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Here the fragment is used not to ask, but to answer a rhetorical question. The missing 5
subject, he, and verb, would [not] want, are understood. The fragment creates a sense
of impatience that conveys Thoreau’s tone of exasperation.
In the following example from The Real History of American Immigration, Joshua
Zeitz uses a complete first sentence followed by a fragment. The excerpt shows how a
fragment can provide both economy of expression and emphasis (p. 000): Grammar as Rhetoric and Style
Fifty years ago, the historian Oscar Handlin described early American immigrants as
“uprooted” — poor, dispossessed, dazed and ill-prepared to succeed in urban, industrial
America. Damaged goods.
Zeitz calls attention to Handlin’s contemptuous description of “early American
immigrants” with this fragment because it functions summarizes Zeitz’s interpretation
of Handlin’s prejudicial opinions.
Turning this fragment into a complete sentence would lessen the dramatic force of
Zeitz’s point.
Fragments also suggest the rhythm and patterns of natural speech. Read the
following sentences from Barack Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention
speech (p. 000):

That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the
insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know they
are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what
we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and
start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody’s son. That we can
participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will
be counted — or at least, most of the time.

The fragments continue Obama’s more casual train of thought as though he were
conversing with us in a more personal manner. Were he to have expressed them as
complete sentences, the might have looked something like this:

That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the
insistence on small miracles. It is a small miracle that we can tuck in our children at
night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. It is a small miracle
that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock
on the door. It is a small miracle that we can have an idea and start our own business
without paying a bribe or hiring somebody’s son. It is a small miracle that we can
participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will
be counted — or at least, most of the time.

The result not only spoils the casual, conversational tone Obama wants, but the
additional repetition detracts from his central point. Additionally, is it a small miracle
that Americans get to do all of these things? Or, as Obama implies, is this really “the
true genius of America”? Consider which of these effects the fragments reinforce.
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