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Writing Improvement
Tutorials Courtesy of Rick Bailey, A.D.
English Instructor
Directions: Print then read the following paragraphs
and identify the fragments. Underline each fragment. Then
correct the error by altering punctuation or rewriting. Do
not radically rewrite. Make simple changes to conserve the
style, tone, and sentence structure in the passage. Return to
this site for the answers.
Paragraph One:
It was the first couple of months of my new
driving experience. My father had just purchased a brand new
Ford F-150 pick-up truck. I was taking a music class at
night. While in route to my instructor's home. I was headed
westbound on West Rd. crossing at Allen Rd. When out of no
where I got broad sided by another car, and he took out the
whole side of the truck. From the front bumper to the
tailgate. Try to explain this to your dad right after he
told me to be careful with the car. It was the worst feeling
of my life. Something that he had worked so hard for, and I
had destroyed it in a matter of minutes. There was no
escaping his wrath. I had no control of the situation.
Paragraph
Two:
I do not know what it is about math. Maybe it
is all the numbers, the formulas, or the boring work.
Nowadays there are hundred dollar calculators that pretty
much do the work for you. When you get them for a class,
sometimes you are not allowed to use them. I can see in
grade school when you are just learning the basics. For
example, your addition and subtraction, and then your
multiplication and division tables. Kids should know that
stuff right away and not need help from calculators doing
things like that. So during this time they should not be
allowed to use a calculator. Until around the sixth grade.
That is when they should start using a calculator. By this
time they should have a good base for most types of math
being taught at the higher levels. At this time the
calculators should be brought into play. Because most kids
will have a good understanding of basic math. In addition,
they will have to start to get familiarized with calculators
for the up and coming years. For example, the high school
classes which require a calculator. At this time, in high
school, calculators become a big part of your supplies for
math and other classes as well.
Paragraph
Three:
Looking at myself and my two best friends
just proves how much the times have changed. Each of us
lives a very different life. Yet one thing separates us from
our mothers We had the option. I am a typical college
student. At school full time and working only part time as a
waitress. My friend Lynn chose to get a job straight out of
high school. She is full blown workaholic. Finally, Marisa,
who had a child right out of high school. She manages a full
time job and a child all on her own. Now which one of these
women work the hardest? The answer is that they are all
equal. Each has chosen her path. While remaining the best of
friends and thriving off of each other.
Back to
Sentence Fragment Exercise page
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