Embedding Fragments

A sentence fragment is a sentence that’s missing some key piece to complete it grammatically. In order to be a complete sentence, a group of words needs to contain a subject and a verb. If it is missing either a subject or a verb, a sentence is fragmented; it is missing an essential element. A sentence fragment generally leaves readers hanging as they wait for the rest of the idea.  

Embedding a piece of text with sentence fragments can help students write grammatically correct sentences based on content. 

Original Text

The samurai (or bushi) were the warriors of premodern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and guns, but their main weapon and symbol was the sword. Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism.  The samurai trace their origins to the Heian Period campaigns to subdue the native Emishi people in the Tohoku Region. Around the same time, warriors were increasingly hired by wealthy landowners that had grown independent of the central government and built armies for their own protection. The two most powerful of these landowning clans, the Minamoto and Taira, eventually challenged the central government and battled each other for supremacy over the entire country. Minamoto Yoritomo emerged victorious and set up a new military government in 1192, led by the shogun or supreme military commander. The samurai would rule over Japan for most of the next 700 years. During the chaotic era of warring states in the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan splintered into dozens of independent states constantly at war with one another. Consequently, warriors were in high demand. It was also the era when ninja, warriors specialized in unconventional warfare, were most active. Many of the famous samurai movies by Kurosawa are set during this time. The country was eventually reunited in the late 1500s, and a rigid social caste system was established during the Edo Period that placed the samurai at the top, followed by the farmers, artisans and merchants respectively. During this time, the samurai were forced to live in castle towns, were the only ones allowed to own and carry swords and were paid in rice by their daimyo or feudal lords. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused minor troubles during the 1600s. Relative peace prevailed during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period. As a result, the importance of martial skills declined, and many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers or artists. Japan's feudal era eventually came to an end in 1868, and the samurai class was abolished a few years afterwards.

Text embedded with Sentence Fragments

The samurai (or bushi) were. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Samurai employed a range. Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior. Many samurai were also drawn to the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism.  The samurai trace their origins to the Heian Period campaigns to subdue. Around the same time, warriors were increasingly. The two most powerful of these landowning clans, the Minamoto and Taira, eventually challenged the central government and battled each other for supremacy over the entire country. a new military government in 1192, led by the shogun or supreme military commander. The samurai would rule over Japan. During the chaotic era of warring states. Consequently, warriors were in high demand. It was also the era when ninja, warriors specialized in unconventional warfare, were most active. Many of the famous samurai movies by Kurosawa are set during this time. The country was eventually reunited in the late 1500s. a rigid social caste system. During this time, the samurai were forced to live in castle towns, were the only ones allowed to own and carry swords and were paid in rice by their daimyo or feudal lords. Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused. during the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period. As a result, the importance of martial skills. Japan's feudal era eventually.

Students identify the sentence fragments:

• The samurai (or bushi) were

• Samurai employed a range

• The samurai trace their origins to the Heian Period campaigns to subdue

• Around the same time, warriors were increasingly

• A new military government in 1192, led by the shogun or supreme military commander

• During the chaotic era of warring states

• A rigid social caste system

• Masterless samurai were called ronin and caused

• During the roughly 250 years of the Edo Period

• As a result, the importance of martial skills

• Japan's feudal era eventually

Students use some or all of these sentence fragments to write sentences based on what they have heard / discussed / read or learned.