Language and Grammar: Express Opinions

Group Share With a group, express your opinions about the decree, or order, that Tarik made. Give reasons for your opinions. Use complete sentences.

I think Tarik’s decree was too harsh. His daughter suffered because of it.

Writing and Grammar: Write About Conflicts

Study the Models When you write about real and fictional conflicts, you want readers to understand. Use complete sentences to show what the conflict is and how it affects people.

Not Ok

The people in front of Tarik’s tent. They looked at one another uneasily. They saw the hardness. Tarik his people to speak Hamed’s name. Wept at the decree. Walked blindly through the oasis. Remembering things about Hamed. Brought Hamed’s name to her lips.

The reader thinks: “What is this story about? I don’t understand!”

Ok

The people assembled in front of Tarik’s tent. They looked at one another uneasily. They saw the hardness on the sheik’s face. Tarik forbade his people to speak Hamed’s name. Hamed’s mother wept at the decree. Nadia walked blindly through the oasis, remembering things about Hamed. Each memory brought Hamed’s name to her lips.

This writer uses complete sentences, combines ideas, and adds detail to the paragraph.

Add Sentences Think of three sentences to add to the OK model above. Be sure your sentences are complete.

Illustration of the pen icon Write on your Own Write about a time when someone you know did not want to follow a rule. Did he or she think the rule was unfair or unreasonable? Why? Check your sentences to be sure they are complete.

Remember

How do you know if a sentence is complete?

  • • It has a subject and a predicate.