Chapter Four Appendix B

With permission, the following three strategies were taken from Improving Writing Skills for Individuals Who Learn Differently by Richard Cooper, Ph.D.

Write Three Five-Word Sentences

This is a simple writing exercise which helps students in a number of ways. Writing three five-word sentences emphasizes the structure of language rather than imitating speech. It is a manageable and measurable task. Manageable because the sentences are small and the exercise can be modified for students with different levels of writing skills. The task is measurable because the number of words is easily counted. Students with low skills can be asked to write three sentences with at least five words. Pronouns are allowed. The sentences do not have to be related. A student with higher level writing skills is asked to write three sentences with exactly five words, including articles and without pronouns. Another level of difficulty is added when the person is asked to make the three, five word sentences related to one idea, making a small paragraph. Requiring no pronouns makes it more difficult.

These sentences can be used in the next exercise: expanding drafts.

Sample: Unrelated, at least five words with pronouns

The boy hit the ball.
He went to the store.
The girls played with their dolls.

Sample: three, five word sentences unrelated without pronouns

The cat eats the food.
The man went to work.
John saw a good movie.

Sample: Related, at least five words with pronouns

The man saw the dog.
It wagged its silky tail.
The man petted the dog.

Sample: Related, at least five words without pronouns

The bank approved the loan.
The carpenter constructed the house.
The new owners were happy.