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Word Study for Writers:
Diagramming Beautiful Sentences

recommended for writers, ages 12 and up

Looking for the student instructions for this interactive
writing prompt? Click here.

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Hey Writers and Teachers: Most of us left-brainers really liked diagramming sentences in school. As a teacher, I can safely say that diagramming sentences appeals to one type of learner--and it really helps that type of learner understand grammar (heck, I was one of those learners)--but the number of students it ultimately helps is very small. Grammar is one of those hideously complex things that has to be taught in a brain-friendly way, and the teacher who uses diagramming as his/her sole method of teaching grammar is doing just as many learners a disservice as the teacher who uses an exclusively right-brained approach.

I give you the above-explanation because I know people will probably contact me and tell me how worthless diagramming sentences was to them, and how they think it should be abolished. I will disagree with them ahead of time because it taught me all about grammar, but I will also agree with them ahead of time because it confused way too many of my students. Grammar--to me--remains the hardest thing I've ever had to teach.

But for those of you (like me) who dig diagramming, stick around! My intention is to turn this page into a place where those of us who loved to diagram sentences can continue to have fun with such a "worthless" skill. I strongly believe that if you can't find time to write every day, you can make up for it by taking a really cool sentence you find or write and diagramming it perfectly in your writer's notebook. This page will promote such activities for us left-brainers. I'd love to hear from diagramming fans, especially if you have other ideas I can list on this page to keep us all having fun with language in our own way. Send them to me at webmaster@writingfix.com.

First of all, do you need a refresher in diagramming? If so, click here. I agree with most of the ways they've diagrammed their sample sentences, but certainly not all of them; in fact, one of the biggest flaws I've found in diagramming is there are so many variations. If you disagree with how this website does its diagramming, remember that's okay. When it's your turn, you can do it how you remember being taught. I won't tell!

Student/Writer Instructions: Celebrate beautiful sentences you read or write by diagramming them neatly on a page you dedicate to diagramming in your writer's notebook!

Here are three ideas to get you started:

Idea #1: Publish a sentence

Find a really excellent sentence in a magazine, newspaper, book, or even one that you've written. Diagram it, then publish your diagram BIG (like on a large piece of paper) and post it for others to see. Challenge them to reconstruct the sentence.

I'd tell you this activity is a really great party game, but you'd probably think I threw really dull parties.

Idea #2: Diagrammed Poetry

Write a free-verse poem and, instead of writing it like a typical poem, write it as a series of diagrammed sentences or phrases.
As you compose the poem and visually see its diagrammed structure, challenge yourself to write with more parallelism. This is an excellent exercise to hone up your use of parallel language.

Idea #3: Diagram Shakespeare

Consult a quotation dictionary and challenge yourself to diagram a highly meaningful Shakespearean quotation (or any master writer, for that matter). Be warned: some of Shakespeare can not be diagrammed; believe me, I've tried.
Publish your diagram where others can see it.
Here are some excellent quotes to start with:
- "Everyone can master a grief but he that has it."
- "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
- "When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies."

Ideas expressed at this website are the copyrighted ideas of the webmaster and its cited contributors. Writers, students, and teachers are welcome to use any ideas found at this website free of charge, but please credit WritingFix if the ideas are being shared with a larger audience. Thank you.