1. Journal Topic  Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.  Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin

2. Fragments Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret. - Matthew Arnold

3. Do you remember what a complete sentence needs to be complete?

4. Complete sentences  Complete sentences require:  A subject  A verb  A complete thought  Punctuation

5. Complete Sentences?  Because I could not sleep.  Calling his dog’s name.  Except meat, vegetables, and fruit.  Then began to type quickly.

6. What is a fragment?  A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.  It is missing one of the three things that complete sentences need.  They are to be avoided in academic writing.

7. Sentence Fragments  When you edit a piece of writing and you see a sentence fragment, you can use one of these methods to correct it.  The method that you choose will depend on the situation and on what you think will most improve the piece of writing.

8. Method 1  If a fragment is missing a subject, add a subject.  Fragment: Went to the interview with her resume.  Correct: Lia went to the interview with her resume.

9. Method 2  If a fragment is missing a complete verb, make the verb complete.  Fragment: Dr. Parks asking about her last job.  Correct: Dr. Parks was asking about her last job.

10. Method 3  Add or change words to make an incomplete thought complete.  Fragment: Not a bad job, only boring.  Correct: Her last job was not bad, only boring.

11. Method 4  Attach the fragment to a complete sentence. This is a good method to use when a fragment has a subject and verb but still does not express a complete thought.  Fragment: Lia took the job. Because she wanted a challenge.  Correct: Lia took the job because she wanted a challenge.  Correct: Because she wanted a challenge, Lia took the job.

12. Dependent Word Fragments  If a sentence starts with a dependent word, it uses a comma.  A comma is not needed if the dependent word comes in the middle of the sentence.  Dependent words:  after, although, as, because, before, even if, even though, if, since, that, though, unless, until, what, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, which, while, who.

13. Practice  Because the movie was so violent.  Before Martha stormed into the room.  After he bought some donuts.  Ticking loudly. The clock reminded me how little time I had to get ready.  Staring at me with an icy look on her face.  To steam out the wrinkles.  Because the movie was so violent, I grabbed onto the complete stranger’s hand next to me and screamed.  Everyone was in a good mood before Martha stormed into the room.  After he bought some donuts, he ate them.  Ticking loudly, the clock reminded me how little time I had to get ready.  Staring at me with an icy look on her face, my mother made me take off my shoes.  For my interview, I used an iron on my suit to steam out the wrinkles.