During a writing conference, which topic should a teacher focus on for a student with many sentence fragments?

Focusing on sentence structure is crucial for a student with many sentence fragments because this aspect directly addresses the grammatical integrity of their writing. Sentence fragments occur when a sentence lacks either a subject, a verb, or does not express a complete thought. By working on sentence structure, the teacher can help the student understand how to construct complete sentences, recognize the elements that make a sentence grammatically sound, and learn how to combine ideas effectively.

Improving sentence structure will empower the student to write clear and cohesive sentences, which is foundational for developing stronger writing skills. This focus can lead to greater confidence in their writing, as they begin to express their thoughts more fully and correctly.