Transcript Fragment And Run-on Tutorial

Completing Sentences:
A Mini-workshop to Teach SSS Participants Methods for
eliminating or correcting sentence fragments and run-ons
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Student Support Services (SSS) ~ Troy University (main campus)
Right Click for Each of the Seven
Workshop Objectives
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Define the term “complete sentence.”
Define the term “verbals” and show ways to correctly
use them.
Identify and dispel some sentence-related MYTHS.
Point out two pains -- Fragments and Run-ons.
Offer tips for correcting run-ons and fragments.
Provide practice exercises and an opportunity to test
comprehension.
Provide supplemental study materials.
A “Complete Sentence” . . .
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must have one full independent clause.
must be comprehensible (clear).
Remember this little equation:
Independent Clause = Subject + Verb
A “Complete Sentence” . . .
Examples of very simple,
but complete sentences:
(1) Talk!
Why is this a complete sentence?
Because . . . the implied subject is either
you, someone, anyone, or everyone.
(2) John talks.
Remember the Equation?
Independent Clause = Subject + Verb
Is this a “Complete Sentence”? No
way.
#1. John talking.
Present participle = verb + - ing
Talking John.
(Talking is acting as an adjective for John.)
Talking and to talk are used as verbals:
a verbal is a form of a verb
functioning as another part of speech.
Is this a “Complete Sentence”?
#2. John to talk.
Infinitive = to + verb
An Infinitive is a type of Verbal.
To talk is a verbal infinitive that is functioning as an
Adjective.
To talk answers the question, “which John are you talking about?”.
Answer: The John (or the person) who is
supposed to talk
Correctly Using Verbals
Possible Corrections:
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John is talking. (Add a helping or linking verb.)
John is to talk. (Add a “TO BE” verb.)
John enjoys talking.
John has been invited to talk.
John volunteers to talk. (Add a verb.)
John will talk to his plants. (Eliminate the infinitive.)
John talks too much. (Change the verbal to a verb.)
Review the Study Materials Handout.
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Take a moment to look over the “To
be” Verbs handout. You will need to
learn these verbs and their pronoun
partners. Study them and learn to
recite them.
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Learning “to be” verbs will help you
write clearer sentences and will keep
you from falling into that mythical
“verbals” pit.
Why Are We Afraid to “Complete
Sentences”?
Because . . . We Believe the Myths
and Become Dependent on Myths .
A myth is a learned belief or response
to anxiety. Myths are not facts.
Myths About Sentences
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Myth:
Never start a sentence with and or but.
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Fact:
There is no such grammatical
rule. A full sentence starting
with and or but is a legitimate
sentence.
However, such usage may not appeal
stylistically to your reading audience.
Sentence Myths (cont.)
Myth: Keep your sentences extremely simple.
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Often complex thoughts demand complex sentences. At
college level, you are writing for readers who can handle
complex sentences, if the sentences are clearly written.
 However, (1) do not compromise clarity or (2)
risk wordiness in order to create a complex
sentence.
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Edit your sentences by eliminating unnecessary words
and by rephrasing sentences so the subject is up front ,
at the beginning of the sentence.
Sentence Myths (cont.)
Correction: A good way to spot unnecessarily
long sentences is to skim for
sentences that begin with There is,
There are, and It is.
Example:
There is a giant leak in the
roof.
Sentence Myths (cont.)
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Consider rephrasing the sentence, beginning
with the subject of the sentence so you can
edit out the there is.
Revisions: The roof has a giant leak.
The roof leaks badly.
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If the sentence sounds more direct and to the
point use the new version. If you want to slow
the reader down a little, use the original.
Two Agitating Pains . . .
Fragments
and
Run-ons . . .
What Is A Fragment?
Fragments are groups of words
that do not form a complete
thought or a complete sentence.
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Fragments sometimes occur
because the subject or the verb, or
even part of the verb, is missing.
Fragments (cont.)
Example of fragment:
The large dog with huge paws.
- Dog is the simple subject, but there is no
verb to show the action.
Corrected sentence:
The large dog with the huge paws
jumped over the fence.
Note: Articles, Adverbs and Prepositional Phrases add clarity and detail.
Fragments (cont.)
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In the corrected sentence, dog is the
subject, and jumped is the verb.
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Together, the words form a complete
thought; therefore, the example is a
complete sentence.
The large dog with the huge paws
jumped over the fence.
Sentence Fragments Practice Exercise
These sentences appeared in papers written by college students.
Indicate fragments and suggest corrections.
____ 1.
Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a
bad experience.
____ 2. The scene was filled with beauty. Such as the sun sending its
brilliant rays to the earth and the leaves of various shades of
red, yellow, and brown moving slowly in the wind.
____ 3. He talked for fifty minutes without taking his eyes off his
notes. Like other teachers in that department, he did not
encourage students' questions.
____ 4. Within each group, a wide range of features to choose from. It
was difficult to distinguish between them.
____ 5. A few of the less serious fellows went into a bar for a
steak dinner and a few glasses of beer. After eating and
drinking, they were ready for anything.
Sentence Fragments Practice Exercise
(cont.)
____6. It can be really embarrassing to be so emotional. Especially
when you are on your first date, you feel that you should be
in control.
____ 7. The magazine has a reputation for a sophisticated,
prestigious, and elite group of readers. Although that is a
value judgment and in circumstances not a true premise.
____ 8. In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football.
To prove to himself and his parents that he is a man.
____ 9. She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing
at the time that we would never enter that door in her home
again.
____10. As Christmas draws near, I find myself looking back into my
childhood days at fun-filled times of snowball fights. To think
about this makes me happy.
What is a Run-on Sentence?
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A RUN-ON SENTENCE (sometimes called a
"fused sentence") has at least two parts,
either one of which can stand by itself (in
other words, two independent clauses)
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The problem is that the two parts have been
incorrectly linked instead of being properly
connected.
Run-on Sentences
Comma Splices (a type of Run-on)
 A comma splice is the use of a comma between
two independent clauses.
 You can usually fix the error by changing the
comma to a period, which makes the two clauses
into two separate sentences.
 You can also change the comma to a semicolon
(;), or making one clause dependent by inserting a
dependent marker word in front of it.
Run-on Sentences -- Examples
Error: A comma splice
 Incorrect
I like this class, it is very interesting.
 Correct Options
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I like this class. It is very interesting.
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(or) I like this class; it is very interesting.
(or) I like this class because it is very interesting.
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(or) Because it is very interesting, I like this class
Run-on sentences
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Error: Fused Sentences (a type of run-on)
 Incorrect
My professor is intelligent I've learned a lot from her.
 Correct Options
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My professor is intelligent. I've learned a lot from her.
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(or) My professor is intelligent; I've learned a lot from
her.
(or) My professor is intelligent and I have learned a lot
from her.
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(or) My professor is intelligent; moreover, I've learned a
lot from her.
Run-on Sentences Examples
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Error: Fused Sentences
 Fused sentences happen when there are two
independent clauses not separated by any form of
punctuation.
 The error can sometimes be corrected by adding a
period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two
sentences
Compound Run-on Sentences
Compound sentences that are not punctuated
correctly are run-ons.
Correct compound run-ons by using one of these rules:
Join the two independent clauses with one of the
coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet),
and use a comma before the connecting word.
Example:
He enjoys walking through the country, and he
often goes backpacking on his vacations.
Correct compound run-ons (cont) . . .
When you do not have a connecting word (or when
you use a connecting word other than and, but, for, or
nor, so, or yet between the two independent clauses
use a semicolon (;).
Examples:
(A) He often watched television even
when only reruns were playing; she
preferred to read instead.
(B) He often watched TV when there were
only reruns; however, she preferred to
read instead.)
Run-on Practice Exercises
Directions: Correct these run-ons (rewrite).
(1) They weren't dangerous criminals they were
detectives in disguise.
(2) The dangerous criminals escaped the detectives
had their backs turned.
(3) I didn't know which job I wanted I was too
confused to decide.
(4) I didn’t want to work I wanted to go on the Alaskan
Cruise that I won on the Price is Right.
Answers to Run-on Exercises
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#1 One Possible Correction
They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in
disguise.
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#2 One Correction
The dangerous criminals escaped while the detectives had their
backs turned.
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#3 One Correction
I didn't know which job I wanted; I was too confused to decide.
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# 4 One Correction
I didn’t want to work. I wanted to go on the Alaskan Cruise that I won
on the Price is Right.
Workshop Assessment & Evaluation
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Please complete the run-on and fragments
handouts you have been provided, include
your name and date, and turn in to SSS staff.
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Please complete and sign the Academic
Seminar Evaluation form and turn in to SSS
staff.
Name of Activity: “Completing Sentences”
Place: SSS Office
Conclusion
SSS hopes this presentation has given you some
useful information.
Feel free to suggest any other topics that you
would like to see presented. Stop in the Office
located in 24 Eldridge Hall or Phone: 334-6705985.
Have a great learning experience here at Troy
University.
Sources
 Troy University Writing Center. Retrieved July 18, 2006, at
http://troy.troy.edu/writingcenter/pdfhandouts/Fragments.pdf
 Fragments. OWL (online writing lab). Retrieved July 18, 2006, at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_frag.html
 Run-on sentences. OWL (online writing lab). Retrieved July 18, 2006, at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_sentpr.html
 Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. 5th ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2004.