Also, if you want to play this game, you’ll need the greatest coach ever, IMO.
Her name: Phyllis Davenport. Her playbook: Rex Barks.
Go forth and conquer, fellow subversives. I’d love to see some diagramming graffiti in small towns across America (fully washable, of course.) https://amzn.to/4ccnziP
Being raised Catholic in Catholic schools during the 50s and 60s, I grew to be a master diagrammer. This ability enabled me to learn Latin, German, Biblical Greek, and Hebrew. I even used diagrams when I taught college composition for students who never suffered under Sister Jean-Marie. Adverbials control the direction or "flow" of the verb. Most rhetoric depends on deft use of subordinates, but most of all, of adverbs. Modern people seldom use any modification in their discourse and so tie themselves up in psycho-linguistic mind traps. I advise all writers to turn a critical eye on their compositions, yes, even diagramming sentences, before publishing. You will find clarity and precision in your work.
I need, however, to avoid having your thesis drive me into the sadness of opportunities missed. I was a lazy high-school English student (1971-75). These skills and techniques were on offer, but I consciously ducked them.
As a 30-year old, I took a job transfer to Munich where I was forced to jump-start my HS German and work exclusively in the language. Oddly, learning German turned me into a fanatic for well-written English. But at 67 now I find myself kind of a savant. I don't have the formal, foundational knowledge, like diagramming. I'm a reasonably good writer, but find it an extremely difficult slog.
Realistically I don't expect that I will learn to diagram. Yet it was very enjoyable to wander through your reflections.
Nick, if you are interested in a breezy and fun read about that presents an overview of how and why to diagram, I recommend "Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog" by Kitty Burns Florey. Thanks for reading!
Hey Michael, what have I got to lose? Perhaps it'll make me even less tolerant of and more irritating to colleagues regarding the shortcomings in their own writing! "Throw the ball to Mary and I," anyone?
I enjoy reading more technically skilled and aware writers like yourself, in addition to enjoying the broader topic. I'm fortunate to have a son-in-law with a Masters in English Lit from Oxford. Keeps me on the straight and narrow.
A.J., thanks for reading. If you are interested in a breezy and fun read about that presents an overview of how and why to diagram, I recommend "Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog" by Kitty Burns Florey. But for, say, a student workbook, the Critical Thinking Company has a series of workbooks that teaches diagramming and has sentences for students to diagram. I'll be sure to follow up with another post about sentence diagramming, recommending some further resources.
Oh, my gosh! I never thought I would see an article about diagramming sentences! I'm the English grammar nerd who always loved to diagram sentences. I'm fairly certain I'm the only person in my class who felt this way. It's late here so I'm saving this article to read tomorrow, but I couldn't wait to express my joy and surprise at seeing an article on this topic.
Is this still taught in grammar and middle schools? This was part of my public school curriculum in the late ‘60s. I struggled with it initially, but came to like it. I believe it was invaluable for my subsequent love of reading.
I love sentence diagramming. Always clarifies. And thro the clarity, helps with the content of what people are trying to say. I use it in my writing teaching, if mainly a private pleasure.
After reading "Little House on the Prairie" and learning how students were taught about sentence diagramming in school, this is what I thought I would learn when I took English in high school. What did I get instead? Stories about racism, sexism, and every other thing under the sun except anything that would make me a better writer or communicator. I still can't get over it. I went in there hungry to come out a good writer, and very likely came out just as I went in.
This is providential. I woke up at 4:20am thinking about this very subject and how helpful it would be if I went back and implemented this a bit more. I was horrible at this back in school, and it probably shows in my writing. It's like a Harry Potter wand for the English language. I need to learn how to use it once again. Hopefully, there is an app out there to help me get started. I could practice diagramming sentences instead of playing solitaire. 😉
> Hopefully, there is an app out there to help me get started. I could practice diagramming sentences instead of playing solitaire. 😉
Great idea. Or a new addition to the crosswords page in the newspaper; one new complex sentence a week, perhaps taken from classic works of literature.
Also, if you want to play this game, you’ll need the greatest coach ever, IMO.
Her name: Phyllis Davenport. Her playbook: Rex Barks.
Go forth and conquer, fellow subversives. I’d love to see some diagramming graffiti in small towns across America (fully washable, of course.) https://amzn.to/4ccnziP
Being raised Catholic in Catholic schools during the 50s and 60s, I grew to be a master diagrammer. This ability enabled me to learn Latin, German, Biblical Greek, and Hebrew. I even used diagrams when I taught college composition for students who never suffered under Sister Jean-Marie. Adverbials control the direction or "flow" of the verb. Most rhetoric depends on deft use of subordinates, but most of all, of adverbs. Modern people seldom use any modification in their discourse and so tie themselves up in psycho-linguistic mind traps. I advise all writers to turn a critical eye on their compositions, yes, even diagramming sentences, before publishing. You will find clarity and precision in your work.
Great testimony to the incredible value of this practice! Thank you.
This made me subscribe. Well done.
Thanks Michael, a fun read and a point well made.
I need, however, to avoid having your thesis drive me into the sadness of opportunities missed. I was a lazy high-school English student (1971-75). These skills and techniques were on offer, but I consciously ducked them.
As a 30-year old, I took a job transfer to Munich where I was forced to jump-start my HS German and work exclusively in the language. Oddly, learning German turned me into a fanatic for well-written English. But at 67 now I find myself kind of a savant. I don't have the formal, foundational knowledge, like diagramming. I'm a reasonably good writer, but find it an extremely difficult slog.
Realistically I don't expect that I will learn to diagram. Yet it was very enjoyable to wander through your reflections.
Nick, if you are interested in a breezy and fun read about that presents an overview of how and why to diagram, I recommend "Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog" by Kitty Burns Florey. Thanks for reading!
Hey Michael, what have I got to lose? Perhaps it'll make me even less tolerant of and more irritating to colleagues regarding the shortcomings in their own writing! "Throw the ball to Mary and I," anyone?
I enjoy reading more technically skilled and aware writers like yourself, in addition to enjoying the broader topic. I'm fortunate to have a son-in-law with a Masters in English Lit from Oxford. Keeps me on the straight and narrow.
LOL.
Great post! I'm actually launching into my first sentence diagramming lesson today. Decided mid-year to shift approaches.
I'm pairing sentence diagramming with sentence combining.
Good decision. Good luck!
This is so great. Do you have any recommendations for textbooks/workbooks/treatises/reference books to use to get proficient in sentence diagramming?
A.J., thanks for reading. If you are interested in a breezy and fun read about that presents an overview of how and why to diagram, I recommend "Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog" by Kitty Burns Florey. But for, say, a student workbook, the Critical Thinking Company has a series of workbooks that teaches diagramming and has sentences for students to diagram. I'll be sure to follow up with another post about sentence diagramming, recommending some further resources.
Diagram "when, in the course of human events..." And be inspired!
Oh, my gosh! I never thought I would see an article about diagramming sentences! I'm the English grammar nerd who always loved to diagram sentences. I'm fairly certain I'm the only person in my class who felt this way. It's late here so I'm saving this article to read tomorrow, but I couldn't wait to express my joy and surprise at seeing an article on this topic.
I felt *exactly* the same way when I discovered this article last night! Can't wait to read it! 😀😁
Is this still taught in grammar and middle schools? This was part of my public school curriculum in the late ‘60s. I struggled with it initially, but came to like it. I believe it was invaluable for my subsequent love of reading.
I love sentence diagramming. Always clarifies. And thro the clarity, helps with the content of what people are trying to say. I use it in my writing teaching, if mainly a private pleasure.
After reading "Little House on the Prairie" and learning how students were taught about sentence diagramming in school, this is what I thought I would learn when I took English in high school. What did I get instead? Stories about racism, sexism, and every other thing under the sun except anything that would make me a better writer or communicator. I still can't get over it. I went in there hungry to come out a good writer, and very likely came out just as I went in.
J C Nesfield's Manual of English Grammar is the best book on sentence parsing.
Subversive? Maybe. The kids love it though. 😉
Just saw the “diagram”!…Haven’t even read the post yet, Thank you.
And a belated thank you to Mrs. Elder, my 7th & 8th grade English teacher circa 1957.
My sixth grade teacher was a fiend for diagraming sentences. Constant homework.
Now, it is a very profound memory....
Same here ~ for my 7th grade teacher. She was the best.
This is providential. I woke up at 4:20am thinking about this very subject and how helpful it would be if I went back and implemented this a bit more. I was horrible at this back in school, and it probably shows in my writing. It's like a Harry Potter wand for the English language. I need to learn how to use it once again. Hopefully, there is an app out there to help me get started. I could practice diagramming sentences instead of playing solitaire. 😉
> Hopefully, there is an app out there to help me get started. I could practice diagramming sentences instead of playing solitaire. 😉
Great idea. Or a new addition to the crosswords page in the newspaper; one new complex sentence a week, perhaps taken from classic works of literature.
Yes! Love that idea!