Post by Jodi Turchin on Jan 11, 2011 14:16:13 GMT -5
You will now be cursorily introduced to the topic of loose and periodic sentences. This task seeks to galvanize what you have learned thus far and enable you to come to a deeper understanding of writers' use of syntax, particularly their use of loose and periodic sentences.
Loose Sentences
A loose sentence is one in which the main idea can be found at the beginning. For example, "Cathelene walked to the store, the rain pouring down on her as she sloshed through puddles to Publix." Loose sentences most closely mimic the way in which people speak to one another. If you were to analyze people's speech, you would find an inordinate number of loose sentences compared to periodic sentences.
Consider this sentence from Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was almost single-handedly responsible for spurring the growth of the Red Scare in the 1950s:
"I am going to discuss this war in which we've been engaged for a hundred and five years; the war declared by Karl Marx in 1848, re-declared and brought down to date by Lenin, again re-declared by Stalin, and again re-declared by the Kremlin within the last five or six weeks."
Notice that the main idea, "I am going to discuss this war in which we've been engaged for a hundred and five years," is stated clearly at the beginning. After the main idea is expressed, the sentence continues with a number of clauses; thus, we know that the sentence is loose.
Now consider this: McCarthy's use of the loose sentence enabled him to further emphasize his point that the "war" against communism had been perpetuated by Russian leaders for over one hundred years. It is clear that the loose sentence is most effective here.
Periodic Sentences
A periodic sentence is one in which the sentence's main idea - found in the independent clause - is not completely expressed until its end. Periodic sentences usually sound far more formal than do loose sentences. This is primarily a function of the tension built when reading or speaking a periodic sentence: more often than not, humans seek tension-free communications with one another, and I would argue that this fact is exemplified in our speech patterns.
Consider this sentence by Will Hays:
"With a determination for an execution consistent with our record, squaring our performances with our promises, we will proceed to the fulfillment of the Party's mission."
Normally, people would be inclined in normal speech to say this sentence as "We will proceed to the fulfillment of the Party's mission with a determination for an execution consistent with our record, squaring our performances with our promises." By holding off the main clause until the end, Hays increases tension in the listener until he finally relieves the tension with his main idea: that his Party (the Republicans) would fulfill their mission for America. In this way, connecting the relieved tension with the main clause makes Hays's rhetoric effective for his purpose: getting his audience to believe that the Republicans would ultimately achieve their objectives.
So now you may be saying to yourself "Well, which one is most effective: loose sentences or periodic sentences?" and the frustrating answer is one you probably expect: both are.
Of course, effectivness is dependent on a number of things, such as context, purpose, audience, etc. The best writing contains an ebb and flow of sentence structures in order to pique readers' interest, keep the story or argument moving toward its end, and make the most of the details and images the writer or speaker conveys.
For your next step, you will be creating examples of loose and periodic sentences. If you are still uncertain about any aspect of loose or periodic sentences, review the lesson above or feel free to ask me directly.
Loose Sentences
A loose sentence is one in which the main idea can be found at the beginning. For example, "Cathelene walked to the store, the rain pouring down on her as she sloshed through puddles to Publix." Loose sentences most closely mimic the way in which people speak to one another. If you were to analyze people's speech, you would find an inordinate number of loose sentences compared to periodic sentences.
Consider this sentence from Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was almost single-handedly responsible for spurring the growth of the Red Scare in the 1950s:
"I am going to discuss this war in which we've been engaged for a hundred and five years; the war declared by Karl Marx in 1848, re-declared and brought down to date by Lenin, again re-declared by Stalin, and again re-declared by the Kremlin within the last five or six weeks."
Notice that the main idea, "I am going to discuss this war in which we've been engaged for a hundred and five years," is stated clearly at the beginning. After the main idea is expressed, the sentence continues with a number of clauses; thus, we know that the sentence is loose.
Now consider this: McCarthy's use of the loose sentence enabled him to further emphasize his point that the "war" against communism had been perpetuated by Russian leaders for over one hundred years. It is clear that the loose sentence is most effective here.
Periodic Sentences
A periodic sentence is one in which the sentence's main idea - found in the independent clause - is not completely expressed until its end. Periodic sentences usually sound far more formal than do loose sentences. This is primarily a function of the tension built when reading or speaking a periodic sentence: more often than not, humans seek tension-free communications with one another, and I would argue that this fact is exemplified in our speech patterns.
Consider this sentence by Will Hays:
"With a determination for an execution consistent with our record, squaring our performances with our promises, we will proceed to the fulfillment of the Party's mission."
Normally, people would be inclined in normal speech to say this sentence as "We will proceed to the fulfillment of the Party's mission with a determination for an execution consistent with our record, squaring our performances with our promises." By holding off the main clause until the end, Hays increases tension in the listener until he finally relieves the tension with his main idea: that his Party (the Republicans) would fulfill their mission for America. In this way, connecting the relieved tension with the main clause makes Hays's rhetoric effective for his purpose: getting his audience to believe that the Republicans would ultimately achieve their objectives.
So now you may be saying to yourself "Well, which one is most effective: loose sentences or periodic sentences?" and the frustrating answer is one you probably expect: both are.
Of course, effectivness is dependent on a number of things, such as context, purpose, audience, etc. The best writing contains an ebb and flow of sentence structures in order to pique readers' interest, keep the story or argument moving toward its end, and make the most of the details and images the writer or speaker conveys.
For your next step, you will be creating examples of loose and periodic sentences. If you are still uncertain about any aspect of loose or periodic sentences, review the lesson above or feel free to ask me directly.