The book which I read last night was very suspenseful.

By using subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns, you can create complex sentences that provide more detail and explanation to your writing.

Punctuation in Complex Sentences

When it comes to complex sentences, punctuation is crucial to ensure clarity and avoid confusion. In a complex sentence, there are two or more clauses, and the way they are punctuated can significantly affect the meaning of the sentence.

The most common punctuation mark used in complex sentences is the comma. However, the use of commas depends on the type and position of the clauses. Here are some rules to keep in mind:

• Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so). For example: You can come to the party, but you have to bring a gift.
• Use a comma after a dependent clause that comes before an independent clause. For example: If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
• Do not use a comma after an independent clause that comes before a dependent clause. For example: I will go to the gym if I have time.
• Use commas to set off non-essential clauses or phrases. For example: The book, which I read last week, was excellent.
• Do not use a comma to separate essential clauses or phrases. For example: The man who stole my wallet was caught by the police.

It’s important to note that the use of commas in complex sentences can vary depending on the writer’s style and preference. However, it’s essential to be consistent and avoid ambiguity .

In addition to commas, other punctuation marks can also be used in complex sentences. Here are some examples:

• Semicolon: Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction. For example: She is a great singer; her voice is amazing.
• Colon: Use a colon to introduce a list or an explanation. For example: There are three things you need to do: study, practice, and believe in yourself.
• Dash: Use a dash to indicate a sudden change in thought or to emphasize a point. For example: I love pizza – who doesn’t?

In conclusion, punctuation plays a crucial role in complex sentences. By following the rules and guidelines, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Remember to use punctuation marks appropriately and consistently to avoid confusion.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When it comes to complex sentences, there are a few common mistakes that writers tend to make. Here are some tips on how to avoid these mistakes and improve your writing:

Run-On Sentences

One of the most common mistakes in complex sentences is creating run-on sentences. A run-on sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are not properly separated. To avoid run-on sentences, you can use one of the following methods:

• Use a period to separate the two independent clauses into two separate sentences.
• Use a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses.
• Use a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, so, yet, for, nor) to join the two independent clauses.

Example: You can avoid run-on sentences by using proper punctuation; for example, a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction.

Sentence Fragments

Another common mistake in complex sentences is creating sentence fragments. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that is missing a subject, verb, or both. To avoid sentence fragments, make sure that each sentence has a subject and a verb.

Example: Avoid sentence fragments by making sure that each sentence has a subject and a verb.

Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word that is not in the sentence. This mistake can make your writing confusing and difficult to understand. To avoid dangling modifiers, make sure that the modifier is placed next to the word it is modifying.

Example: To avoid dangling modifiers, make sure that the modifier is placed next to the word it is modifying.

Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase that is placed in the wrong part of the sentence, making the sentence unclear or confusing. To avoid misplaced modifiers, make sure that the modifier is placed next to the word it is modifying.

Example: To avoid misplaced modifiers, make sure that the modifier is placed next to the word it is modifying.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create complex sentences that are clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Congratulations! You now have a good understanding of complex sentences. You know that they contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, and that they can be used to add detail and complexity to your writing.

You also know that subordinating conjunctions like “because,” “since,” and “until” are often used to connect clauses in complex sentences. Remember to use these conjunctions correctly and to avoid common errors like comma splices and run-on sentences.

To help you remember the key points of complex sentences, here is a quick summary:

• Complex sentences contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
• Use subordinating conjunctions like “because,” “since,” and “until” to connect clauses.
• Be careful to avoid common errors like comma splices and run-on sentences.

Now that you have a solid understanding of complex sentences, you can start using them in your own writing. Remember to practice and experiment with different sentence structures to find what works best for you. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common conjunctions used in complex sentences?

Common conjunctions used in complex sentences include “although,” “because,” “since,” “when,” and “while.” These conjunctions are used to connect the dependent clause to the independent clause.

What is the difference between a complex sentence and a compound sentence?

A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, while a compound sentence has two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. In other words, a complex sentence has a dependent clause and an independent clause, while a compound sentence has two or more independent clauses.

What are some examples of complex sentences with dependent clauses?

Here are some examples of complex sentences with dependent clauses:

• Although I was tired, I stayed up late to finish my project.
• Because it was raining, we decided to stay inside and watch a movie.
• Since she had a lot of homework to do, she couldn’t go to the party.

How do you identify a complex sentence?

To identify a complex sentence, look for a sentence that has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause will usually start with a subordinating conjunction such as “although,” “because,” or “since.”

What are some strategies for writing clear and effective complex sentences?

To write clear and effective complex sentences, make sure that the dependent clause is connected to the independent clause in a logical and clear way. Use subordinating conjunctions appropriately, and make sure that the dependent clause is not too long or complicated. Also, try to vary the length and structure of your sentences to keep your writing interesting.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing complex sentences?

Common mistakes to avoid when writing complex sentences include using too many dependent clauses, using subordinating conjunctions incorrectly, and making the dependent clause too long or complicated. It’s also important to make sure that the dependent clause is connected to the independent clause in a clear and logical way.

Complex Sentences: 50 Examples

What is a complex sentence?

A  complex sentence  contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

An  independent clause  contains a subject and verb , and can stand alone as a complete sentence:

• Independent clause: I love going outside.

A  dependent clause also contains a subject and verb , but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Instead, it ADDS information to the sentence:

• Dependent clause: when the weather is warm.

One independent clause + one dependent clause = a complex sentence:

• I love going outside when the weather is warm.

Dependent clauses often start with  subordinating conjunctions,  for example:

• provided that

Subordinating conjunctions often show a cause-and-effect relationship or a relationship of time/place:

• Cause and effect relationship: The baseball game was canceled because it was raining.
• Time relationship: When I get home from work, I always take off my shoes.
• Place relationship: Make sure to put on sunscreen wherever your skin is exposed.

Learn more about subordinating conjunctions.

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Difference between a compound sentence and a complex sentence

A  compound sentence   contains two  independent  clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet):

• I’m happy, but my kids are always complaining. ( “I’m happy” can be a complete sentence. “My kids are always complaining” can also be a complete sentence. They are joined by the coordinating conjunction “but”)
• The blue jacket cost over $100 , and he wears it every day . (“The blue jacket cost over $100” is a complete sentence. “He wears it every day” is a complete sentence. They are joined by the coordinating conjunction “and”)

A  complex sentence  contains one independent clause and one or more  dependent clauses,  joined by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun (that, who, which):

• I’m happy because we won the game. (“I’m happy” can be a complete sentence. “Because we won the game” cannot be a sentence by itself.)
• The blue jacket, which I gave him for Christmas, cost over $100. (“The blue jacket cost over $100” is a complete sentence. “which I gave him for Christmas” is NOT a complete sentence. They are joined by the relative pronoun “which”)

Difference between a dependent clause and a prepositional phrase

Words like before, after, since, and until can begin either a dependent clause or a prepositional phrase.

The main difference is that a dependent clause has a subject and verb, but a prepositional phrase does not:

• I’ll wait here until you get back. (dependent clause: you = subject, get = verb)
• I’ll wait here until 5:30. (prepositional phrase: no subject/verb after “until”)
• He’s never been the same since he broke up with his girlfriend. (dependent clause: he = subject, broke up = verb)
• He’s never been the same since the car accident. (prepositional phrase: no subject/verb after “since”)

Complex Sentences: Simple Present Tense

The independent clause in bold , and the dependent clause is underlined:

• Although he works long hours, he always finds time to spend with his family.
• She always wears jewelry that matches her outfit.
• While my brother enjoys spicy food, I prefer milder flavors.
• Several crops grow here, even though it rarely rains in this region.
• Though he is talented, he often underestimates his own abilities.
• Although the company faces tough competition, it continues to thrive in the market.
• I think you’d like this book, since you love historical fiction.
• He always studies a lot before he takes a test.
• I sometimes walk to work, as long as the weather is good.
• My mother stays up late, whereas my father goes to bed early.

Complex Sentences: Simple Past Tense

• After she finished her studies, she traveled around Europe for six months.
• Although they were tired, they stayed up late to finish their projec t.
• He immediately called for help when he saw the accident.
• My kids often misbehaved whenever they had a babysitter.
• Since he sold his car, he had to take the bus to work.
• She didn’t ride the roller coasters, even though she was old enough to do so.
• When they arrived at the restaurant, they realized it had already closed.
• I stayed awake until my husband got home from work.
• Before he left his job, he wrote a number of training manuals.
• She performed very well on stage,  though she was quite nervous.

Complex Sentences: Future Tenses in the Independent Clause

• After I finish my degree, I will pursue a career in environmental conservation.
• She will visit her grandparents next weekend, as she hasn’t seen them in months.
• Once the project is complete, the company will launch its new product on the market.
• By the time I graduate, I will have traveled to at least five different countries.
• We’re going to clean the bathrooms after we’re done cleaning the kitchen.
• They will be driving to Florida since flights are too expensive.
• Electric cars will become more popular in a few years, even though they’re not very common now.
• I’m going to start preparing dinner before I leave for work.
• Once the renovations are finished, the house will be even more beautiful.
• I won’t lend you any more money  until you pay me back.

Complex Sentences: Continuous Verb Tenses in the Independent Clause

• While I was studying for my exam, my friends were watching a movie.
• They will be traveling to Europe while we are attending the conference.
• As the sun was setting , the children were playing in the park.
• I was cleaning the house all evening after I saw how dirty it was.
• I’ll be waiting for you at the  café   until you finish your meeting.

Complex Sentence Examples: Mixed Verb Tenses

• When I finish my work, I will join you for dinner.
• I had cleaned the whole house before we left for vacation.
• He couldn’t go to the party because he was feeling sick.
• I’m not buying anything else this month   since I’ve already spent too much.
• As soon as they receive the necessary materials, they will start the project.
• Once she finishes her degree, she plans to travel the world.
• I was exhausted because I had been working all day.
• Now that the rain has stopped, we can go outside.
• He will buy a new car once he saves enough money.
• Since she doesn’t have any prior experience, she decided to take a training course.

Complex Sentence Examples: Conditionals

Some of the most common complex sentences are conditional sentences like the examples below. Again, the independent clause (result) is in  bold,  and the dependent clause (condition) is  underlined.

• If it rains tomorrow, we will stay indoors and watch movies.
• She won’t pass the exam unless she studies a lot.
• If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
• He would have gone to the party if he hadn’t been so tired.
• If I had known about the event, I would have attended.
• She will be late if she doesn’t catch the early bus.
• If the children finish their chores , they can go to the park.
• We won’t eat a big dinner if we’re not very hungry.
• If you eat too much junk food, you will gain weight.
• She could earn more money if she had a better job.

Learn more about first conditional and second conditional.

More examples of sentence structures:

• Simple sentences: 50 examples
• Compound sentences: 50 examples
• Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

Master the details of English grammar:

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Table of Contents

Introduction, overview of sentence types, complex sentences in english, understanding complex sentences, components of a complex sentence, a. independent and dependent clauses.

1. Independent Clauses:

3. Combining Dependent and Independent Clauses:

B. Using Subordinating Conjunctions or Relative Pronouns

Complex vs. compound sentences, understanding the difference, table: distinguishing between complex and compound sentences.

Complex Sentence Examples

Complex sentences with multiple dependent clauses, creating complex sentences: a step-by-step guide, common pitfalls in constructing complex sentences, 1. comma splices, 2. sentence fragments, 3. over-complication, why are complex sentences used, frequently asked questions, what is a complex sentence, how do you identify a complex sentence, what are some examples of complex sentences, why are complex sentences important in writing, how can i practice writing complex sentences, what are common mistakes to avoid with complex sentences.

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Why use complex sentences?

In English, we have three types of sentences: simple, compound and complex. Each is better in particular situations.

Complex sentences join an independent clause with a dependent clause. These sentences are used to show a particular kind of relationship—usually a stronger idea joined to a weaker idea, or a controlling idea joined to a secondary, less important idea. Yet sometimes the independent clause is the weaker or less weighty idea compared to the dependent clause.

Why are complex sentences used?

• Complex sentences show relationships between clauses, such as cause and effect, contrast, and time relationships. For example, I took a walk because I need exercise.  Or, although my brother likes peaches, my sister prefers blueberries.  Or, Daniel headed home as soon as the movie ended.
• Complex sentences can mimic the complicated thinking required to understand certain kinds of ideas, such as logic. Or, they can replicate the patterns of thinking of a deep thinker.  For example, if A is less than B, and if B is less than C, then A is less than C.  Or, the detective figured out that Morgan was the murderer because Morgan had a motive, even though his girlfriend, Emma, provided an alibi.
• Complex sentences can force the reader to focus on one part of a sentence (one idea) rather than another part of a sentence.  For example, the Supreme Court–especially Justice Scalia–disdains creating law by its decisions since enacting laws is the job of Congress.
• Complex sentences can gather small choppy sentences into more graceful, longer sentences.  For example, Dad grilled the chicken.  Mom mixed the salad.  The children set up a croquet game.  Later they would play.  First they would eat.  Joined together these tiny sentences become While Dad grilled the hotdogs and Mom mixed the salad, the children set up a croquet game which they would play after they ate.
• Complex sentences can form the skeleton of informal, cumulative sentences which are patterned on the way people speak. For example, Jack said, “I expect a storm because the clouds are building up, which is a sure sign a thunderstorm is coming on hot, humid Atlanta summer afternoons like this one.”

Complex sentences can begin with the independent clause or the dependent clause; the choice belongs to the writer. Most children start with the independent clause, adding the dependent clause as they think through their ideas. Usually children limit themselves to only a few types of dependent clauses: adverbial clauses beginning with “because,” “after” and “when.” Almost never do they use relative pronouns to create complex sentences.

How can you encourage children to use complex sentences with more variety?

• For younger children, I prepare worksheets with lists of two sentences needing to be combined. I suggest the word that needs to link the sentences, and they must write the new sentence.
• For older children, I write a list of subordinate conjunctions from which they can choose in order to join sentences in a list which I provide. I might stipulate that half the sentences need to begin with the subordinate conjunction to force them to start sentences with the dependent clause.
• When I am working with a group of children, I have a “spelling” bee, asking students to create a complex sentence using a particular subordinate conjunction.

Once children learn to use complex sentences, they need to be warned about overusing them. Too many complex sentences can make writing difficult to follow. So can the number of dependent clauses. Even though the number of dependent clauses which can be attached to an independent clause is unlimited, using more than two usually muddles meaning. Encourage students to limit dependent clauses to one or two per sentence, and to mix up complex, compound and simple sentences for variety.

I have been told that some languages do not contain complex sentences, that in those languages, if ideas are joined, it is by words like “and” and “but.” In those languages it is normal to show equality of ideas but not inequality. Just like having many English verb tenses makes English a richer yet more difficult language, so does having complex sentences.

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What is a complex sentence.

Ever tried to build a piece of IKEA furniture without a manual? That’s what writing can feel like if you don’t understand complex sentences. But if you do know how to use them, your writing transforms from basic assembly instructions to a symphony of ideas. Let’s see how all this works. And we promise, no Allen wrenches are required.

What is a Complex Sentence?

We all know from the early days of schooling that a few words together make sentences. They’re the building blocks of our communication, much like the tiny Lego pieces that hold our grand constructions together. Sentences come in different flavors: simple, compound, and complex, each with its characteristics. They can express statements, questions, exclamations, or commands, each performing distinct functions in communication.

A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone, while the dependent clause, though related, cannot exist separately and needs the independent clause to make sense.

So, how do you spot these tasty sentences? Look for sentences that have a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses often start with words like “because,” “although,” “since,” “if,” “when,” and “while.” For example:

Other ways to identify a complex sentence is by relative pronouns and punctuation. Pronouns like “which”, “that”, “who”, “whom”, “whose” introduce clauses that modify nouns, and a comma often separates the dependent clause from the independent clause if the dependent clause comes first.

Get all your complex sentences checked for punctuation

When to use complex sentences vs simple sentences.

Complex sentences are your best friend when you want to show the relationship between ideas, add depth to your writing, and convey more information. They allow the writer to connect ideas elegantly and emphasize certain points over others. They are perfect for explanations, descriptions, and showing cause and effect. Use them to:

However, try not to overuse them. In certain types of writing, like instructions or action scenes, shorter sentences might work better to maintain clarity and pace. Simple sentences make instructions easier to follow and action scenes remain dynamic and fast-paced.

• Action Scenes : “She ran to the door. She opened it quickly.”

Simple sentences are effective in action scenes because they create a fast-paced, dynamic flow that mirrors the urgency and rapid progression of events. They allow the reader to follow the action easily without getting bogged down by complex structures.

2. Instructions : “Press the button. Wait for the light to turn green.”

When giving instructions, simplicity is key to prevent confusion. Simple sentences break down tasks into clear, manageable steps, making it easier for the reader to follow along and execute the instructions correctly.

3. Conveying Urgency: “Call 911. Stay calm.”

In emergencies or situations requiring immediate action, simple sentences deliver the message quickly and unambiguously, ensuring that the reader understands exactly what needs to be done without delay.

4. Highlighting Key Points: “Study hard. Get good grades.”

When you want to emphasize important points or principles, simple sentences can make your message more impactful and memorable by stripping away any unnecessary words.

5. Introducing New Concepts: “Photosynthesis is a process. Plants use it to make food.”

When introducing new or complex concepts, starting with simple sentences helps to build a foundational understanding before delving into more intricate details. This approach ensures that the reader grasps the basics before moving on to more complex explanations.

6. Summarizing Information: “Exercise regularly. Eat a balanced diet.”

Simple sentences are excellent for summarizing key takeaways or providing concise advice. They distill information into its most essential elements, making it easy for the reader to remember and apply.

7. Creating Dramatic Effect: “The lights went out. Silence filled the room.”

In narrative writing, simple sentences can be used to create dramatic pauses or build suspense, allowing the reader to feel the intensity of the moment.

How to Make Complex Sentences

Creating complex sentences depends on the context and style of your writing. But first of all, it requires an understanding of a few important grammar concepts that often work together in a team when it comes to this type of sentence. They are  independent clauses, dependent clauses, and subordinating conjunctions. 

• An independent clause is like an adult who can live on their own. It expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. 
• A dependent clause , on the other hand, is like a teenager who still needs support. It cannot be used on its own and needs to be connected to an independent clause.
• Subordinating conjunctions are the glue that holds complex sentences together. They introduce dependent clauses and show the relationship between the dependent and independent clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions include “although,” “because,” “since,” “unless,” “while,” and “if.”

Now you know the elements and the structure of complex sentences. All you need to do is to practice. Mastering complex sentences is an invaluable skill for any writer. By understanding how to use independent and dependent clauses along with subordinating conjunctions, you can add depth and clarity to your writing. Complex sentences help you convey complicated ideas, show relationships between concepts, and create a more engaging and sophisticated narrative. Practice incorporating complex sentences into your writing to enhance your communication and captivate your readers with your command of language.

Why are complex sentences important?

Complex sentences are important because they allow writers to show the relationship between ideas, add detail, and convey more information in a single sentence. They make writing more engaging and nuanced.

What are some common subordinating conjunctions?

Some common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, since, if, when, while, even though, unless, and as soon as.

Can a complex sentence start with a dependent clause?

Yes, a complex sentence can start with a dependent clause. For example, “Although it was raining, we went for a walk.” In this case, the dependent clause “Although it was raining” comes first, followed by the independent clause “we went for a walk.”

How can I practice writing complex sentences?

You can practice writing complex sentences by combining simple sentences using subordinating conjunctions, expanding your ideas with additional details, and reading examples of complex sentences in well-written articles or books. Writing exercises that focus on sentence combining can also be helpful.

What is the difference between a complex sentence and a compound sentence?

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, while a compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or) or a semicolon. For example, “She finished her assignment, and she went to bed” is a compound sentence, whereas “Although she was tired, she finished her assignment before going to bed” is a complex sentence.

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114 Writing Prompt Sentences For More Creative Stories

Sometimes when you’re writing, you could use a little help getting started. Am I right?

The fact is that some of the most effective writing prompts are actually writing prompt sentences – a single sentence beckoning you to expound upon a thought or storyline. And lucky for you, we have truckloads of them!

The Art of an Engaging Opening Line

Writing prompt sentences offer a first impression into a literary world—they grab the writer’s attention and set the tone for their entire piece. A powerful opener can captivate you and draw you into a narrative you just have to write.

While this post will focus on providing you with fresh, new writing prompt sentences, it’s important to consider how some of the world’s most popular stories begin. Some writers even enjoy borrowing the opening sentence of these popular books and creating a new story from it:

Great First Lines

Great first lines are more than just words; they are an invitation into a story. 

Lines that stand out:

• Are concise:  They aim to be punchy and to the point.
• Evoke curiosity:  They stir the reader’s interest with mystery or an unexpected twist.
• Set the scene:  They provide a glimpse into the world or mood of the story.

For example:

It was the perfect vacation, or so I thought.

This writing prompt sentence sets the scene in paradise, invites the writer (and reader!) to imagine what might have gone wrong, and keeps the door open to a wide array of possibilities with its brevity.

The Power of One-Line Writing Prompts

Writing prompt sentences are compact storytelling engines. Here’s how they can enhance your writing:

• Spark creativity:  They force you to develop complex ideas from a single, powerful sentence.
• Flex writing muscles:  Regular practice with one-liners can improve overall writing skills.

Setting the Scene

Some of the best story starters focus on the story’s setting.

The setting creates the world where characters live and act. Setting-focused writing prompt sentences invite writers to vividly construct these scenes from the get-go.

The Living Room

The man’s living room was cluttered in the most peculiar way.

And setting story starters aren’t limitied to appearance! Consider creative writing prompts that invite writers to describe a setting’s ambience.

There was a faint scent of lavender in the air.

Her cubicle induced anxiety, immediately and lethally.

The Perfect Vacation Scene

The right writing prompt sentences can make writers feel the sun’s warmth and the sand between their toes as they craft the perfect vacation scene. Whether it’s a tropical beach or a cozy mountain lodge, focus on sensory details like temperature, sounds, scents, and textures.

The crisp, fresh air saturating the front porch of the cabin reminded her of him.

The sun was blinding but beautiful, warming his cheeks in a way that reminded him of childhood.

She woke up to the lapping of waves.

He’d never noticed the smell of pine before, passing the time in his cramped apartment, but here it engulfed him in a sweet thickness.

The sand was coarse between her toes, the water biting.

Middle of the Night Zookeeper Adventures

Young writers will enjoy settings that evoke their imaginations, with bonus points for including animals!

I knew sneaking through the zoo in the middle of the night wouldn’t be easy, but I never expected this!

It all started when the night zookeeper caught sight of the strange old man crouched in the shadows.

Of all of the strange encounters the night zookeeper had experienced, this tiny dragon was easily the strangest.

Characters and Relationships

Creating dynamic characters and exploring their relationships is a cornerstone of storytelling. Characters must interact in ways that are both authentic and push the story forward.

The Strange Old Man Next Door

Whether a strange old man or woman lives next door, drives an ice cream truck, or walks the local park in the middle of the night, the allure of the unknown is sure to draw writers in.

The strange old man next door knew something I didn’t.

No one knew it, but the small town cab driver was 321 years old in Earth years.

The next door neighbours were careful to leave the front door of their house unlocked before leaving for their cruise ship.

The Legacy of Family and Friendships

Family can leave you with the warm fuzzies…or a bad taste in your mouth.

The death of my great uncle left a peculiar legacy, one you’ve certainly never heard of before.

The little boy was clearly my son…but how?

I never intended to be gone for such a long time but of course, my mother would be the last person to believe that.

Friendships define your main character, and their involvement often catalyzes growth or change. 

She may never be my best friend again, but her apology was at least a starting point.

The rustling of keys in the lock told me my best friend had arrived, but I could have never prepared myself for what came through my front door with him.

Encounters with a Little Sister

Young writers from 1st grade all the way through high school can benefit from exploring sibling relationships. Story starters involving a little sister or brother represent a chance for them to explore the innocence or mischief of siblings and their relationship to them, and with the right creative writing prompts, even develop empathy.

From the second the words left her mouth, it was clear my little sister never intended to reveal the secret.

The first time my little brother did it, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Plot Twists and Surprises

At the core of some of the most compelling narratives are the plot twists and surprises that throw readers for a loop. Incorporating plot twists in your sentence prompts is a great way to help maintain suspense and deliver a jaw-dropping moment.

An Unexpected Fortune Cookie Message

The fortune cookie revealed a crisp piece of paper where, instead of a vague aphorism or lucky number, it read…my address. 

I expected to find a small piece of paper inside of my fortune cookie, not this, not by any means.

The Roller Coaster of Life

Whether literal or figurative, a roller coaster offers a perfect metaphor for life’s unpredictable twists and turns. 

I expected the roller coaster ride to be noisy, but the loud crash at the top of the rails seemed far from intended.

I never knew it was possible to crash from the highest high of my life to the lowest low within a millisecond, a catch of the breath…but here I was.

Sensory Details in Writing

Engaging senses in your writing can transport readers into the scene. It’s like giving them a front-row seat to the unfolding narrative.

The Chill of Icy Fingers

I padded my bare feet across the cold pavement, each step shooting a biting chill, like icy fingers clawing up my calves.

The warmth of my bed met an abrupt halt as the icy fingers grabbed my arm.

Memories from a Photo Album

Flipping through a photo album can evoke vivid memories.

When her eyes fell upon the photo, she immediately recalled how crisp the air had felt on her skin the morning the photo was taken.

He could still feel his itchy sweater in the photo, still smell the stale stench of alcohol, still hear the music jangling out of the jukebox.

Prompts for Different Age Groups

Writing prompts offer a great way to engage with writing at any age. Let’s explore what kinds of one-line prompts best suit different educational stages, from playful themes for young writers to thought-provoking scenarios for high school students.

Engaging Young Writers

To capture the imagination of young writers, consider sentence prompts that allow for creative exploration and storytelling.

Here are a few ideas:

Describe your dream pet.

Tell a story about the day the sky turned green.

Sentence Prompts for Middle School

For  middle school  students, prompts that challenge their thinking and encourage deeper reflection are ideal.

Try these engaging prompts:

Imagine a world without technology.

Write about a character who finds a mysterious key.

High School Writing Challenges

High school students benefit from prompts that tackle complex issues and facilitate critical thinking.

Engage them with prompts such as:

Discuss the impact of social media on your generation.

Create a dialogue between two historical figure.

Incorporating Technology and Novelty

You can use everyday items and fantastical devices to create intriguing story starters. Technology and novelty, especially in combination, have the power to unlock new worlds in your imagination.

The Mystery of the Cell Phone

It was an unlocked cell phone…no contacts, no history, just a single, scheduled notification that read, “Remember gran’s words…or die trying.”

When we finally figured out how to turn on the mysterious phone, it immediately shone a bright light that quickly blinded and surrounded us and carried us into the clouds like a hot air balloon.

Time Travel via Time Machine

The ice cream truck wasn’t an ice cream truck at all, but a time machine.

The very act of time travel is riddled with millions of things that could go wrong…but this scenario, this lifeless body, hadn’t made the list.

The End or a New Beginning?

While one-sentence writing prompts demand a strong start, every creative writing piece also requires a satisying ending.

Imagine every story’s ending as a chance to echo resonances of the beginning. The last sentence should be reflective of the first sentence, giving a sense of closure or perhaps a teasing window into another world.

Much like the last page of your favorite book might do, short stories particularly benefit from this technique. Their brevity allows for a neat, full-circle feel.

When crafting this pivotal sentence, you have the opportunity to nudge your reader. You’re not just ending a story; you’re implanting the possibility of a new beginning in their mind.

Whether it’s the start of a discussion, a reflection, or a sequel to your narrative, you are in control of what that concluding thought leaves behind.

Creative Writing Techniques

Fully harnessing your creative potential requires utilizing a variety of techniques. These strategies are designed to stimulate your imagination and provide a diverse range of resources to suit your unique writing style.

Stirring the Creative Juices

Engaging with creative writing prompts and techniques offers a great way to get your creative juices flowing.

• Creative Writing Prompts : Steering away from average and expected journal prompts into those that challenge your imagination and storytelling skills can push you out of your comfort zone into something new.
• Freewriting : Give yourself a limited time, say 15 minutes, and write continuously without worrying about grammar or coherence.
• Mind Mapping : Visually organize your thoughts around a central concept to explore connections and foster new ideas.

These techniques free your mind from the usual constraints, encouraging a flow of ideas that might just germinate into a compelling narrative.

Resource Types for Diverse Styles

Your style is as unique as you are, and thankfully, there are a variety of resource types to cater to each writer’s needs.

• Books and E-books : Get your hands on writing guides that can provide detailed tips and exercises tailored to different genres.
• Online Platforms : Subscribe to websites offering interactive lessons and forums where you can share work and get feedback.
• Workshops and Webinars : Join live sessions with experts that address specific writing challenges and answer your burning questions.

By exploring these resources, you’ll find the support and inspiration necessary to sharpen your writing and keep your creative journey exciting and productive.

Which writing prompt sentences will you try first? We can’t wait to hear what you write!

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To write complex sentences

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Slide decks, worksheets, quizzes and lesson planning guidance designed for your classroom.

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Lesson details

Key learning points.

• In this lesson, we will learn how to write complex sentences. We will consider how complex sentences are constructed from main and subordinate clauses and use this knowledge to write our own.

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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How to Teach Complex Sentences

Lesson Plan: Teaching Paragraph Writing with Complex Sentences

Why teach complex sentences

Improving Writing Skills: Complex sentences provide variety and depth to writing, making it more interesting and engaging for the reader. By using complex sentences, students can express their ideas more clearly and effectively.

Enhancing Vocabulary: Using complex sentences requires students to understand the relationships between different parts of a sentence. This helps to improve their vocabulary and understanding of grammar.

Developing Critical Thinking: Writing complex sentences requires students to think critically about how to connect their ideas and express them in a clear and concise way.

Preparing for Advanced Writing: Complex sentences are a crucial part of advanced writing, such as academic essays or creative writing. By teaching students how to use complex sentences, they will be better prepared for these types of writing assignments in the future.

Overall, teaching complex sentences is an important part of developing students’ writing skills and preparing them for advanced writing. It helps students to express their ideas more effectively, enhances their vocabulary and critical thinking skills, and sets them up for success in future writing assignments.

Objectives:

• Students will understand the structure of a complex sentence.
• Students will be able to identify the independent and dependent clauses in a complex sentence.
• Students will learn how to use complex sentences in their writing to make their paragraphs more interesting and varied.
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handouts with examples of complex sentences
• Writing prompts for practice

Introduction (10 minutes):

Write on the board: “A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.” Ask students to give examples of sentences they consider to be complex and write them on the board. Discuss the examples, pointing out the independent and dependent clauses in each sentence.

Guided Practice (15 minutes):

Hand out the handouts with examples of complex sentences. Have students work in pairs to identify the independent and dependent clauses in each sentence. Discuss the answers as a class, explaining any misunderstandings.

Independent Practice (25 minutes):

Provide writing prompts for students to practice writing complex sentences. Remind students to include both independent and dependent clauses in their sentences. Circulate the room to offer guidance and feedback.

Conclusion (10 minutes):

Review the objectives and check for understanding. Have a few students share their writing and discuss how they used complex sentences to make their paragraphs more interesting. Encourage students to continue practicing writing complex sentences in their future writing assignments.

Assessment:

Observing students during independent practice and providing feedback. Evaluating the writing samples produced during independent practice for the use of complex sentences.

Handout 1: Examples of Complex Sentences

• Although the sun was shining, the wind was so strong that I couldn’t fly my kite.
• The teacher assigned a difficult project, which was due the next day.
• When I got home from school, I realized that I had left my backpack on the bus.
• She wanted to visit the museum, but it was closed for renovation.
• While I was walking in the park, I saw a bird building its nest.
• Although he was tired, he stayed up late to finish his homework.
• The movie was so boring that I fell asleep before it ended.
• Since the store was closed, we decided to go home.
• Although it was raining, we still went on our picnic.
• After she finished her book, she went to bed.

Handout 2: Practice Writing Complex Sentences

• Write a paragraph about a vacation you went on using at least three complex sentences.
• Write a paragraph about your favorite hobby using at least three complex sentences.
• Write a paragraph about a special event you attended using at least three complex sentences.
• Write a paragraph about a place you would like to visit using at least three complex sentences.
• Write a paragraph about a person you admire using at least three complex sentences.

Complex Sentence Drills with Sentence Combining

Get 7 Awesome Short Stories for ESL Students

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105 Creative Writing Prompts to Try Out

General Education

The most common advice out there for being a writer is, "if you want to write, write." While this is true (and good advice), it's not always that easy, particularly if you're not writing regularly.

Whether you're looking for help getting started on your next project, or just want to spend 20 minutes being creative, writing prompts are great ways to rev up your imagination. Read on for our list of over 100 creative writing prompts!

feature image credit: r. nial bradshaw /Flickr

10 Short Writing Prompts

If you're looking for a quick boost to get yourself going, these 10 short writing prompts will do the trick.

#1 : Write a scene starting with a regular family ritual that goes awry.

#2 : Describe exactly what you see/smell/hear/etc, right now. Include objects, people, and anything else in your immediate environment.

#3 : Suggest eight possible ways to get a ping pong ball out of a vertical pipe.

#4 : A shoe falls out of the sky. Justify why.

#5 : If your brain were a tangible, physical place, what would it be like?

#6 : Begin your writing with the phrase, "The stage was set."

#7 : You have been asked to write a history of "The Summer of [this past year]." Your publisher wants a table of contents. What events will you submit?

#8 : Write a sympathetic story from the point of view of the "bad guy." (Think fractured fairy tales like Wicked or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! , although the story doesn't have to be a fairy tale.)

#9 : Look at everyday objects in a new way and write about the stories one of these objects contains.

#10 : One person meets a stranger on a mode of transportation. Write the story that ensues.

11 Writing Prompts for Kids

Any of these prompts can be used by writers of any age, but we chose the following 11 prompts as ones that would be particularly fun for kids to write about. (Most of them I used myself as a young writer, so I can vouch for their working!)

#1 : Include something falling in your writing.

#2 : Write a short poem (or story) with the title, "We don't know when it will be fixed."

#3 : Write from the perspective of someone of a different gender than you.

#4 : Write a dumb internet quiz.

#5 : Finish this thought: "A perfect day in my imagination begins like this:"

#6 : Write a character's inner monologue (what they are thinking as they go about their day).

#7 : Think of a character. Write a paragraph each about:

• An important childhood experience that character had.
• The character's living situation.
• Two hobbies or things the character likes to do.
• The room where the character sleeps.
• An ambition of the character.
• Two physical characteristics of the character.
• What happens when a second person and this character meet.
• Two important defining personal traits of this character.

#8 : Start a story with a quote from a song.

#9 : Begin a story with, "It was the summer of ______ when ______"

#10 : Pretend everyday objects have no names. Think about what you would name them based on what they do, what you can use them for, and what they look like.

#11 : Start a story with the phrases "My grandparents are/were," "My parents are/were," or "My mother/father/parent is/was."

15 Cool Writing Prompts

#1 : List five issues that you're passionate about. Write about them from the opposite point of view (or from the perspective of a character with the opposite point of view).

#2 : Walk around and write down a phrase you hear (or read). Make a story out of it.

#3 : Write using no adjectives or adverbs.

#4 : Write a character's inner dialogue between different aspects of a character's self (rather than an inner monologue).

#5 : Write a true story from your past that involves light or darkness in some way.

#6 : "Saying goodbye awakens us to the true nature of things." Write something in which someone has to say goodbye and has a realization.

#7 : Begin by writing the end of the story.

#8 : Write a recipe for an intangible thing.

#9 : Write a horror story about an ordinary situation (e.g., buying groceries, going to the bank, listening to music).

#10 : Write a story from within a bubble.

#11 : Write down 2-3 short character descriptions and then write the characters in conversation with one another.

#12 : Write a story in second person.

#13 : Write a story that keeps contradicting itself.

#14 : Write about a character with at least three big problems.

#15 : Write something that takes place on a Friday, the 13th (of any month).

15 Funny Writing Prompts

#1 : Write a story which starts with someone eating a pickle and potato sandwich.

#2 : Write a short script where the plot has to do with evil dolls trying to take over something.

#3 : Write about writers' block.

#4 : List five election issues that would be ridiculous to includes as part of your election platform (e.g. outlawing mechanical pencils and clicky pens, mandating every person over the age of 30 must own an emergency last rites kit). Choose one of the ridiculous issues and write a speech in favor of it.

#5 : Write a children's story that is insanely inappropriate but can't use graphic language, curses, or violence.

#6 : List five careers. Write about someone with one of those careers who wants to quit it.

#7 : Write down a list of murder methods. Choose one at random from the list to use in a story.

#8 : Write a romance story in which the hero must have a last name corresponding with a physical characteristic (e.g. Jacques Hairyback or Flora Dimple).

#9 : Come up with 10 different ways to:

• order a pizza
• congratulate someone on a job well done
• return to the store something that's broken

#10 : Search for "random Renaissance painting" (or any other inspirational image search text you can think of) on any online internet image search engine. Picking one image, write half a page each of:

• Statements about this image (e.g. "I meant bring me the BREAD of John the Baptist").
• Questions about this image (e.g. "How many of those cherubs look like their necks are broken?").
• Explanations of this image (e.g. "The painter ran out of blue paint halfway through and had to improvise for the color of the sky").
• Commands said by people in this image or about this image (e.g. "Stop telling me to smile!" or "Bring me some gasoline!").

#11 : Write starting with a word that sounds like "chute" (e.g. "chute," "shoot," "shooed").

#12 : Write about a character named X "The [article of clothing]" Y (e.g. Julie "The Yellow Darted Skirt" Whyte) or simply referred to by their clothing (e.g. "the man in the brown suit" or "the woman in black").

#13 : Write down a paragraph each describing two wildly different settings. Write a story involving both settings.

#14 : Think of a fictional holiday based around some natural event (e.g. the Earth being at its farthest point from the sun, in memory of a volcanic eruption, that time a cloud looked like a rabbit riding a bicycle). Write about how this holiday is celebrated.

#15 : Write a "Just-So" type story about a fictional creature (e.g. "how the dragon got its firebreath" or "how the mudkip got its cheek gills").

54 Other Writing Prompt Ideas

#1 : Borrow a character from some other form of media (or create your own). Write from that character's perspective.

#2 : Write for and against a non-consequential controversy (e.g., salt vs. pepper, Mac vs. PC, best kind of door).

#3 : Choose an ancestor or a person from the past to write about or to.

#4 : Write a pirate story with a twist.

#5 : Have a character talk about another character and their feelings about that other character.

#6 : Pick a season and think about an event in your life that occurred in that season. Write a creative nonfiction piece about that event and that season.

#7 : Think of something very complicated and long. Write a page about it using short sentences.

#8 : Write a story as a dream.

#9 : Describe around a food without ever directly naming it.

#10 : Write a monologue (one character, talking to the audience/reader) (*not* an inner monologue).

#11 : Begin a story with the phrase, "It only took five seconds to..."

#12 : List five strong emotions. Choosing one, write about a character experiencing that emotion, but only use the character's actions to convey how they are feeling (no outright statements).

#13 : Write a chapter of the memoir of your life.

#14 : Look through the (physical) things you're currently carrying with you or wearing. Write about the memories or emotions tied with each of them.

#15 : Go be in nature. Write drawing your story from your surroundings (both physical, social, and mental/emotional).

#16 : Write from the perspective of a bubble (or bubble-like creature).

#17 : A person is jogging along an asphalt road. Write a story.

#18 : Title your story (or poem, or play, etc) "Anti-_____". Fill in the blank and write the story.

#19 : Write something that must include an animal, a mineral, and a vegetable.

#20 : Begin your writing with the phrase, "6 weeks later..."

#21 : List 5-10 office jobs. Pick one of them and describe a person working in that job as if you were a commentator on an Olympic sporting event.

#22 : Practice your poetic imagery: overwrite a description of a character's breakfast routine.

#23 : Write about a character (or group of characters) trying to convince another character to try something they're scared of.

#24 : Keep an eye out in your environment for examples of greengrocer's apostrophes and rogue quotation marks. Pick an example and write about what the misplaced punctuation implies (e.g., we have the "best" meat or we have the best "meat" ).

#25 : Fill in the blank with the first word that comes to mind: "_______ Riot!" Write a newspaper-style article describing the events that that took place.

#26 : Write from the point of view of your most-loved possession. What does it think of you?

#27 : Think of five common sayings (e.g., "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"). Write a horror story whose plot is one of those common sayings.

#28 : Write a scene in which two characters are finally hashing out a long-standing misunderstanding or disagreement.

#29 : You start receiving text messages from an unknown number. Tell the story of what happens next.

#30 : Write one character bragging to another about the story behind their new tattoo.

#31 : Superheroes save the world...but they also leave a lot of destruction in their wake. Write about a normal person in a superhero's world.

#32 : Sometimes, family is who we are related to; sometimes, family is a group of people we gather around ourselves. Write a story about (some of) a character's found family and relatives meeting for the first time.

#33 : Write a story that begins in the middle of the plot's action ( en media res ).

#34 : Everyone says you can never have too much of a good thing. Write a story where that isn't true.

#35 : What do ghosts do when they're not creating mischief? Write about the secret lives of ghosts.

#36 : Every year, you dread the last week of April. Write a story about why.

#37 : Write a story about what it would be like to have an animal sidekick in real life.

#38 : Heists don't just have to be black-clad thieves stealing into vaults to steal rare art or money. Write about a group of people (adults or children) who commit a heist for something of seemingly little monetary value.

#39 : "Life is like a chooseable-path adventure, except you don't get to see what would have happened if you chose differently." Think of a choice you've made and write about a world where you made a different choice.

#40 : Write a story about a secret room.

#41 : You find a message in a bottle with very specific directions. Write a story about the adventure you embark upon.

#42 : "You'll always be okay as long as you know where your _______ is." Fill in the blank and write a story (either fictional or from your life) illustrating this statement.

#43 : Forcing people into prolonged proximity can change and deepen relationships. Write about characters on a road trip together.

#44 : In music, sonata form includes three main parts: exposition, development, and recapitulation. Write a short story that follows this format.

#45 : Begin writing with a character saying, "I'm afraid this simply can't wait."

#46 : Write a story with a happy ending (either happily-ever-after or happy-for-now).

#47 : Write about a character before and after a tragedy in that character's life.

#48 : Choose an object or concept you encounter in everyday life (e.g. tables, the feeling of hot or cold, oxygen) and write an infomercial about it.

#49 : "Life is a series of quests, whether important or mundane." Write about a quest you've gone on (or would like to go on, or will have to go on).

#50 : List 10 different ways to learn. Choose one (or more) and write a story where a character learns something using that one (or more) method.

#51 : You've been called to the principal's office for bad behavior. You know what you did. Explain and justify yourself.

#52 : A character discovers their sibling owns a cursed object. Write about what happens next.

#53 : Write a character description by writing a list of items that would be on a scavenger hunt about them.

#54 : The slogan for a product or service you're advertising is, "Kid-tested, _____." Fill in the blank and write the copy for a radio or podcast advertisement for your product.

How to Use Creative Writing Prompts

There's no wrong way to use a creative writing prompt (unless it's to harass and hurt someone)—the point of them is to get you writing and your imagination flowing.

To help you get the most out of these writing prompts, however, we've come up with the six tips below. Try them out!

#1: DON'T Limit Yourself to Prose

Unless you're writing for a particular assignment, there's no reason everything you write in response to a writing prompt has to be prose fiction . Instead of writing your response to a prompt as a story, try writing a poem, nonfiction essay, play, screenplay, or some other format entirely.

#2: DON'T Edit as You Write

The purposes of writing prompts is to get you writing, typos and weird grammar and all. Editing comes later, once you've finished writing and have some space from it to come back to what you wrote.

It's OK to fix things that will make it difficult to read what you've written (e.g., a weird autocorrect that changes the meaning of a sentence), but don't worry too much about typos or perfect grammar when you're writing; those are easy enough to fix in edits . You also can always insert asterisks or a short note as you're writing to remind yourself to go back to fix something (for instance, if as you're writing it seems like you want to move around the order of your paragraphs or insert something earlier).

#3: DO Interpret the Prompt Broadly

The point of using a writing prompt is not to write something that best exemplifies the prompt, but something that sparks your own creativity. Again, unless you're writing in response to an assignment with specific directions, feel free to interpret writing prompts as broadly or as narrowly as you want.

For instance, if your prompt is to write a story that begins with "The stage was set," you could write about anything from someone preparing to put a plan into motion to a literal theatre stage constructed out of pieces of old sets (or something else entirely).

If you're using a writing prompt, it doesn't have to be the first sentence of your story or poem, either; you can also use the prompt as a goal to work towards in your writing.

#4: DO Try Switching Up Your Writing Methods

If it's a possibility for you, see if you write differently in different media. Do you write the same kind of stories by hand as you would typing at a computer? What about if you dictate a story and then transcribe it? Or text it to a friend? Varying the method you use to write can affect the stories you're able to tell.

For example, you may find that it's easier for you to tell stories about your life to a voice recorder than to try to write out a personal essay. Or maybe you have trouble writing poetry, but can easily text yourself or a friend a poem. You might even find you like a writing method you've not tried before better than what you've been doing!

#5: DO Mix and Match Prompt Ideas

If you need more inspiration, feel free to combine multiple prompts (but don't overwhelm yourself with too much to write about).

You can also try switching genres from what might be suggested in the prompt. For instance, try writing a prompt that seems funny in a serious and sad way, or finding the humor in something that otherwise seems humorless. The categories we've organized the prompts into are by no means limiters on what you're allowed to write about.

#6: DO Try to Write Regularly

The more regularly you write, the easier it will be to write (with or without writing prompts).

For some people, this means writing daily; for others, it means setting aside time to write each weekend or each month. Set yourself an achievable goal (write 2x a week, write 1000 words a month) and stick to it. You can always start small and then ramp your wordcount or frequency up.

If you do better when you have something outside yourself prompting to write, you may also want to try something like morning pages , which encourages you to write at least 750 words every day, in any format (story, diary entry, social media postings, etc).

What's Next?

Thinking about attending college or grad school for creative writing? Our articles on whether or not you should major in creative writing and the best creative writing programs are there for you! Plus, if you're a high schooler, you should check out these top writing contests .

Creative writing doesn't necessarily have to be fiction. Check out these three examples of narrative writing and our tips for how to write your own narrative stories and essays .

Just as writing prompts can help give form to amorphous creative energy, using specific writing structures or devices can be great starting points for your next story. Read through our discussion of the top 20 poetic devices to know and see if you can work at least one new one into your next writing session.

Still looking for more writing ideas? Try repurposing our 100+ easy drawing ideas for characters, settings, or plot points in your writing.

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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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Examples and Guide to Creative Writing

The roots of creative writing lie in creative thinking. But what if you're not the most creative person in the room? That's simply not a good enough reason to lose hope in writing the best creative piece anyone's ever read. In this article, I will show you what you need to get started and the tools with creative writing examples that will help you learn how to write creatively.

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that diverges from the more formal and structured types of writing like technical or academic writing. It typically includes various genres and styles, focusing on character development, narrative, and plot, infused with imagination and storytelling. The primary objective is to evoke emotions and create a vivid experience for the reader.

Creative writing includes many forms, such as children's books, creative nonfiction, graphic novels, memoirs, novels, plays, poetry, screenplays, and short stories. Each form offers unique opportunities for writers to explore different themes, styles, and storytelling techniques. Essential elements of creative writing include as follows that work together to create engaging and immersive narratives that resonate with readers.

Action: Characters’ actions should be purposeful and drive the story forward, based on their motivations and goals.

Character Development: Characters should be unique, three-dimensional, and relatable, with distinct personalities, appearances, and backstories.

Conflict: Essential for moving the story forward, conflict creates tension and stakes, making the story compelling.

Dialogue: Realistic and meaningful dialogue reveals character emotions and advances the plot without being overly expository.

Genre: Creative writing spans various genres like romance, mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, and more, each with its own conventions and appeal.

Pacing: The speed at which a story unfolds, determined by scene length and information distribution, affects the reader’s engagement.

Plot: The sequence of events that make up a story, starting with an inciting incident and building through rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Point of View: The perspective from which the story is told, such as first person, second person, or third person, shapes the reader’s experience.

Scenes: The building blocks of a story, scenes vary in setting and advance the plot while containing tension and conflict.

Setting: The time, location, and physical environment where the story takes place, contributing to the story’s atmosphere and context.

Style: An author’s unique way of communicating with words, shaped by their voice and overall tone, which can vary based on the type of writing and target audience.

Tension: Keeps readers on the edge of their seats by creating stakes and suspense, essential for maintaining interest.

Theme: The underlying message or concept an author wishes to convey through their work, offering deeper meaning to the narrative.

Examples of Creative Writing

The best way to prompt yourself to write creatively, even when your creativity is running low, is by seeking inspiration. I'll be sharing some examples of creative writing to help you get inspired and understand the essence of creative writing. But first, let's explore the different genres of creative writing:

Fiction is all about creating imaginative stories with characters, events, and settings that are not simply real. This genre allows for complete creative freedom, enabling you to build intricate worlds and compelling narratives from scratch. For instance, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling is a fantasy novel that introduces readers to a young wizard's magical adventures, showcasing how fiction can transport readers to entirely new realms.

2.Non-Fiction

Non-fiction, on the other hand, focuses on real-life events, facts, and people. It aims to provide truthful and informative content. A prime example is "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank, which offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis. This genre captures reality and shares genuine experiences, often leaving a profound impact on readers.

Drama is written to be performed, typically on stage or screen. It centers around dialogue and action, aiming to convey a story through live performances. Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet" is a classic example of drama, a tragic play that explores the intense emotions and conflicts between two young lovers from feuding families. The dramatic structure and dialogue drive the narrative forward, engaging audiences in a powerful live experience.

Poetry uses rhythmic and often figurative language to express emotions and ideas in a compact and evocative manner. It can vary from short verses to lengthy compositions, and its flexibility allows for deep personal expression. Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven" demonstrates poetry’s ability to create a haunting atmosphere through rhythmic and lyrical language, inviting readers into a world of mystery and emotion.

5.Complex Genres

Beyond these primary categories, there are complex genres that blend elements of traditional writing with unique formats:

Blog posts, for instance, offer an informal and conversational approach to writing about various topics. "10 Tips for Traveling on a Budget" provides practical advice for budget-conscious travelers, showcasing how blog posts can combine personal insights with useful information in a relatable manner.

Screenplays are another complex genre, focusing on scripts for film and television. "The Social Network" by Aaron Sorkin presents the story of Facebook’s creation through dialogue and scene descriptions, illustrating how screenplays translate a narrative into a visual and auditory experience for the audience.

Memoirs, like Michelle Obama’s "Becoming", offer personal reflections and stories tied to a larger theme. This genre allows authors to explore their experiences and convey significant life lessons to readers, creating a connection through shared humanity.

Graphic novels combine text with illustrations to tell a story, as seen in "Maus" by Art Spiegelman. This genre blends art and narrative to explore complex themes, making the storytelling experience both visually and textually rich.

Examining these genres reveals the diverse ways creative writing can be approached. Fiction allows for imaginative storytelling and world-building, while non-fiction grounds writing in real-life truths and experiences. Drama and poetry bring unique stylistic elements to their narratives, whether through performance or lyrical expression.

Complex genres like blog posts, screenplays, memoirs, and graphic novels add further depth to creative writing, each offering distinct ways to engage and entertain audiences. Understanding these genres can provide valuable insights and inspiration, helping you find your own creative voice and craft compelling stories.

How to Start Creative Writing?

Starting your creative writing journey can be an exciting and rewarding experience. As someone who's passionate about writing, I'm eager to share some insights that can help you begin your own creative writing adventure. As we learn how to write and improve our creative writing skills, I'll also teach you how to use tools like WPS Office that fit naturally into the process of writing poetry, articles, and guides. So let's begin the journey of exploring our creativity and transform these thoughts onto a piece of paper or a document in WPS Writer.

Explore Your Thoughts

The first step to beginning any form of creative writing is exploring your thoughts. I believe we all have our own creative side—thoughts and dreams that we wish to bring to life. Creative writing is a way to express these thoughts and help others visualize them.

Start by imagining a scene. For example, envision a magical hero living in a village surrounded by mystical powers, facing troublemakers. Type this down in WPS Writer, which you can access even on your mobile. This allows you to save your thoughts and revisit them later when you have more ideas. Your work will be saved and accessible anywhere because inspiration can strike at any time.

Ponder Your Thoughts

Next, ponder these thoughts. Think deeply about the scene, the characters, the setup, the background story, and the mystical powers you want to include. A well-thought-out story is always more compelling. If you need help, use the WPS AI assistant to brainstorm ideas for your story. With AI, you can boost your imagination and develop richer narratives.

Start Writing

Now, start writing down your thoughts or the ideas from your brainstorming session with WPS AI. This process can take time; you might finish your story in one sitting, or you might write it over several sessions. If you're on a deadline and need to submit your creative story quickly, ask WPS AI to write it for you. Simply describe your plot to WPS AI through a prompt, and have your short story ready in no time. Be sure to edit a few parts to add your unique touch.

Refine Your Story

Once your story is complete, ensure it flows well, uses words correctly, and clearly expresses your thoughts to your readers. If you think improvements are needed, ask WPS AI to make those enhancements for you. The WPS AI “Improve writing” feature can help students and writers refine their stories to make them more effective.

Proofread Your Story

Proofreading is crucial. A story with grammatical errors can leave a poor impression on your readers. Fortunately, WPS Writer, with its built-in AI spell check, can help you make all the corrections with a single click.

Format Your Story

The story is complete, but there's still some work left to do. Your story should not only read well but also be easy to navigate. To achieve this, use WPS Writer's formatting tools: set clear headings, choose a readable font, and adjust the line and paragraph spacing.

Proper formatting can be crucial to engage your readers because if your story looks cluttered, it can negatively impact their reading experience and ultimately their opinion of your writing.

Share Your Story

Finally, save your story and share it with your family, friends, and teachers directly from WPS Office via email. Let others enjoy your writing and discover the creative side you've been nurturing!

While I can't provide a step-by-step guide to writing creative pieces because freehand writing is highly valued in creative writing, I can emphasize how incredibly helpful WPS AI can be in assisting with creative writing tasks. From crafting non-fictional stories to writing poems, brainstorming, and formatting, WPS AI can offer invaluable support in every aspect. It's a perfect writing partner not just for creative writing but for all your academic needs.

Here are some creative writing examples generated with the help of WPS AI:

Start with Observation

The world around you is full of inspiration. Take a moment to truly observe your surroundings.

Read Widely

Reading is essential for becoming a better writer. Explore different genres and styles to broaden your horizons and inspire your own work.

Write Regularly

Like any skill, writing improves with practice. Try to write a little bit every day, even if it's just for 10 minutes. Use WPS Writer to jot down your ideas and format your work as you go.

Embrace Imperfection

Remember, your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. The most important thing is to get your ideas down on paper. You can always revise and polish later.

Seek Inspiration from Various Sources

Look beyond books. Movies, art, music, and even conversations can spark creative ideas. Try writing a story inspired by your favorite song or describing a character based on a painting you love.

Remember, everyone's creative writing journey is unique. Don't be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and find your own voice. The most important thing is to enjoy the process and keep writing. Who knows? Your next sentence could be the beginning of something amazing!

How to Improve Creative Writing

When you're done with your creative writing piece, you might feel like there's still room for improvement. Identifying where it needs improvement is the first step to figuring out what to fix. Once you know what needs adjustment, you can start making those changes. Here's how you can improve your writing and create a better version of your piece.

What is Good Writing?

Good writing is natural and flows effortlessly, without the writer appearing self-important or overly serious. It's one of the least precise forms of communication since the true intent of the writer is often ambiguous unless they explicitly state their biases and purposes. Writing often reflects another person’s reality, which might not align with our own and can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

Essentially, good writing should make you forget you are reading. It should be immersive, making you feel connected to the writer’s thoughts as if they were your own. When done well, it creates a seamless experience where you feel as though you know the writer personally and can predict their next words. This connection is achieved through clarity, organization, and a strong sense of purpose.

Ways to Improve Your Writing

If your writing isn't good enough, it might be lacking in several key areas. Consider the following:

1.Usage of Verbs Instead of Adverbs:

Strong verbs can make your writing more dynamic and precise. Instead of saying "ran quickly," say "sprinted."

2.Showing and Not Telling:

Good writing often involves showing rather than telling. Instead of saying "he was angry," describe his actions and expressions, like "his face turned red, and he slammed the door."

3.Diversity of Sentences:

Varying sentence structure can keep your writing interesting. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more descriptive ones.

4.Editing After Finishing Your Writing:

The first draft is just the beginning. Revising and editing your work is crucial for clarity, coherence, and overall quality.

5.Using WPS AI to Improve Your Writing:

Tools like WPS AI can help enhance your writing by offering suggestions for clarity, style, and grammar. It's a valuable resource for refining your work and ensuring it's the best it can be.

6.Real-Time Grammar and Syntax Suggestions:

WPS Office includes a powerful grammar and syntax checking tool that operates in real-time. As you write, it continuously scans your text for grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and syntactical issues, highlighting them immediately. This helps you maintain a high standard of writing by ensuring that your text is free from common errors. The real-time feedback allows you to correct mistakes on the go, preventing them from accumulating and making the editing process much smoother.

7.Detailed Explanations and Recommendations:

Beyond simply highlighting errors, WPS Office provides detailed explanations and recommendations for corrections. When it detects a grammatical mistake or a syntactical issue, it offers suggestions and explains why a particular correction is needed. This feature is incredibly beneficial for learning and improvement, as it helps you understand the rules of grammar and syntax better. By consistently using these recommendations, you can enhance your writing skills and produce more polished and professional creative pieces.

1. What is the great opening line for a story?

A compelling opening sentence is almost as crucial as the entire story that follows. It draws the reader in, piquing their interest and establishing the story's atmosphere. They can be startling, humorous, enigmatic, or poignant. Writing can seem daunting when uncertain about topics, but story starters or writing prompts effectively engage the imagination from the outset. Hence, they also inspire students who may face challenges in generating ideas. Here's an example of a great opening line:

"As I wandered through the old, abandoned house, I stumbled upon something overlooked by everyone else."

This opening sentence creates a mysterious and captivating atmosphere, prompting readers to ponder the discovery made by the protagonist and anticipate the unfolding events.

2. Can creative writing be taught?

Yes, creative writing can indeed be taught. Here are some effective methods:

Workshops and Constructive Feedback: Participating in workshops provides a supportive environment where writers receive valuable feedback from peers and instructors. This collaborative process helps refine their skills and discover their unique voices.

Mastering Craft and Technique: Creative writing classes teach essential techniques, including character development, plot structure, and dialogue. These skills develop gradually through practice and guidance.

The Reading-Writing Connection: Exposure to diverse literature enriches a writer’s understanding of storytelling. By reading widely, writers gain insights that inform their own writing practice.

Consistent Practice and Dedication: Regular writing practice, combined with persistence, leads to improvement. Like any skill, creative writing benefits from dedicated effort.

Ignite Your Creative Spark with WPS Office

If you are writing anything, unless it is strictly professional, adding a touch of creativity can make it far more interesting and help you engage with your readers, drawing them into your work. The challenging part about writing creatively is finding that initial spark to make your writing come alive.

WPS Office can help you ignite and sustain that creative spark. It enhances the quality and impact of your creative writing, ensuring that your work is not only technically sound but also engaging and evocative. So, download WPS Office —you might just discover your creative spark there!

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Our Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker Enhances Your Writing Like a Native Speaker

Use Wordvice AI's free Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker to refine your writing effortlessly. Instantly identify and correct grammar and spelling errors to ensure your text is polished and professional. Enhance your writing with AI-powered suggestions tailored to the Traditional Chinese grammar structure.

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Traditional vs. Simplified Chinese: Understanding the Difference

Understanding the difference between traditional and simplified Chinese is crucial for proper grammar and character usage.

Traditional Chinese

Used mainly in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. It retains the original, more complex characters.

Simplified Chinese

Used predominantly in mainland China. It simplifies the strokes of traditional characters for easier learning and writing.

Knowing when and where to use each form can significantly impact the readability and accuracy of your writing.

What is a Chinese Grammar Checker?

A Mandarin grammar checker is an indispensable tool for anyone aiming to enhance their Traditional Chinese writing skills. It analyzes your text in real-time, identifying and correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. By leveraging advanced AI technology, it ensures your writing is accurate and polished.

Using a Chinese spell checker is crucial for achieving clarity and precision in your text. Wordvice AI provides professional-grade corrections, assisting you in refining your writing before submitting it to journals, reviewers, or professors. With our Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker, your writing will be clear, correct, and professional.

Enhance Sentence Structure with Our Chinese Sentence Corrector:

Our Chinese proofreader includes features designed to help you construct clear and effective sentences. Here’s how it can enhance your sentence structure:

1. Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Identification:

Automatically identifies and corrects the basic sentence structure, ensuring that your sentences follow the subject-verb-object order, which is fundamental in Chinese.

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Provides suggestions for placing adjectives and adverbs close to the words they modify, helping you create more precise and impactful sentences.

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Delivers immediate corrections and suggestions as you write, helping you learn and apply proper sentence structures on the fly.

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Uses advanced algorithms to analyze the context of your sentences, ensuring that corrections and suggestions are relevant and accurate.

By utilizing these features, our Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker acts like a Chinese editor and enhances the clarity and effectiveness of your traditional Chinese writing, making your text more engaging and professional.

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Our free online Chinese checker enhances your sentences by correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Whether you're refining individual sentences or ensuring the accuracy of complex paragraphs, Wordvice AI's Chinese proofreading services are your essential AI tools for writing and editing in Traditional Chinese. Perfect for checking sentence structure, comparing traditional vs simplified Chinese, and ensuring precise Chinese character usage, our comprehensive checker helps you write flawlessly in Traditional Chinese.

Master Mandarin Grammar with Ease

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Our Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker is designed to streamline your writing process and ensure your text is error-free and polished. Whether you're working with Chinese spelling, checking sentence structure, or comparing Chinese traditional vs simplified, our tool offers comprehensive support.

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Enhance the precision of your Chinese writing with our advanced Chinese text checker. Wordvice AI not only corrects grammar errors but also checks sentence structure, ensuring your writing in traditional Chinese is accurate and fluent.

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Before submitting any text for the Mandarin grammar checker, adjust the revision settings to align with the requirements of your document.

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Edit Your Chinese Sentence with Our AI Chinese Editor

Our precise and free online Chinese checker is designed to help any writer improve a variety of Chinese documents, from essays to business reports.

Researchers rely on a Chinese grammar checker…

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Wordvice Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker FAQ

Here are some common queries about our free Chinese proofreading tools.

• Why should I use a Chinese grammar checker for my documents? An AI-powered Mandarin grammar checker provides writers with a swift and effective way to enhance their documents, making it an essential tool for perfecting various types of texts. These checkers do more than simply identify and correct grammar and spelling mistakes—they also improve the overall clarity and coherence of your Chinese writing. Utilizing advanced language models and natural language processing technology, a Chinese proofreading tool offers recommendations that can elevate your writing style, making it more engaging and professional. Whether you're writing in traditional Chinese, comparing traditional vs simplified Chinese, or focusing on Mandarin grammar, an AI Chinese grammar checker ensures your message is communicated clearly, accurately, and with greater impact. This tool is invaluable for everything from critical emails to academic papers and business documents, helping you save time while producing polished and precise content.
• What is the best free Chinese Grammar Checker? The best free Traditional Chinese grammar checker will offer comprehensive error detection, an intuitive user interface, and versatility in handling different types of Chinese texts. A top-tier tool should accurately identify and correct grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. Advanced tools like Wordvice AI go a step further by providing style enhancements, customizable correction options, and detailed explanations for the changes made. Wordvice AI’s Chinese proofreader utilizes state-of-the-art language models to instantly correct your writing's grammar, spelling, punctuation, and stylistic errors. Whether you're working on academic papers, business correspondence, creative writing, or online content, our tool ensures your text in Chinese is clear, precise, and impactful.
• How does our Traditional Chinese Grammar Checker app work? To access instant grammar checking for any type of Chinese text, simply sign up with Wordvice AI, input your text into the AI text box, and click the "Check Grammar" button. While the Basic plan offers limited checking modes and a restricted amount of text that can be checked, upgrading to a Premium plan provides full access to all revision modes and features of our AI tools, allowing for nearly unlimited monthly submissions.
• How much does the Chinese Grammar Checker cost? Wordvice AI's online Chinese editing service is available for free upon registration. Simply sign up and submit your details to start enhancing your Chinese texts instantly. For access to additional features and broader use of the Chinese text checker capabilities that further improve your writing, consider upgrading to a Premium plan. Visit the Wordvice AI Pricing page for detailed information on plans and to compare the various revision tools and functionalities.
• Is your Chinese Grammar Checker safe and secure for my documents? All documents or text submitted to Wordvice AI's Chinese Grammar Checker are fully secure and treated with the highest level of confidentiality. We use advanced encryption protocols to protect your work, ensuring that any personal information you provide remains private and is never shared with third parties. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more information on our data collection and storage practices.
• Is the Chinese Grammar Checker compatible with other programs? Wordvice AI is available as an MS Word add-in, and a Chrome extension is currently in development. The MS Word add-in allows users to correct text directly in their Microsoft Word documents, integrating the same powerful grammar check capabilities and feedback features found on our online platform. Learn how to install and use the Wordvice AI MS Word add-in to enhance your grammar in Chinese seamlessly.
• AI Paraphraser : rewords and enhances your sentences for clarity and style
• AI Summarizer : distills the core points of your text into a concise bulleted summary
• AI Translator : utilizes cutting-edge AI technology for accurate language translations
• AI Plagiarism Checker : scans for plagiarism across documents and identifies AI-generated content

Augmented Course Design: Using AI to Boost Efficiency and Expand Capacity

The emerging class of generative AI tools has the potential to significantly alter the landscape of course development.

Using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or CoPilot as intelligent assistants in instructional design can significantly enhance the scalability of course development. GenAI can significantly improve the efficiency with which institutions develop content that is closely aligned with the curriculum and course objectives. As a result, institutions can more effectively meet the rising demand for flexible and high-quality education, preparing a new generation of future professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel in their chosen fields. Footnote 1 In this article, we illustrate the uses of AI in instructional design in terms of content creation, media development, and faculty support. We also provide some suggestions on the effective and ethical uses of AI in course design and development. Our perspectives are rooted in medical education, but the principles can be applied to any learning context.

Course Planning

New and emerging GenAI tools can assist educators throughout the entire course development process, from initial planning to final production.

Course Mapping

Course design typically follows a backward-design method, first describing course goals or objectives, then considering assessments, and then designing instructional materials and activities to support students in mastering the content necessary to achieve these course objectives. Footnote 2 This method ensures a strong alignment between what is taught, how it is taught, and what is assessed, thereby promoting coherence and relevance in the educational experience. GenAI can play a constructive role in every step of the course planning process.

Instructors often work with subject-matter and content knowledge, which can be so expansive and complex that they have blind spots in the course planning process, or a lack of understanding of student or curriculum needs. This gap between content mastery and pedagogical need can overwhelm faculty. In several ways, this course mapping process can become easier with the help of GenAI. An AI function in Blackboard, the learning management system (LMS) we use, can be prompted to generate a quick list of suggested modules in a sandbox course. Instructors can use that content to envision what a course looks like and to provide a jump-start to create their own list of modules and topics to teach. We recommend using a sandbox course for such development and adjusting and editing it before copying it over to an actual course. Having a sample list of modules to work from makes course planning easier, compared to beginning from nothing. This is valuable for someone who needs more experience in developing content to be offered either online or in a hybrid modality, each of which requires more front-loading of content than a face-to-face course, but using GenAI in this way is also valuable for face-to-face courses.

Refinement of Learning Objectives

The backward-design method starts with identifying the desired outcomes or competencies students should achieve by the end of the course, but writing learning objectives can be challenging. Instructors can start their objectives and then use GenAI tools to refine them, especially to align them with the appropriate cognitive levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Instructors have traditionally depended on job aids such as verb lists to refine the objectives to align with the appropriate cognitive level. GenAI can help instructors select the verbs that accurately describe the cognitive level.

Assessment Planning

Once the objectives have been written, instructors can use GenAI tools to help draft activities and assessments to measure student mastery of the objectives. With the appropriate prompt, a GenAI tool can suggest ideas for assessments to measure specific learning outcomes. GenAI tools can work with a case or scenario and apply it in assessments for different units. GenAI tools in Blackboard, for example, can create question banks based on a given text. Naturally, instructors will need to go through the output and delete, modify, and add as needed, but GenAI can at least can help overcome writer's block as instructors work on creating assessment activities. Rubric development is another potent area of GenAI use. If instructors feed the proper criteria and the levels of measurement, the GenAI function of Blackboard can generate a working draft on which an actual rubric can be created.

Instructional Strategy Planning

We have found that Google's Gemini excels in generating lesson plans as a thought starter in the course-creation process. Using objectives and assessments as the basis, Gemini can produce a draft lesson plan, including methods to present the content and activities to help students process the content. With lesson plans created or refined by AI, faculty can more easily map out instructional time for materials and instructional activities. For instance, an instructor can request that a lesson plan be created for a unit that consists of two hours of teaching, and Gemini will create a detailed plan with specific time allotted for lessons, activities, and assessments. A course designer can then modify the prompt or add additional prompts to get the draft in the best possible shape before instructors edit it. Backward design is a process that often goes against faculty's intuition because, in most cases, their starting point is somewhere in the vast matrix of their knowledge. The skilled use of AI can get them unstuck when planning their lessons.

Content Production

In designing courses, instructors must bridge the gap between their expertise and students' existing knowledge or skills. Sometimes, bridging the gap in subject-matter mastery can be paralyzing. Here are a few ways that GenAI can help an instructor:

Content Inspiration

AI, serving as a springboard, can provide great inspiration to faculty in developing new courses or as they transition from classroom teaching to offering content online, which requires preparation of a large amount of content at the front end. GenAI tools can offer unexpected subthemes, case studies, or creative exercises when prompted about a well-worn subject, fostering a fresh perspective. This is especially helpful when the subject matter is overly complex to be broken into chunks for student learning. Similarly, for those seeking alternatives to traditional lectures, GenAI can assist instructors and instructional designers as they brainstorm interactive activities such as simulations, quizzes, or role-playing scenarios, promoting deeper understanding through active engagement.

Content Generation

GenAI tools such as ChatGPT can transform a basic text outline from an instructor into a visually appealing PowerPoint presentation. It can suggest slide layouts, images, and relevant charts or graphs. We have also found that by using a well-developed set of learning objectives, we can use GenAI to help create drafts of such components as unit introductions, conclusions, and other course content, from which faculty can produce substantive components using their own expertise and professional judgment.

Content Expansion

If a professor only has a few key points, GenAI can flesh out initial vague ideas with additional supporting information, examples, and relevant statistics. GenAI can analyze text documents, research papers, or lecture transcripts and generate concise summaries or key takeaways. GenAI tools such as Scholarly GPT that are geared toward the scholarly community can help with literature reviews to quickly identify and share additional content for students to research.

Design Refinement

GenAI can analyze existing instructional documents and recommend layout, design, and visual hierarchy improvements to make them more engaging. For instance, with Microsoft's Designer tool and Copilot, it is possible to quickly redesign a slide to be more visually appealing and consistent, thereby improving student learning experiences. After they have initial materials to train the AI, instructors can also use GenAI to match tone and style across a set of resources.

Media Production

Media production is often one of the most time-consuming and professionally demanding tasks for educators. Media production involves storyboarding, media creation, and accessibility compliance. AI tools not only streamline the educational content creation process but also ensure that the content is accessible, engaging, and tailored to meet the diverse needs of learners.

Storyboarding

GenAI can assist with outlining concepts, creating engaging narratives for videos or lessons, and even suggesting a basic storyboard structure. This is the best use of GenAI for media production because it can help create a coherent storyboard, factoring in elements that the subject-matter experts might not have considered due to the complexity of their mental schemas regarding the topics to cover. It is also easier to create a consistent tone and style for a presentation if a coherent and consistent prompt is used.

Media Creation

Tools such as DALL-E 3 allow instructors to generate custom images and illustrations simply by describing what they want to see, and some LMSs also now include a feature to generate decorative images. However, we have found that these and other GenAI tools are still lacking in accuracy and subtlety in producing scientific imagery for educational purposes. For instance, we have not found a tool that helps us recreate foot osteology with the minute details we need in teaching. Most GenAI tools generate images based on text prompts, but in some cases what would valuable for instructional uses would be the ability to modify or recreate existing images (and to meet specific instructional needs, the same difficulty applies to GenAI tools for video production). GenAI tools are also lacking right now for creating diagrams and other visual representations of complex concepts or procedures. We hope this will change as GenAI tools continue to evolve at a rapid pace.

Accessible Features

We are not yet sure if tools such as ChatGPT's Sora to turn text into video can help produce useful instructional videos because scientific videos require precision and accuracy that GenAI tools presently lack for our use, but we have found a very productive use of AI for instructional multimedia: The need for universal design and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) calls for the production of alternative formats of representation for media. We can use AI voice tools to generate narration for PowerPoint and AI tools to create transcripts. Such production would otherwise take many human hours. Text-to-audio AI production is especially helpful when the instructors speak with a heavy accent or speak in a way that is difficult for students to comprehend. However, we caution that a course should not always have AI voices because it could cause a course to lose the human touch of the faculty. Course and unit instruction videos, for instance, should be created with natural human voices.

A similar application of AI would be multilingual translation. AI can translate instructional videos and materials into various languages, expanding the reach of instructors' content to a global audience. However, tools such as DeepL, Google Translate, or Microsoft Translator could also provide just-in-time translation.

Supporting Faculty in AI Use

An instructional designer can also coach faculty to use AI to accelerate and optimize content creation, bridge the gap between expert knowledge and student learning, and prepare the next generation of professionals. Table 1 summarizes a few low-hanging fruits in AI usage in course development.

Instructional designers can also play the role of a faculty developer or change agent. In such roles, we can assist faculty in developing capabilities in using AI in their work. According to a recent Microsoft and LinkedIn report, 66% of leaders surveyed indicated that they would not hire someone without AI skills. Footnote 3 Compared to this expectation and from our observation, educators in the workforce fall into one of these stages:

• AI Avoidance: This is the most basic stage, where people actively avoid any interaction with AI. This could be due to fear of the unknown, science fiction tropes portraying AI as dangerous, or simply a lack of awareness of how AI is already integrated into daily work or life.
• AI Illiteracy: At this stage, people have some basic understanding of AI and are less fearful but lack the knowledge to effectively use or interact with it. They might be aware of AI tools but struggle to understand how they work or their capabilities.
• AI Hallucination: This stage is characterized by those who embrace AI but blindly accept misinterpretations generated by AI. AI systems can produce outputs that seem correct on the surface but contain inaccurate or misleading information.
• AI Literacy: This is a key turning point. People at this stage have a solid understanding of AI's capabilities and limitations. They can recognize where AI is being used and how it can be a helpful tool. They can critically evaluate information generated by AI and avoid falling victim to AI biases.
• AI Fluency: Here, people can not only use AI tools effectively but also understand the underlying concepts and algorithms that make them work. They can speak the language of AI, meaning they can communicate with AI systems and manipulate them to achieve desired outcomes. This stage requires a technical understanding of AI concepts.
• AI Innovation: This is the stage where people do not just use AI but actively contribute to its development. They can create new AI applications, improve existing algorithms, and push the boundaries of what AI can do. This stage requires fluency in AI, as well as creativity and a solid foundation in computer science.

Higher education is a workplace where AI can play a significant role. We have sought to illustrate the use of AI—in particular, GenAI in one of the core activities: the design and development of courses. We recommend that instructional designers and faculty assess where they stand in this spectrum and act accordingly to become AI-augmented staff or educators by developing fluency in using AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their work. It must be emphasized that not all educators need to advance to the "AI innovation" stage. In a variety of fields, being knowledgeable enough to recognize incorrect information is often sufficient. When using ChatGPT, you can state in the query that you want the tool to provide a confidence level in the form of a percentage for the information it is giving—for example: "Please provide the information along with a percentage of your certainty." Asking for the references to arrive at the answer can also help determine the accuracy of the information provided. References do need to be checked because ChatGPT sometimes provides fictional references. Each new version of ChatGPT has resulted in improvements in the accuracy of ChatGPT's responses.

Instructional designers can either play the role of faculty developer in helping faculty acquire fluency or work with dedicated faculty developers in developing faculty capability in this area. It is fitting for instructional designers, who often stay in the area where education meets technology, to stay ahead of the learning curve to better advise faculty about the uses, ethics, strengths, and weaknesses of AI usage.

Using GenAI in Content Generation

Many in higher education have been deeply suspicious of GenAI, especially after the launch of ChatGPT. One primary concern was student cheating, inspiring tools such as GPTZero, which tried to detect student use of ChatGPT. Footnote 4 We echo those sentiments and insist that the most effective and appropriate uses of GenAI complement, rather than replace, what humans can produce. Humans can have an idea, ask AI to generate a course map, and then work on it further and finalize that version. This is an iterative process in which humans and GenAI work better together, with humans using GenAI primarily as a smart assistant. The following suggestions illustrate productive and ethical uses of AI in course design.

Use It but Don't Abuse It

AI streamlines content creation by automating repetitive tasks and generating quizzes or assessments. As discussed, it can also inspire us during brainstorming stages. This frees up instructional designers to focus on the creative aspects, such as crafting engaging activities and incorporating new technologies. However, the potential for misuse exists. Overreliance on AI could lead to a sterile learning experience devoid of the human touch. A skilled instructor can adapt to unexpected questions, provide emotional support, and foster a sense of community—activities that AI currently struggles to replicate. There might be a time when AI can accomplish these in a way that is hard to distinguish from humans, but until that happens, we advocate using it where human labor is less effective and efficient but not abusing it to the point of creating inferior educational experiences.

Integrate, Iterate, Work Incrementally

Generative AI should be seen as a powerful tool for instructors. We can use GenAI for heavy-lifting tasks, inspiration, and modifications while tapping into human experiences, especially the vast clinical experiences of faculty. We would caution faculty not to have a "baby and bathwater" syndrome, dismissing a tool just because it does not give exactly what instructors need. Instead, work interactively and incrementally, get ideas, tweak prompts, edit, and finalize using your expertise and experience.

Avoid Errors and Biases

A crucial part of using GenAI appropriately is to ensure that its outputs are factually correct and free from errors. Always have subject-matter experts review AI-generated content and use it only as inspiration and drafts, not as final editions of what instructors would provide. GenAI can sometimes perpetuate biases present in the data it is trained on. Developers must actively work to mitigate bias to avoid inaccurate or discriminatory outcomes. Be precise with your prompt writing. Carefully read what GenAI generates and make changes as needed to rid the material of any bias and modify the material to improve impartiality and inclusiveness. Instructors can leave feedback for the trainers of AI so they can improve it.

Be Transparent

Educate both instructors and students on the ethical use of GenAI, addressing issues of plagiarism, intellectual property, and responsible use. Be transparent about when GenAI is used in the course. For instance, if an image is produced using AI, provide a reference to it in a way that students can tell it was created with a specific AI tool. In addition, avoid using AI to create scientific images because doing so often results in images that contain inaccuracies.

Use It to Detect Abuses

By using GenAI in course development, faculty can also gain increased sensitivity toward generic content "fresh off ChatGPT." When ChatGPT was first developed, it created panic among faculty that such content is now difficult to detect even with the use of tools such as Turnitin. In our experience, using GenAI has sensitized us toward suspicious content, helping us more readily detect abuses than an unsuspecting faculty member without much AI literacy. This provides us with better insights and intuition to work with students more effectively, not necessarily by calling them out but by teaching them how to use AI productively and ethically for their future careers.

AI has the potential to be a transformative tool for instructors engaged in course development. It can assist at various stages, from initial course mapping and objective refinement to content generation and media production. We believe in the power of a collaborative working relationship between humans and AI, one in which the machine's strengths in processing information and generating ideas augment the faculty's expertise in subject matter, pedagogy, and student engagement.

In today's digital landscape, fluency in AI tools is a crucial aspect of student digital literacy. By embracing GenAI as a partner in course development, we, as educators, equip ourselves not only to stay ahead of the curve but also to effectively prepare our students to navigate and utilize this powerful technology within the context of their academic pursuits and future careers. As AI continues to evolve, so will its capabilities to support faculty in creating dynamic and engaging learning experiences. The future of education lies in harnessing this powerful technology while prioritizing human expertise and the irreplaceable value of human-to-human interaction in the learning process.

• Joyeta Ghosh, Sudrita Roy Choudhury, Khusboo Singh, and Samarpita Koner, "Application of Machine Learning Algorithm and Artificial Intelligence in Improving Metabolic Syndrome Related Complications: A Review," International Journal of Advanced Life Sciences Research 7, no. 2 (2024). Jump back to footnote 1 in the text. ↩
• Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, Understanding by Design (Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2012). Jump back to footnote 2 in the text. ↩
• Microsoft and LinkedIn, "AI at Work Is Here. Now Comes the Hard Part," 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report, May 8, 2024. Jump back to footnote 3 in the text. ↩
• James M. Lang, "The Case for Slow-Walking Our Use of Generative AI," Chronicle of Higher Education , February 29, 2024; Ray Schroeder, "The AI-Augmented Professor of 2024," Inside Higher Ed , May 8, 2024; Doug Lederman, "Ep. 113: Helping Higher Education Own Its AI Future," Inside Higher Ed , in The Key Podcast , May 13, 2023. Jump back to footnote 4 in the text. ↩

Berlin Fang is a Learning Innovation Designer at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Kim Broussard is an Instructor at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

© 2024 Berlin Fang and Kim Broussard. The content of this work is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-ND 4.0 International License.

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Flex writing muscles: Regular practice with one-liners can improve overall writing skills. Learn English: Writing Effectively with Complex Sentences Offered by University of California, Irvine. Write with Greater Sentence Complexity. Master the Use of Complex Sentences in Writing Enroll for free. Creative Writing Sentence Structure The Power of Simple Sentence Structure While you might be tempted to show off your writing skills by using complex sentence structures, simple sentences can be just as effective. They strip away any extraneous information and get right to the point. Simple sentences can create a sense of tension or urgency, making them great for action scenes. Lesson: To write complex sentences Key learning points In this lesson, we will learn how to write complex sentences. We will consider how complex sentences are constructed from main and subordinate clauses and use this knowledge to write our own. How to Teach Complex Sentences Preparing for Advanced Writing: Complex sentences are a crucial part of advanced writing, such as academic essays or creative writing. By teaching students how to use complex sentences, they will be better prepared for these types of writing assignments in the future. 105 Creative Writing Prompts to Try Out · PrepScholar Creative writing doesn't necessarily have to be fiction. Check out these three examples of narrative writing and our tips for how to write your own narrative stories and essays. Just as writing prompts can help give form to amorphous creative energy, using specific writing structures or devices can be great starting points for your next story. How to write a complex sentence How to write a complex sentence. There are three types of sentence - simple, compound and complex. Using complex sentences can make it easier to add layers of information and detail when writing ... Worksheet: Writing Overview Eight pages of sentence practice to strengthen writing skills, including: combining multiple short sentences into complex sentences; creative "cause and effect" sentence practice; contrast sentences; and expanded sentences. Complex Sentences Complex Sentences This unit will support your students to enhance their writing with complex sentences. Each lesson will provide practical and explicit support so that you students' confidence and ability to engage their reader with a range of sentence types will develop and grow, exponentially! Examples and Guide to Creative Writing Poetic creative writing example. 5.Complex Genres. ... Varying sentence structure can keep your writing interesting. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more descriptive ones. 4.Editing After Finishing Your Writing: The first draft is just the beginning. Revising and editing your work is crucial for clarity, coherence, and overall quality. 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