LPE2501 ACADEMIC WRITING

LECTURE NOTES 6
[WEEK 13]

Topics:

1. Clauses
2. Sentence Type
1. CLAUSES
Clauses are the building blocks of sentences. A clause is comprised of a group of
words that contains a subject (SUB) and a verb (V).

Clauses Not Clauses

SUBJECT VERB
(SUB) (V)
Zoology is a science to protect the animals.
(SUB) (V)
Because air pollution causes respiratory after released into the air.
diseases

In academic writing, there are two types of clauses: independent and dependent. To
write a good academic text, writers need to combine these clauses to write a variety
of sentence types.

Independent Clauses

An independent clause has a subject and a verb, and often a complement. It

expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Subject Verb (Complement)

The volcano erupted.
The heavy rain flooded the town.

Dependent Clauses

A dependent clause is formed with a subordinator such as although, because, when,

that or who. It also contains a subject, a verb and at times a complement. A dependent
clause does not express a complete thought and therefore cannot stand alone as a
sentence.

Using a dependent clause as a complete sentence is an error, referred to as sentence

fragment.

Subordinator Subject Verb (Complement)

…when the volcano erupted...
…because water boils at 100 °C at sea level
…whom the students voted for…
…if the typhoon continues for the next few days…

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Below are some of the most common subordinators.

Subordinator
after how who because when
although if whom even though whenever
as, just as as soon as whose unless where
as if though while until wherever
before that which what whether
since so that

EXERCISE 1

Read and label each sentence accordingly whether it is Indep. (independent clause)
or Dep. (dependent). Add periods to the independent clauses.

Indep. 1. Sleep deprivation is caused by consistent lack of sleep or reduced

quality of sleep.

Dep. 2. While the short-term impacts are more noticeable

3. The long-term effects of sleep deprivation and sleep deficiency can be

serious and far-reaching

4. Also, lack of sleep has been found to induce effects that are similar to
being drunk

5. Which slows down thinking and reaction time

6. As sleep deprivation leads to lower alertness and concentration

7. Because neurons do not have time to recuperate

8. Eventually, it can cause serious cognitive impairments

9. Although avoiding sleep deprivation and getting quality sleep are a

challenge

10. It is possible to recover or prevent sleep deprivation with proper sleep

habits

Remember:
While an independent
clause is a complete
2 sentence by itself, a
dependent clause is not.
EXERCISE 2

Read and identify the dependent clauses in the following paragraphs.

Volunteering is an act of spending one’s time by participating in unpaid

activities that benefit other people and the society. Because it has greater impact on
society as a whole. Most universities encourage their students to volunteer during
their time at universities. As the benefits of volunteering can be enormous.
Firstly, volunteering provides students with a more casual way to network with
community leaders and programme supervisors. Who could prove to be extremely
valuable when students require recommendations and references for their future job
applications. By not volunteering, students could be missing out on valuable
networking opportunities.

Aside from that, volunteering helps students boost their employment

prospects. Employers are more likely to offer internships and jobs to individuals with
a diverse set of skills and experience. Which students can easily gain from engaging
in volunteering experience. They prefer candidates with volunteering experience.
Since it demonstrates students’ commitment and dedication.

1. Because it has greater impact on society as a whole

2. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

5. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
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2. SENTENCE TYPE

A sentence is groups of words used to communicate ideas or thoughts. Each sentence

expresses a complete thought and is formed from one or more clauses.

This lecture notes will cover three basic types of sentences in English which are
simple, compound and complex. The type of sentence is determined by the type of
clauses used to form it.

The first type of sentence is discussed as follows.

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is one independent clause.

S V
Covid-19 spreads through respiratory droplets.
S V V
Covid-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and causes respiratory
disease.
S S V V
Covid-19 and Influenza spread through respiratory droplets and cause
respiratory disease.

Notice that the second sentence has two verbs, spreads and causes. This is
called a compound verb. The third sentence has both a compound subject
and compound verb. All three examples are simple sentence as they have only
one clause.

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EXERCISE 3

Write simple sentences following these instructions.

1.Write a simple sentence with one subject and one verb.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

2. Write a simple sentence with one subject and two verbs.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

3. Write a simple sentence with two subjects and one verb.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

4. Write a simple sentence with two subjects and two verbs.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is two or more independent clauses combined together.

There are three ways to combine the clauses:

• With a coordinator
Example: COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets, so people
need to prevent the spread by practicing physical distancing.

• With a conjunctive adverb

Example: COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets; therefore,
people need to prevent the spread by practicing physical distancing.

• With a semicolon
Example: COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets; people need
to prevent the spread by practicing physical distancing.

Each way will be discussed as5 follows.

Compound Sentences with Coordinators
A compound sentence with coordinators can be formed as follows:
Independent clause Independent clause

COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets, so people need to prevent the

spread by practicing physical distancing.

(Punctuation Note: Use a comma after the first independent clause)

Coordinators are also known as coordinating conjunctions. There are seven

coordinators that can be easily remembered by the phrase FAN BOYS (For, And, Nor,
But, Or, Yet, So). The examples in the table illustrate the meanings of the seven FAN
BOYS coordinators.

COORDINATORS (COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS)

Coordinator Meaning/Use Examples

for To add a reason Spain is one of the healthiest

counties in the world, for its
citizens put an emphasis on their
everyday diet.

and To add a similar, equal idea Spaniards are famous for their
Mediterranean diet, and they eat
lightly.

nor To add a negative, equal idea They do not eat processed food,
nor do they eat baked goods.

but To add an opposite idea Diet is one of the key factors in

life expectancies, but it is not the
only factor.

or To add an alternative possibility People should also focus on

exercising, or they risk getting a
number of ailments.

yet To add an unexpected or Exercising is an important part of

surprising continuation a healthy lifestyle, yet not many
people enjoy it.

so To add an expected result Research has shown that being

physically active can help one
lead a healthier life, so people
should start exercising on top of
their diet.

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EXERCISE 4

For each pair of sentences, form a compound sentence by joining the two independent
clauses with a coordinator that best fits the meaning. Use each FAN BOYS coordinator
once. Make sure to also punctuate them correctly.

1. A small amount of sun exposure is health. Overexposure can cause health

problems.
A small amount of sun exposure is healthy, but overexposure can cause
health problems.

2. Too much sun exposure is not good for the skin. It is good for you genetic
material (DNA).
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

3. Everyone who goes outside is exposed to the sun. It is important to know the
effects of sun exposure.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

4. Anxiety is surprisingly common among young children. Not many parents are
aware of it.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

5. Anxiety in children should be addressed early. It will linger and continue to

disrupt their daily life.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

6. Emoji are used frequently in digital messages. They are becoming more
diversified as well.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

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 7. Linguists believe that emoji are not ruining language. They are a natural
substitute for gesture in digital messages.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

8. Recycling takes times and effort. It is crucial for protecting ecosystems and
wildlife.
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Compound Sentences with Conjunctive Adverbs

A compound sentence with conjunctive adverbs can be formed as follows:

Independent clause Independent clause

COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets; therefore, people need to prevent

the spread by practicing physical distancing.

(Punctuation Note: Put a semicolon before and a comma after the conjunctive adverb)

Some transition signals such as for example, and as a result, act like conjunctive
adverbs; they can also connect independent clauses with a semicolon and a comma.
The table below lists common conjunctive adverbs and a few transition signals that
can be used this way.

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

Conjunctive Meaning/Use Examples

Adverbs

also To add a similar, equal idea Scholarships help students pay for
besides their education; moreover, they
furthermore ensure access to quality education
for students from low-income
in addition
backgrounds.
moreover

as well Scholarships help students pay for

their education; they ensure access
to quality education for students

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 from low-income backgrounds as
well.

too Scholarships help students pay for

their education; they ensure access
to quality education for students
from low-income backgrounds, too.

however To add an unexpected or The cost of attending community

nevertheless surprising continuation college is relatively low; still, many
nonetheless students need financial aid.
still
on the other To add a complete contrast Tuition fees at public universities
hand are low; in contrast, tuition fees at
in contrast private universities are high.

otherwise To give an alternative Students have to pass the final

possibility, often negative assessments; otherwise, they
have to repeat the module.

accordingly To add an expected result Proficiency in English language is

as a result important in higher education; thus,
consequently most institutions require students to
hence sit for the proficiency test prior to
therefore their admissions.
thus

for example To add an example Most universities have specific

for instance requirements for graduation; for
example, students need to pass
certain modules before they
register for their final semester.

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Compound Sentences with Semicolons

A third way to form a compound sentence is to connect two independent clauses

with a semicolon (;) alone. For example:
Independent clause Independent clause

Bangladesh was the first country to ban plastic bags; others soon followed.

Some women quit their jobs after entering motherhood; others continue working
despite having to balance between caring for their children and their career.

Yoga strengthens the muscle and promotes flexibility; it also strengthens the mind
and refreshes the soul.

Compound sentence with semicolons is possible only when the two independent
clauses are closely related in meaning. If they are not, they should be written as two
simple sentences instead.

EXERCISE 5

Form compound sentences by adding a second independent clause. Circle the

conjunctive adverb and add punctuation.

it is very
1. The state library is located in the centre of the city; therefore, ___________
easy to get there by public transport.
___________________________________________________________

2. Good communication skills are essential business skills that employers seek
besides _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

3. Many experts believe that self-driving cars are safer than human drivers
however_____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

4. Human body requires a small amount of sodium to function in contrast

____________________________________________________________

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 5. Students have to sit for the proficiency test otherwise __________________
____________________________________________________________

6. The average Australian consumes almost double the amount of sodium they
need for good health thus _______________________________________
____________________________________________________________

7. It is best to stick to a healthy diet for example ________________________

____________________________________________________________

8. Some students scored high on the English placement test as a result _____
____________________________________________________________

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is an independent clause joined by one or more dependent

clause(s).

A dependent clause begins with a subordinator, and the clause should contain
a subject and verb, but does not express a complete thought. A sentence that
begins with a dependent clause must be followed by a comma.

Independent clause Dependent clause

Saving is important for financial well-being although it is tough for students.
Dependent clause Independent clause

Although it is tough for students, saving is important for financial wellbeing.

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Below are some of the most common subordinators.

Subordinator

after how who because when

although if whom even though whenever

as, just as as soon as whose unless where

as if though while until wherever

before that which what whether

since so that

Exercise 6

Underline the independent clauses and double underline the dependent clauses.
Label the subordinators as SUB (refer to the list of subordinators in previous page).

Sub.
1. Because the cost of tuition fees is rising, many students must work part-time

2. Recycling reduces the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites as recyclable

materials are processed into new products.

3. After they finished their degree years, most international students decided to
return home.

4. If necessary precautions are taken, people can prevent health problems caused
by the haze.

5. Students should decide a major they want to pursue by their junior year unless
they have not made up their mind yet.

6. The finance minister says that the latest Covid lockdown would not hit the
economy as much as last year.

7. Air pollution, which is mostly caused by motor vehicles, can cause health
problems.

8. Though more expensive, the new model of Tesla is safer and more efficient.

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