Mrs. Sharp/Ms. Edwardsname:

English 10per:

BELLRINGER # 3:

Fixing Fragments

As a review, we know that sentences must contain 3 parts in order to be considered complete, and if it is missing one of these parts, it is considered a fragment. These 3 parts are:

  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______

It is important to be able to identify these parts, so you know how to fix the fragment appropriately.

There are several ways to fix a fragment:

  1. ______

EXAMPLE: Spends time together walking through the garden.

The people swimming in the pool on Saturday.

*This is a very easy strategy if you are missing the subject or verb; however, it is not often that these are the kind of errors that you will make or encounter.

  1. ______

EXAMPLE: Before she went home.Because it is too cold.

*This is also an easy strategy, but works best when you are missing the complete thought. However, this strategy can create really short, simple sentences, and sometimes it does not work very easily, so BE CAREFUL!

  1. ______

EXAMPLE:

*More often, this will be the way you should fix fragments because they are part of a whole piece of writing. Again, this strategy works best when you are missing the complete thought.

PRACTICE #1:Read the following paragraphs and identify the fragments by underlining them. Then, decide what you would do to each fragment to fix it by answering the corresponding questions.

  1. How would you fix the first identified fragment (#: ____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.
  1. How would you fix the second identified fragment (#: ____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.
  1. How would you fix the third identified fragment (#: ____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.
  1. How would you fix the third identified fragment (#: ____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.

  1. How would you fix the first identified fragment (#: _____) ?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.
  1. How would you fix the second identified fragment (#: _____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.
  1. How would you fix the third identified fragment (#: _____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.
  1. How would you fix the third identified fragment (#: _____)?
  1. Add missing words to it.
  2. Connect it to the sentence before it.
  3. Connect it to the sentence after it.
  4. Delete words.

Fixing Fragments by Connecting

Since this is the way that you will most often fix your fragments because they are part of a larger piece of writing, there are several rules that you need to know:

  1. If you connect a fragment to a sentence before it (so the fragment goes at the end), you ______.

EXAMPLE: I could not turn in my report.Because I forgot it at home.

______

  1. If you connect a fragment to a sentence after it (so the fragment goes at the beginning), you ______.

EXAMPLE: I could not turn in my report.Because I forgot it at home.

______

PRACTICE #2:Read the following. Underline each fragment, and make it part of a complete sentence, changing punctuation and capitals where necessary. If it is a complete sentence, mark C.

  1. ______Rubber-soled athletic shoes are called sneakers. Because people can walk very quietly – sneak – in them.
  2. ______Even before 1900. Rubber was used for the soles of leather-topped shoes.
  3. ______Because brown was a popular shoe color. Early sneakers featured brown canvas tops.
  4. ______Sneakers made in Japan became popular in the 1960s. Since they were lightweight.
  5. ______By putting a piece of rubber into a waffle iron, a new pattern was created. Famous University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman created this waffle sole pattern.
  6. ______Proving to be more breathable. Nylon fabric was later used for sneaker tops.
  7. ______Since we are highly influenced by our five senses. Companies sell sneakers by appealing to many senses.
  8. ______They seem to say that their brand will make us into talented athletes.

PRACTICE #3:Read the following paragraph. Underline the fragments, and revise them by connecting them to a complete sentence. Remember to use the correct punctuation and capitals where necessary.

YOUR TURN! Turn the following fragments into sentences by fixing them one of the ways that we have practiced. Remember, use the correct punctuation (commas) if you need.

  1. because no one is born with good manners

______

  1. although it may be considered old-fashioned

______

  1. using good manners

______

  1. when people are treated with respect

______