The Ands Have It

Worksheet Description

This worksheet, “The Ands Have It – Polysyndeton Practice,” is centered on understanding the use and effects of polysyndeton in writing. It explains that polysyndeton is the repetition of conjunctions in close succession and outlines three purposes for using this literary device – emphasizing items in a list, creating rhythm in a sentence, and giving a sentence a childlike quality. Students are then given the task of writing three sentences, each demonstrating one of the stated purposes of polysyndeton. This hands-on activity allows students to directly apply what they have learned about the device in a structured and focused way.

The worksheet is intended to teach students how to apply polysyndeton for stylistic effect in their writing. By constructing sentences that emphasize a list, create rhythm, or portray childlike simplicity, students practice enhancing the expressiveness of their language. The exercise not only highlights the importance of conjunctions in crafting sentences but also encourages students to experiment with sentence structure for different narrative impacts. Ultimately, students will learn to recognize and appreciate the versatility of conjunctions as a tool for adding emphasis, rhythm, and a particular tone to their prose.