Exploring Writing 2nd Edition by John Langan

Exercise 9

Each item that follows lacks basic punctuation. There is no period to mark the end of one sentence and no capital letter to mark the start of the next. Read each item aloud (or in your head) so that you "hear" where each sentence begins and ends. Your voice will tend to drop and pause at the point of each sentence break. Draw a light slash mark (/) at every point where you hear a break. Then go back and read the item a second time. If you are now sure of each place where a split occurs, insert a period and change the first small letter after it to a capital. Minor pauses are often marked in English by commas; these are already inserted. Part of item 1 is done for you as an example.
1. I take my dog for a walk on Saturdays in the big park by the lake. I do this very early in the morning before children come to the park. way I can let my dog run freely. jumps out the minute I open the car door and soon sees the first innocent squirrel. then he is off like a shot and doesn't stop running for at least half an hour.
2. When Vince first started college, he did not know what major to pursue at first, he wanted to become a computer software engineer, but he struggled in his math classes a counselor suggested that he might think about entering a technical program since he is skilled with his hands for instance, last summer he helped his neighbors renovate their kitchen and bathroom he also assisted in the building of a house through Habitat for Humanity now Vince is considering the carpentry technology program.
3. When I sit down to write, my mind is blank all I can think of is my name, which seems to me the most boring name in the world often I get sleepy and tell myself I should take a short nap other times I start daydreaming about things I want to buy sometimes I decide I should make a telephone call to someone I know the piece of paper in front of me is usually still blank when I leave to watch my favorite television show.
4. One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I never told my father I loved him. I resented the fact that he had never been able to say the words "I love you" to his children even during the long period of my father's illness, I remained silent and unforgiving then one morning he was dead, with my words left unspoken a guilt I shall never forget tore a hole in my heart. I determined not to hold in my feelings with my daughters they know they are loved, because I both show and tell them this all people, no matter who they are, want to be told that they are loved.
5. A month ago, Christina decided to become a vegetarian she never really liked meat all that much, except for an occasional hamburger or grilled steak she decided to give up meat because she read about the health benefits that a vegetarian lifestyle could provide also, she knew that eating more fruits, vegetables, and grains would be beneficial some of her friends asked if she opposed the killing of animals, which she had not considered everything was going well for Christina and her new lifestyle she began to try new recipes, shop at the local farmers' market, and even feel more energetic then last Saturday she went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant with her friends without thinking, Christina ordered her favorite item on the menu, Shrimp Scampi after she was halfway through her meal, one of friends said, "Christina, you're eating meat!" she was stunned for she had completely forgotten about being a vegetarian she felt disappointed in herself, especially since there were several vegetarian pasta dishes on the menu one of her friends smiled nonchalantly and said, "Don't worry, Christina, you're a pescatarian-someone who's mostly a vegetarian but occasionally eats fish and seafood." Christina smiled and happily finished her meal.