2015-08-21 Writing: fragments and quotes

Greg Malivuk
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http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk
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p. 185 - sentence fragments
A fragment is an incomplete sentence. Fragments are common in conversation (especially as answers to questions, but usually incorrect in writing.

“Because it was raining when we left.” is a fragment because it is only a dependent clause with no independent clause.

“Ron, who also takes night classes.” is a fragment because it contains a complete adjective clause, but there is no main verb to go with “Ron”.
We can fix this by simply making it a complete main clause: “Ron also takes night classes.”
We can also add a predicate: “Ron, who also takes night classes, is a very good student.”
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The most important reason is freedom of religion, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Many religions have special clothing and symbols, such as turbans, headscarves, and crosses.

For example, men who are followers of the Sikh religion must wear turbans to cover their hair.
(The subject is “men”, so it is always incorrect to repeat the subject with “they” before getting to the verb.)
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More common in your writing are run-on sentences, which are sentences that continue for too long.

I like Boston because the weather in the summer and fall is nice, the weather in the winter isn’t very nice though. (incorrect)
-> I like Boston because the weather in the summer and fall is nice, but the weather in the winter isn’t very nice.

I like Boston because the weather in the summer and fall is nice, winter isn’t very nice though. (incorrect)
-> I like Boston because the weather in the summer and fall is nice. The weather in the winter isn’t very nice though.
or -> I like Boston because the weather in the summer and fall is nice. The winter isn’t very nice though.
I like Boston (because it gets hot in the summer, but not too hot).

(I like Boston because the weather in the summer and fall is nice), but (the weather in the winter isn’t very nice).
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Quotation Marks (p. 188) (for direct speech, not reported speech)

She stated, “It’s not easy to be a single mother.”
“It’s not easy,” she stated, “to be a single mother.”
“It’s not easy to be a single mother,” she stated.

I asked, “Why not?”

“Why not?” I asked.

According to new research, “The majority of arranged marriages are actually happier than marriages chosen by the couple.”

In her article, Garcia asks, “Why are so many people opposed to the idea of arranged marriages?”
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Homework: Write a paragraph about why you would or wouldn’t like to have an arranged marriage.