GRAMMAR IN NON-NARRATIVE WRITING

Style Punctuation
2c I can • write in sentences • use capital letters and
• join ideas with and and full stops sometimes in
then simple sentences
• choose the right word
2b I can • write sentences which • use capital letters and
do not always start with full stops most of the
the subject time in simple sentences
• join ideas with but and
so
• choose interesting
words
2a I can • start sentences in • use correct punctuation
different ways most of the time
• use words to link ideas
or events
• use descriptive words
and phrases

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GRAMMAR IN NON-NARRATIVE WRITING
Style Punctuation
I can 1. use connectives like 5. use capital letters, full
Level 3 but/when/so/ stops and question
because marks accurately at
2. use appropriate least half of the time
vocabulary
3. use adjectives and
adverbs
4. write we were, not we
was
I can 6. use connectives like 11. use capital letters, full
Level 4 if/when/rather stops and question
than marks accurately most
/although/however of the time
7. use pronouns correctly 12. use commas to separate
clauses, phrases and items
8. stick to the right
in a list
tense
9. use adventurous
vocabulary
10. use appropriate layout
I can 13. vary the length and 17. use capital letters, full
structure of my sentences
Level 5 stops, question marks
for effect
and commas accurately
14. use language precisely
all the time
and effectively,
18. use capital letters for
including technical
proper nouns
vocabulary
19. use brackets and
15. decide how formal I
dashes where
need the language to
appropriate
be and stick to it
16. use paragraphs

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GRAMMAR IN NON-NARRATIVE WRITING
Style Punctuation
I can 20. match the style of my 24. use a range of
Level 6 writing to the purpose punctuation correctly,
and audience to vary pace and
21. use an impersonal style clarify meaning
where appropriate 25. use colons and semi-
22. use a range of colons
sentence lengths and
structures, and a
varied vocabulary, to
create effects which
match the form and
purpose
23. organise my ideas into
paragraphs, including
introduction and
summary
I can 26. use a range of 30. use a range of
Level 7 structures, such as punctuation to create
adverbial phrases and deliberate effects
impersonal openings, to 31. use dashes, bullet
vary the length and points and parenthetic
focus of sentences and commas
to express shades of
meaning
27. use connectives within
and between
paragraphs to show the
links between my ideas
28. use topic sentences at
the start of
paragraphs
29. use introductions and
conclusions to give
direction and
contribute to the
effectiveness of my
writing

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GRAMMAR IN NON-NARRATIVE WRITING
Style Punctuation
I can 32. vary sentence 38. use accurate
Level 8 structure to achieve punctuation to vary
particular effects pace, clarify meaning,
33. use active and passive avoid ambiguity and
voices where create deliberate
appropriate effects
34. move between tenses
appropriately
35. vary the length of
paragraphs to control
and develop ideas, and
to create impact
36. use a range of text
connectives
37. use a range of
vocabulary to express
shades of meaning
I can 39. use an appropriate 43. use punctuation
EP style to secure and accurately,
sustain the reader’s appropriately and with
involvement sensitivity to meaning
40. develop a point of view,
using a range of
sophisticated ideas,
with appropriate and
lively illustration
41. use paragraphs to give
sense of coherence and
completeness
42. use vocabulary,
grammar and sentence
structure to develop
and support complex
ideas

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 This is what grammar can do for your
sentences.

Change nouns and verbs

The man walked down the road.
The tramp shuffled down Piccadilly.

Modify nouns and verbs

The man walked down the road.
The thin man in the black suit walked awkwardly down
the dusty road.

Vary the order of words in a sentence

The man walked down the road.
Down the road the man walked.

Use conjunctions and connectives to make connections

within and between sentences
The man walked down the road.
Although he was scared, the man walked down the
road.
The man walked down the road. However, he was
scared.

Everything else you learn about grammar

will relate to these four essential points

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 Number One Rule: Always Think About The

EFFECT
of what you write

Exhausted, the woman walked by the river.

By the river walked the exhausted woman.

By the river walked the woman, exhausted.

The woman walked by the river, exhausted.

The woman walked, exhausted, by the river.

Which one will you choose? It depends on the

EFFECT
you wish to create

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 Six ways to start a sentence

The subject
The man walked down the street.

A participle (-ing or –ed word)

Walking up the street, he tripped.
Worried about tripping, he bumped into his wife.

A conjunction
As he walked, he whistled.

An adverb
Joyfully he skipped up the street.

An adjective
Angry at the world, he stalked off.

A phrase
At the top of the road, he paused.

Remember: Savage Porcupines Can

Always Annoy People

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 Vary the length of your
sentences

The man walked down the road.

The thin, ragged man in the black

suit shuffled miserably down the
Mall towards Buckingham Palace.

The man walked.

Think about the effect which

you want to create.

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 Using pronouns

When you refer to a

character, vary the way you
do it.

Use the name

Rover was barking.

Use a pronoun
He was hungry.

Use description
The huge dog was making a noise.

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 Using commas

In lists
We ate beans, chips and eggs.

In punctuating speech
“I like beans,” said Jim.

In complex sentences
When I eat beans, I smile.

For effect
I eat beans, sometimes.
Back at home, I was eating beans.

Re-read your sentences, to see

if they need commas. When in
doubt, leave them out!

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 Use conjunctions to create
complex sentences.

When it rains, I stay in.

Although it was raining, I stayed

in.

If it rains, I will stay in.

Because it’s raining, I’m staying

in.

Unless it rains, I will go out.

While it’s raining, I’m staying in.

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Start with the conjunction and
put a comma between the
clauses.

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Changing time or place in your
narrative?

Start a new paragraph and begin

it with a phrase which answers
the question when or where.

The next morning,----------

Later that day,-------------

In the garden,-------------

Back at home,-------------

After the phrase, put a

comma.

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 Vary the ending of your stories

1. “Open for a sequel” endings

And so the wolf limped home, muttering, “One day…, one day…”.

2. “Author intervenes” endings

If you ever disobey your parents, you can expect the same to
happen to you.

3. Shock endings
Now she skipped through the forest, without a care in the
world. Perhaps that was why she failed to notice, lurking
behind a nearby tree, a sinister, slavering shape.

4. “Reader decides” endings

As she turned away from the corpse, its hairy hand jerked
towards the dripping axe.

5. “The end is at the beginning” endings

The hairy body lay lifeless on the floor, as the little girl
laughed gleefully.

Four hours earlier, she had set out grumpily on her errand.

6. Reflective endings
She was now a very different little girl from the one who had
set out heedlessly that morning.

7. “And so finally” endings

And so, finally, she was able to rest safely in the arms of her
heroic father.

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