| Exemplary Prose: |
| Essential Writing Skills in Context |
Recognize and correct run on sentences and fragments
including fragments whose predicates are expressed in gerunds, infinitives,
and participial instead of verb form.
Run-ons and fragmented sentences are, to mis-quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, the hobgoblin of teacher's minds (at least this teacher). Although our daily conversations are heavily laden with fragmented sentences and run-on sentences that go on forever, doing so in your writing is a major transgression. Standard English compels writers to construct sentences that are bound to the rules set forth by previous generations of grammarians, editors, and lexicons. it is in your best interest to pay particular attention to the final product of your sentences because they are such an integral part of your writing. They are the skeletal bones that make up the body of your writing. They are the foundation for your house of words. They are, well, you get the point.
The best way to recognize run-on and fragments in your writing, in my belief, is to read it aloud. When you take the writing portion of the HSGQE, you may not be able to read aloud your writing (without drawing attention to yourself), so you may want to practice reading to yourself without actually verbalizing aloud. Whatever method you decide upon to ferret out your poorly constructed sentences, make sure you consistently apply it to all writing you do for the HSGQE.
Below are 7 practice questions taken from the HSGQE writing practice test. try them out and find the answers by clicking on to the highlighted link.
1. A student wrote a paragraph about a trip to the video store. Read the italicized sentences and choose the correct answer from the four choices below.
After school, we went to the video store. Looking at all the new releases. We stayed in the store for a whole hour, but we still weren't able to decide on a movie we would all like. We decided to play a game instead.
Choose the best way to write the italicized sentence.
A. My friend looking at all the new releases.
B. We were looking at all the new releases.
C. Having to look at all the new releases.
D. Best as it is: Looking at all the new releases.
2. Directions: Look at the underlined part. Choose the answer that shows the best capitalization and punctuation for that part.
The line of cars filed into the amusement park it took an eternity to reach the gate.
A. amusement park, it
B. Amusement Park. It
C. amusement park. It
D. Correct as it is
3. Directions: There are three mistakes in this paragraph.
Draw a line through each mistake and write the correction above it.
4. Now help Andy edit the second part of his report which describes a personal experience.
(1) My family and I went on a train ride to Denali National
Park last summer. (2) Before we left, I was concerned that the trip would take
eight hours. (3) I thought I might get bored with none of my friends traveling
with me. (4) It didn't take long for me to change my mind the trip was
wonderful! (5) I saw parts of Alaska I had never seen before.
4. Which sentence is a run-on and should be rewritten as two sentences?
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 3
C. Sentence 4
D. Sentence 5
The correct answer can be found here.
5. Directions: Here is a paragraph about flying. There are some mistakes that need correcting.
Planes
Most people in the United States are familiar with traveling on large jet planes, but very
few have ever traveled in small propeller driven aircraft. In Alaska, many people have
experienced such flight. Traveling to cabins for hunting and fishing. In fact, small
planes is necessary to move people and goods to villages around our vast state.
Choose the best way to the italicized sentence.
A. To travel to cabins or to hunt and fish.
B. Planes are often the quickest way to travel to cabins for hunting and fishing.
C. Planes take people to cabins for hunting or to fish.
D. Best as it is: Traveling to cabins for hunting and fishing.
6. Look at the underlined part. Choose the answer that shows the best capitalization and punctuation for that part.
The huge tractor had blocked the highway it was moving a rock slide off the road.
A. Highway. It
B. highway, it
C. highway. It
D. Correct as it is
7. For numbers 6 through 8, read the passage and look at the numbered, underlined part. Choose the answer that shows the best capitalization and punctuation for each part.
Sparrow is the common name for various small, perching (6) birds: found throughout most of the world. There are approximately fifty species who make their home in North America. The birds are about six inches long and they usually have brown or gray coloration and short, cone-shaped bills. Sparrows feed on grass, seeds, (7) buds fruit, and insects. Their musical song not only delights (8) people. But it keeps the large flocks together. Sparrows feed, dust-bathe, and roost in close communities.
A. people; but
B. people: but
C. people, but
D. Correct as it is
Answer for 1. Answer: B. We were looking at all the new releases. Return to 1.
Answer for 2. Answer: C. The line of cars filed into the amusement. park it took an eternity to reach the gate. Return to 2.
Answer for 3. The passage should read as follows:
Summers in Alaska are warm and beautiful, and there are many things to do outside. I can fish with my friends and go hiking. Most people enjoy the five months with no snow. Return to 3.
Answer for 4. The correct answer is C. This question tests your ability to recognize a run-on sentence. Return to 4.
Answer for 5. The correct answer is B. You must recognize that sentence three is a run-on, as is answer A; therefore, it is inappropriate as is answer D. Sentence C is incorrect because it is not parallel. Return to 5.
Answer for 6. The answer is C. Return to 6.
Answer for 7. Answer: C Return to 7.