S-V-O Sentences and Such

In Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place, we discover how colonization has affected the identity of Antiguans, and how the people who are not from the colonized countries function as outsiders. Kincaid explains that outsiders try to gain an insider’s viewpoint by becoming tourists. However, when they become tourists they embrace, sometimes inadvertently, the distorted identities of formerly colonized countries.
Many people choose to go to tropical islands for an exotic, romantic, and relaxing experience away from the hum-drum of the everyday routine. Before going, tourists do research to learn about the culture of the people they are visiting. They read travel guides and research the country on the internet. However, they unfailingly learn about their destinations from sources created by people who want their money, and who advertise with the desire to draw them in. Tourists fail to see that what they read in the tourist guides is not the real thing. Huge hotels with swimming pools, adventure packages, and 4-star restaurants, advertising the beauty of the island and the quaintness of the people, only tell half the story. In all actuality, these hotels and descriptions are products of colonization and unsuccessful decolonization. In A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid explores the different consequences of colonization and decolonization, and illustrates how the exotic island tourists envision is far from the one in existence; the one that is still suffering from the abuse of years of domination by a foreign power and the subsequent loss of identity.

Those Slightly Perplexing Brushstokes

She had just successfully dozed off, which was no mean feat, when she felt someone poking her. She pretended not to notice. However as it persisted, ignoring it obviously wasn’t going to work. She pretended to be in one of those fits of sleep, when one is unconscious of physical movement. Julie turned rather violently and with a big moan, which she felt characterized deep slumber, she slapped at the perpetrator. She then quickly nestled back into sleeping position and she was finally glad that for once being asleep on school property was working in her favor. Through cracked eyelids she caught sight of Alice Braider, her 12 year old neighbor. A red haired, freckled face, brat

Please, please go away! Julie thought to herself. Alice Braider was notorious for being a busybody. She was always into other people’s business and Julie had no desire to explain whatever gaps were left in the “why” of her present predicament.

Julie determined at that second prodding that Alice Braider would not have the satisfaction of waking her up. So she continued to sleep as she was poked again and again and again. By this time Julie was seething and pretty sure she had at least three bruises, maybe four. Determined that she would have her revenge she continued to pretend to sleep. When she had gotten a pretty good idea of Alice’s poking rhythm she waited and as Alice Braider reached her hand out once more, Julie reached up quickly and grabbed her, slowly turning so that she was face to face with the little punk.

She had just successfully dozed off, which was no mean feat (appositive), when she felt someone poking her. She pretended(participle) not to notice. However as it persisted, ignoring it obviously wasn’t going to work (participle). She pretended to be in one of those fits of sleep, when one is unconscious of physical movement. Julie turned rather violently and with a big moan, which she felt characterized deep slumber (appositive, absolute), she slapped at the perpetrator. She then quickly nestled back into sleeping position and was finally glad that for once being asleep on school property was working in her favor (participle). Through cracked eyelids she caught sight of Alice Braider, her 12 year old neighbor(appositive), a red haired, freckled face, brat(adjectives out of order).

Please, please go away! Julie thought to herself. Alice Braider was notorious for being a busybody. She was always into other people’s business and Julie had no desire to explain whatever gaps were left in the “why” of her present predicament.
Julie determined (participle) at that second prodding that Alice Braider would not have the satisfaction of waking her up. So she continued to sleep as she was poked again, and again, and again. By this time Julie was seething (participle) and pretty sure she had at least three bruises, maybe four (appositive). Determined that she would have her revenge she continued to pretend to sleep. When she had gotten a pretty good idea of Alice’s poking rhythm she waited and as Alice Braider reached her hand out once more Julie reached up quickly and grabbed her, slowly turning so that she was face to face with the little punk.

I'm a little confused on the absolutes. Help would be appreciated!! Thanks.