Name Adding details to

simple sentences

Make It Interesting
A sentence can be very simple. This sentence tells who did what.
The crew worked.
As you write and revise your writing, add details about people, places,
or things, or about where, when, and what happens. This will make
your writing more interesting. Here’s how the sentence above was
revised several times. Each sentence gives a little more information.
The construction crew worked.
The construction crew worked quickly.
The construction crew worked quickly to clear the rubble.
The construction crew worked quickly to clear the rubble at the building site.
The construction crew worked quickly yesterday to clear the rubble at the building site.

Rewrite each sentence four times. Add new details each time to tell more about whom
or what, how, where, and when.

The children played. A package arrived.

1. ____________________________________
____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

Rewrite the following sentence several times on a piece of paper. Remove a detail each time
until you are left with a very simple sentence.
The excited team cheered wildly after winning the championship basketball game.
12 Scholastic Success With Writing: Grade 4 © Scholastic Teaching Resources