Frustrating fragments
True or False: Every sentence must have a subject and a verb.
True
Where should the comma go?
"Before we begin the test please clear your desk."
After “test” — "Before we begin the test, please clear your desk."
Which of these is a run-on sentence?
A) He left. She followed.
B) He left and she followed.
C) He left she followed.
D) Because he left, she followed.
C) He left she followed.
What do we call the part of the story where tension builds before the climax?
Rising Action
Which of these is good short story advice?
A) Use vivid verbs
B) Use a twist ending no matter what
C) Start with a dream
D) Use heaps of adverbs
A) Use vivid verbs
Which of the following is a fragment?
A) He ran quickly.
B) Running through the dark forest.
C) They all looked confused.
D) She paused.
B) Running through the dark forest.
Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?
A) “I’m tired.” She said.
B) “I’m tired,” she said.
C) “I’m tired”, she said.
D) “I’m tired.”, she said.
B) “I’m tired,” she said.
Fix this run-on:
“She opened the door it creaked loudly.”
She opened the door, and it creaked loudly. (Other answers like using a semicolon or splitting into two sentences also acceptable.)
Define the term “climax” in a narrative.
The most intense, exciting or important point of the story — the turning point.
Which of these should you avoid in a short story exam?
A) Naming ten characters
B) Writing a scene with tension
C) Using dialogue
D) Showing emotion through action
A) Naming ten characters
Why is the following a fragment?
"Before the sun had risen."
It’s a dependent clause without a main clause — we don’t know what happened "before the sun had risen."
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
A) He’s tired; but he won’t stop.
B) He’s tired; he won’t stop.
C) He’s tired; and he won’t stop.
B) He’s tired; he won’t stop.
Which is NOT a way to fix a run-on?
A) Add a comma
B) Add a semicolon
C) Split into two sentences
D) Use a coordinating conjunction such as "for", "and", "or," "yet" or "but".
A) Add a comma (This creates a comma splice, not a fix.)
What is a motif and how is it different from a theme?
A motif is a recurring image, word, or symbol that helps develop a theme; a theme is the deeper message or meaning of the story.
What does “show, don’t tell” mean?
It means to reveal information through actions, dialogue, and sensory detail, not direct statements.
Choose the correct fix for this fragment:
“Breathing heavily after the race.”
A) She was breathing heavily after the race.
B) Breathing heavily.
C) After the race breathing.
D) She breathing heavily after race.
A) She was breathing heavily after the race.
Fix this sentence by adding missing punctuation:
"after the storm passed the air was thick heavy and wet"
"After the storm passed, the air was thick, heavy, and wet."
Rewrite this run-on into two properly punctuated and varied sentences:
"He walked into the room he knew something was wrong the silence was too loud"
He walked into the room and immediately sensed something was wrong. The silence was too loud.
Which word best matches this definition: “The struggle between opposing forces in a story”?
A) Theme
B) Climax
C) Conflict
D) Resolution
C) Conflict
Choose the better version of this sentence:
A) She was angry.
B) She slammed the door, her face red with fury.
B) She slammed the door, her face red with fury.
Combine these fragments into a grammatically correct and stylistically effective sentence:
“Shadows moving. In the hallway. No explanation.”
Shadows were moving in the hallway, and there was no explanation. (Other answers possible if grammatically correct and complete.)
Punctuate the following correctly, including dialogue and commas:
Her eyes widened "Did you hear that?" she whispered
Her eyes widened. “Did you hear that?” she whispered.
Which is the comma splice and which is the run-on sentence:
a) She was tired she kept working.
b) She was tired, she kept working.
a) run-on sentence
b) Comma splice
Which of the following best describes the role of setting in a well-crafted short story?
A) It tells the reader exactly how the character feels about the plot.
B) It creates mood, supports the plot, and can reflect or contrast with the character’s emotions.
C) It always determines the story’s point of view.
D) It explains the story’s theme in the opening paragraph.
B) It creates mood, supports the plot, and can reflect or contrast with the character’s emotions.
Explain why starting a short story with a character waking up is often discouraged. Then rewrite the following weak opening into something more compelling:
"I woke up and got out of bed."
It’s overused, dull, and lacks immediate conflict or intrigue.
Rewritten example: The sheets were damp with sweat. Outside, something was screaming.