AMWA Sentence Structure and Patterns Book and CDROM by Flo Witte, PhD, ELS

New softcover book with CDROM in original shrink wrapping! Includes a laminated Quick Reference Guide! Resource for Medical Communicators.

Included with this self-study workbook is a quiz for credit towards the AMWA Essential Skills Certificate and a laminated quick reference guide. Enrollment in the ES Certificate program is not included with the purchase of individual workbooks, but it can be added in the future should you decide to pursue the ES Certificate.

Good writing involves much more than just good grammar and punctuation. We’ve all seen perfectly error‑free, but boring, writing. 

Structure and Patterns
English sentences can be organized in many different ways to emphasize many different points. 

Structure refers to the clauses and phrases that produce units of meaning within sentences. 

Medical writers should be familiar with the basics of sentence structure, including 

Four classes of sentences (simple, compound, complex, and compound‑complex)
Common structural errors (fragments, comma splices, fused sentences)
Coordinating and subordinating techniques for emphasis
Pattern refers to the way information is ordered, including maintaining parallel construction, aligning subjects and predicates, and using techniques such as inversion or isolation to create emphasis.

Medical communicators should be familiar with sentence patterns, including the following common types of errors

Dangling modifiers
Misplaced modifiers
Unnecessary use of passive voice
Abstract nouns or forceful verbs
Weak introductory phrases
Lack of parallelism
Unclear antecedents 
Misuse of restrictive or nonrestrictive clauses
Once writers learn to identify the basic principles of structure and patterns, they will learn techniques for correcting common errors.

Paying attention to sentence structure and patterns helps create clear sentences readers can understand and remember.

Contents
*Exercises and answers are presented at the end of chapters 1 through 9. 
 
Chapter 1: Grammar Review
Chapter 2: Types of Sentences 
Chapter 3: Building Effective Sentences
Chapter 4: Problems With Modifiers
Chapter 5: Achieving Emphasis
Chapter 6: The Hierarchy of Sentence Elements
Chapter 7: Predication
Chapter 8: Achieving Clarity Through Sentence Structure: Part 1
Chapter 9: Achieving Clarity Through Sentence Structure: Part 2
Chapter 10: Accommodating the Reading Process

ISBN-10 0757543588
ISBN-13 978-0757543586
Edition 1st
Publisher Kendall Hunt Publishing
Publication date October 3, 2007
Language English