Lesson 1: Fragments

A. What is a fragment?
1. A fragment is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
a. complete sentence=subject, verb and a complete thought
B. Identifying fragments
1. Renamers-rename or give information about the last noun in the preceding sentence
a. example: Blocking my driveway was a car. A huge SUV.

2. Adverbs-adverb clauses that tell when, where, and why something happened
a. example: I was really upset. Because I knew I would be late for work.
3. -ing fragments. These fragments begin with the -ing form of a verb
a. example: I beeped my horn a couple of times. Letting the driver know I had to get out.

C. How to identify these fragments:
1. Backward Proofreading
2. "I realize" --You can put "I realize" in front of most complete sentences and make a new grammatical sentence. When you put "I realize" in front of a fragment, the result will not make sense.
a. Practice: What type of fragment is this?
1. I have to commute on the beltway. The Highway from Hell.
2. Yesterday's traffic was worse than usual. Because there was an accident.
3. Today, I actually left home on schedule. Showing that I can be on time if I try.

Practice websites

1. Finding fragments in short passages. http://www.chompchomp.com/frag01/frag01.htm
2. Interactive quizzes http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm
3. Online writing lab http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/fragments_ex1.htm

Diagnostic paragraph

I wish I could change my worst bad habit. Always running late. I am always tempted to do just one more thing before heading out the door in the morning. I know I am going to be busy all day. Trying to balance schoolwork with my job. I have learned that it helps to make a schedule. Which I really do try to follow. However, I never seem to budget enough time for routine chores. Because I really hate doing things in a sloppy way. As a result, I am always tempted to take an extra minute or two to do things right. The problem is that those few extra minutes quickly add up. Before I know it, I am late. Again. Another problem is that I don't have enough time built in for unexpected delays. Which seem to happen with depressing regularity. You wouldn't believe what happened to me this morning. A huge SUV was parked in front of my driveway. Blocking me for a good fifteen minutes.

Sentence practice 1 (from CSGG, p.14)

Find the fragments by using the "I realize" tip. Write OK above each complete sentence. Write frag above each fragment and identify which of the three types it is--renamer, adverb, or -ing fragment. Correct the fragment by combining it with the complete sentence next to it.

1. The Rockies are actually part of a larger chain. Which stretches to the Andes in South America.

2. The climate to the east of the Rockies is relatively dry. Because the mountains cut off moist winds from the Pacific.

3. To the west of the Rockies there is another, newer mountain range. The Sierra Nevadas.

4. The Rockies are called the Continental Divide. They separate the Pacific watershed from the Atlantic watershed.

5. To the east of the Rockies are the Great Plains. The remains of a gigantic inland sea.

Sentence practice 2 (from CSGG, p.16)

Find the fragments by using the "I realize" tip. Write OK above each complete sentence. Write frag above each fragment and identify which of the three types it is--renamer, adverb, or -ing fragment. Correct the fragment by combining it with the complete sentence next to it.

1. We had to go this winter. Because our miles were going to expire.

2. We decided to skip Orlando. It's somewhat isolated in the middle of the state.

3. We didn't want to spend half of our vacation on the road. Driving from Orlando to Key West and back.

4. After all, from Orlando to Key West is a 400-mile trip. A full day's journey.

5. We ended up flying to Miami. Which is much closer to where we wanted to go.

Editing Practice 2 (CSGG, p.18)

Correct all the fragment errors in the following paragraph using the first correction as a model. you should find 7 errors.

It is interesting to compare Key West with a similar ocean-side destination in California. Santa Barbara for instance. Besides being beach destinations, they share another important feature. A lengthy Spanish heritage. Key West today doesn't feel Spanish at all. Even though it (and the rest of Florida) was part of the Spanish empire for nearly three hundred years. There was never any permanent Spanish settlement there. Because there was no source of fresh water on the island. Key West was a temporary home for fishermen and pirates. A source of much humor today. Santa Barbara, on the other hand, is overflowing with its Spanish heritage. especially in its architecture. Santa Barbara today looks classically Spanish. With its white buildings and red tile roofs.