INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Unscramble the sentences below.
2. Next, writing from memory, transcribe the sentence onto a separate piece of paper, including all punctuation (and/or adding punctuation as necessary). You should be able to remember sentences up to 10 words long. If the sentence is longer, transcribe it in chunks of 5 to 10 words at a time.
3. Finally, check your version against the original.

Be sure not to skip the transcription step. Transcribing from memory forces your attention onto sentence structure, which is surprisingly difficult to “see.” We don’t notice sentence structure when we read because our conscious brain focuses on meaning, not grammar. Transcribing sophisticated sentences from memory brings structure to the fore and is a shortcut to writing sophisticated sentences yourself.

So don’t skip Step 2!

EXAMPLE:

Arrange the phrases below to create a sentence by A.E. Housman on the subject of writing history. The sentence begins with the word “accuracy.”

ANSWER: 

Accuracy is a duty, not a virtue. - A.E. Housman