Lab Activity 36: Fixing Fragments

Lab Activities
Lab Activity 36: Fixing Fragments

Objective To recognize and correct sentence fragments.

Step 1: For each of the following items, change the italicized fragment into a correct sentence. Then, briefly describe the technique you used to make the correction. You may refer to the techniques you learned in Chapter 36, but do not use the same technique for every sentence.

Example:
Fragment: The reason I don't like this computer
The long response time is the reason I don't like this computer.
Technique used: Turn the fragment into a complete sentence by adding a subject.

Example:
Fragment: For example, always being late
Alison has some annoying habits, for example, always being late.
Technique used: Attach the extra-information fragment to a sentence that could appear before or after it.


		1. Fragment: speaking beyond the allotted time Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		2. Fragment: to give me enough time Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		3. Fragment: who got lost on the way Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		4. Fragment: like my uncle Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		5. Fragment: when she feels like it Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		6. Fragment: using his time more efficiently Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		7. Fragment: such as the excellent job you did for the committee Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		8. Fragment: to forget who your friends are Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		9. Fragment: letting us know when to expect you Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		10. Fragment: but always gently and kindly Corrected Sentence: Technique used: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 2:* Write a few sentences about any topic. Then, go back over them carefully and correct any fragments you find. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 3:* For each item below, select the choice that corrects the fragment. If the original sentence is correct, select ""No change." 1. When Susannah and I realized that we had not been watching the time carefully enough. [Hint]

		2. We had made reservations beginning that night on Monhegan Island. Which is twelve miles off the coast of Maine. [Hint]

		3. She raced the car down the long peninsula to the boat that would take us to Monhegan. Looking at my watch as she went way past the speed limit. [Hint]

		4. My watch was totally trustworthy because I bought it for one specific reason. To never have to check whether it was keeping the correct time. [Hint]

		5. My watch had a device that periodically communicated with a satellite that gave it the exact time. And automatically corrected any time error it was making. [Hint]

		6. As Susannah screeched around the curves, I worried that a police car might take off after us. Also that she might drive us into a ditch or against a tree. [Hint]

		7. My trusty watch showed just a few minutes left when we were finally near the bottom of the peninsula. Closing in on Port Clyde, where the boat to Monhegan was docked. [Hint]

		8. We raced into Port Clyde, almost hitting an old man crossing the street, and hoping the boat would wait a few extra minutes. We were now late. [Hint]

		9. The boat left on time, as its Web site said it would. Before we got there. [Hint]

		10. We stayed at a Port Clyde hotel, and I was very careful that night. To set my watch's alarm to wake us up well before the boat left the next morning. [Hint]

		*Step 4:* Now that you have practiced correcting fragments, think of an experience that you or someone you know about had in which time made all the difference. Write a paragraph of at least five sentences describing that experience. Then, check your paragraph for fragments. If you find any, correct them using the techniques covered in Chapter 36. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

Answer choices in this exercise are randomized and will appear in a different order each time the page is loaded.