A high school dropout earning his living by waiting tables might not appear to offer much promise as a creative genius.
Yet this [waiter, Gordan Parks,] has gone on to enjoy an extraordinary career of artistic achievement.
A) NO CHANGE
D waiter Gordan Parks
ok so i solved many questions like this on act before but have never seen one like this
i know that if it were : Yet a waiter, Gordan Parks, has gone on …two commas would be correct
or if it were: Yet waiter Gordan Parks has gone on…no commas would be correct
i think it is answer with two commas because is the name really essential here? could still read
Yet this waiter has gone on to enjoy great career…still makes sense w/o name…at the same time, it also seems like u need the name to make it clear who the waiter is, hence no commas???
A is correct because, as you say, the name is non-essential information, an appositive separating the subject (“this waiter”) from its verb (“has gone on to enjoy”) @sunboost777
(Also, I believe it’s Gordon Parks, as I assume it’s about the great photographer and author of “Flavio’s Home.”)
I tend to agree. I would be curious to know, however, whether this came from a real ACT test (just curious since I don’t recall having seen it before) and whether Parks is mentioned again (by his last name only) in the passage after this sentence. If he is, then I think you could argue that “Gordon Parks” is essential because he will be referred to again and if we don’t know his full name (and that he is the waiter previously discussed), it would be confusing. In other words, no commas would be used to indicate that his name was necessary information. Otherwise, I agree with marvin100.