Rhetorical and linguistic concepts of the sentence are reviewed in the course of introducing the concept of the "minor sentence" (sentence fragments which may occur alone as complete linguistic utterances or which may be combined by parataxis or coordinators with a major sentence). Rather than restraining beginning writers from using minor sentences, broader rhetorical issues of invention, arrangement, and style should be considered. Usage is fluid; considerations of intent and effect, logic, fluency, and audience are more important than grammaticality. (AA)