Writing stage

Sentence writing exercises

Task 1.
A. Underline the appositives in the following sentences.
1. My son, the policeman, will be visiting us next week.
2. The captain ordered the ship's carpenters to assemble the shallop, a large rowboat.
3. Walter, the playboy and writer, is very attached to his mother, Mrs. Hammon.
4. The actor Paul Newman directed only one picture.
5. Elizabeth Teague, a sweet and lovable girl, grew up to be a mentally troubled woman.

B. Underline and punctuate the appositives in the following sentences. Remember: not all
require punctuation.
6. Sweetbriar, a company known throughout the South, is considering a nationwide
advertising campaign.
7. An above-average student and talented musician, John made his family proud.
8. The extremely popular American film Titanic was widely criticized for its mediocre script.
9. The greatest American film ever made, Citizen Kane, won only one Academy Award.
10. 60 Minutes, the TV news magazine program, featured a story on the popular singer
Whitney Houston.

Task 2.The sentences below appeared in papers written by students. Act as their editor,
marking a C if the sentences in the group are all complete and an F if any of the sentences in
the group is a fragment. Could you tell these writers why the fragments are incomplete
sentences?

__F__ 1. Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience. (THIS
SENTENCE IS INCOMPLETE BECAUSE IS INTRODUCED BY THEN AND BEFORE
THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED BEFORE THAT, AND THIS
SENTENCE IS JUST THE END OF THE STORY) (dependent clause)
__F__ 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.
(dependent clause)
__C__ 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.
__F__ 4. Within each group, a wide range of features to choose from. It was difficult to
distinguish between them. (no main verb)
__C__ 5. A few of the less serious fellows would go into a bar for a steak dinner and a few
glasses of beer. After this meal, they were ready for anything.( THIS IS AN ITRODUCTION
FOR A STORY)
__C__ 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.
__F__ 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.
(dependent clause)

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__F__ 8. In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football. To prove to himself and
his parents that he is a man. (dependent clause)
__F__ 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.( THIS IS AN ITRODUCTION FOR A
STORY PROBABLY INTRO FOR THE INTRIGUE PART) (dependent clause)
__C__10. As Christmas grows near, I find myself looking back into my childhood days at
fun-filled times of snowball fights. To think about this makes me happy.
__F__11. Making up his mind quickly. Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping
she would accept his apology.( THIS SEEMS LIKE IS PART OF THE STORY, THE BODY
PART I WOULD SAY) (dependent clause)
__F__12. They were all having a good time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best friends had a
little too much to drink.( THIS IS AN ITRODUCTION FOR A STORY PROBABLY INTRO
FOR THE INTRIGUE PART) (dependent clause)
__F__13. Although it only attained a speed of about twelve miles an hour. My old rowboat
with its three-horsepower motor seemed like a high-speed job to me. (dependent clause)
__C__14. With my brother standing by my side, I reached for the pot handle. Tilting the pot
way too much caused the boiling water to spill.
__F__15. The small, one-story houses are all the same size and style. With no difference
except the color. (dependent clause)
__F__16. Being a friend of mine like he was when we first joined the soccer team. Together
we learned a lot. (dependent clause)

Task 3. These paragraphs need proofreading for possible fragments. Use the space below
each paragraph for revising.

1. How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too
long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of
my friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night
for the club.

Answer: How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me
too long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my
friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the
club, opened with the Star Spangled Banner and then America, the Beautiful.

2. For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan
has been measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians
and quasi-political trust and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders.
"Political" being all levels of government, and "quasi-political" churches, labor
unions, large professional/business associations, educational institutions, and the like.
The result is that a very sharp decline has taken place every year since 1964.

Answer: For the past twenty years, the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan has
been measuring the level of Americans' trust and confidence in their politicians and quasi-political
trust and confidence in their political institutions and their leaders. "Political" refers to all levels of
government, and "quasi-political" includes churches, labor unions, large professional/business
associations, educational institutions, and the like. The result is that a very sharp decline has taken
place every year since 1964.

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 3. For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for one's
children. This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer Americans
who feel they are better off today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion
analysis group has found that large numbers of Americans, at some times and in some
places, see themselves as lower on the ladder. Adding worse living conditions and
anticipation of further decline over the next five years.

Answer: For 200 years Americans believed in better jobs, better homes, a better life for
one's children. This confidence no longer exists. Polls now indicate that fewer
Americans feel they are better off today than they were five years ago. A public-opinion
analysis group has found that large numbers of Americans, at some times and in some
places, see themselves as lower on the ladder with worse living conditions and
anticipation of further decline over the next five years.

4. Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very funny
look on her face. As if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as if
she has seen a lot and experienced lots of things.

Answer: Well, in looking at the picture at the left you see an old lady. She has a very
funny look on her face, as if she's lonely and just wants to be left alone. She also looks as
if she has seen a lot and experienced lots of things.

5. A president is an appointed leader. Someone who is a decision maker in the executive

branch of our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people
elect is capable. Just hopefully assumes. Assumes through his past record as a
politician, over the years' buildup of experience and handling situations.

Answer: A president is an appointed leader, someone who is a decision maker in the executive
branch of our government. This doesn't necessarily mean that the person the people elect is
capable. This just hopefully assumes so based on his past record as a politician, over the years'
buildup of experience and handling situations.

Task 4.The following paragraph has no capital letters or periods to mark the beginnings and
ends of sentences. Add capitals, periods, commas, and/or other punctuation that may be
needed to make the word groups into complete sentences. Your goal is to be sure that there
are no fragments.

Answer: My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were
almost alone in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in
the country. Whenever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy, a boy too old for his
years, who looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked
enormous to me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me
because he liked Littice Grant, who liked me. He decided to beat me up right before her eyes. I
was lucky my brother came by. He didn't interfere any. He just stood there. Somehow, though, his
presence gave me confidence. I kicked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadn't been
there, I don't think I could have done it.

Task 5.The following sentences are incorrect. Re-writethemusingproper parallel

structures:
1. The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a
detailed manner.
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 The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately,
and thoroughly.

2. The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waiteduntil the last minute to
study for the exam, completedhis lab problems in a careless manner, and his
motivation was low.
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last
minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless
manner, and lacked motivation.

3. The salesman expected that he would presenthis product at the meeting, that there
would betime for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be
askedby prospective buyers.
The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that
there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that
prospective buyers would ask him questions.

4. Dante became lost in the woods, was threatened by three animals and he felt
overcome with fear.

Dante became lost in the woods, was threatened by three animals and was overcome
with fear.

5. The leopard represents malice, the lion represents violence, unchecked passions are
symbolized by the she-wolf.

The leopard represents malice, the lion represents violence, and the she-wolf
represents unchecked passions.

6. Dante was terrified of the dark wood, the three beasts, and to see the swarming
insects.

Dante was terrified of the dark wood, the three beasts, and the swarming insects.

7. Virgil is a symbol of reason and Beatrice has the function of representing divine love.

Virgil is a symbol of reason and Beatrice is a symbol of divine love.

8. The sinners in the Vestibule are pursued by wasps, maggots and a lot of bees follow
them.

The sinners in the Vestibule are pursued by wasps, maggots and bees.

9. Dante also employs the character of Beatrice in the poem. She symbolizes the divine
love of God, the power of faith, and hoping.

Dante also employs the character of Beatrice in the poem. She symbolizes the divine
love of God, the power of faith, and comfort of hope.

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 10. The sinners in the Vestibule are tortured by insects which chase them, sting them, and
are sucking the pus out of their sores.
The sinners in the Vestibule are tortured by insects who chase them, sting them, and
suck the pus out of their sores.

11. It was both a long ceremony and very tedious.

The ceremony was both long and tedious.

12. A time not for words, but action.

A time not for words, but for action.

13. Either you must grant his request or incur his ill will.

You must either grant his request or incur his ill will.

14. My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure; second, that it is
unconstitutional.

My objections are, first, that the measure is unjust; second, that it is unconstitutional.

15. My income is smaller than my wifes.

My income is smaller than my wifes.