<p>(Rita Dove, African American writer and teacher, as) poet laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995.</p>
<p>(A) Rita Dove, African American writer and teacher, as
(B) Rita Dove was an African American writer and teacher as<br>
(C) African American writer and teacher Rita Dove was<br>
(D) African American writer and teacher, Rita Dove was<br>
(E) An African American writer and teacher, it was Rita Dove</p>
<p>Answer is C not D why ????</p>
<p>The answer is C because “African American writer and teacher” is modifying Rita Dove, it’s not a separate thought that needs to be broken by a comma.</p>
<p>Basically, the same kind of thing would be:</p>
<p>President Barack Obama spoke today.
President, Barack Obama spoke today.</p>
<p>^ Then why do we say:</p>
<p>The African president, Nelson Mandela, was killed by his people.</p>
<p>Because in the statement, “The African President, Nelson Mandela, was killed by his people”, the statement would still be right if you took out Nelson Mandela. The Nelson Mandela part is just restating/respecifying the first part of the clause or something I think. I am an engineering major hopeful though so don’t take my word for it</p>
<p>Basically, saying “the” changes its role.</p>
<p>Example:
Nelson Mandela, the African president, was killed by his people.
African president Nelson Mandela was killed by his people.</p>
<p>bump char10 Any other opinions ??</p>
<p>I think D would be right if it read “An African American writer and teacher, Rita Dove was poet laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995.”</p>
<p>With regards to heyimpeter’s examples, “the African president” would be modifying Nelson Mandela in what is called an appositive. In the second sentence, “African president” is modifying Nelson Mandela as a sort of title. C is right because it follows the logic of heyimpeter’s second sentence.</p>
<p>jacobo2880’s explanation is absolutely correct.</p>