Guess What! Complete Sentences How to identify fragments in your writing

A fragment is a statement that does not express a complete thought. If could be missing a subject. Went to the mall. It could be missing the predicate. My sister and her silly friends. It could be missing BOTH. Maybe after the soccer game Saturday night. What is a fragment?

How do fragments affect the reader? Fragments can interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the author’s message and can interrupt their ability to read the essay fluently. If a reader has to stop and figure out what the writer is trying to say, they may struggle to stay focused enough to understand what the writer is trying to say. How do fragments affect the reader?

Why do I find fragments in my PCR book? Is there ever an appropriate time to write a fragment? Why do we sometimes find fragments in novels? Why do I find fragments in my PCR book? Here is why: It reflects how people speak in dialogue. It can contribute to the author’s tone or style.

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry “One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.” “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

What is the author’s purpose? Authors may choose to use fragments for a few different reasons. Remember that any artistic choice a writer makes is usually intentional and not accidental! Writers change their sentence structure to create certain effects. In this example from O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi,” sentence fragments are used to add emphasis and create urgency. The emphasis is being placed on the minimal amount of money that Della has available. The phrase “one dollar and eighty-seven cents” is repeated twice, adding emphasis to the story. The reader is meant to understand what a dire situation Della feels herself in. In addition, a sense of urgency is created by the sentence fragments. The reader understands that there’s not much money to go around but THEN, we discover that it’s Christmas Eve. Della only has “one dollar and eighty-seven cents” on Christmas Eve. We do not know what she needs the cash for, but clearly she needs more of it, and quickly. What is the author’s purpose? Credit: literary devices.net

How can I find fragments in my own writing? Crack the sentence to find a subject & a predicate. Draw a vertical line before the verb to “crack” the sentence. Circle the subject (the who or what). Underline the predicate (the do or is). If one or both of these are missing, you have a fragment. How can I find fragments in my own writing? Use the “Guess What!” strategy. Say “Guess what!” then read your sentence. Does your sentence make sense as an answer to “Guess what?” If not, try to rephrase it so it makes sense. Re-read it to check again.