more like a mere excuse for the wan , thinly sketched story 
(ROOT (ADJP (RBR more) (IN like) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ mere) (NN excuse)) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT the) (JJ wan) (, ,) (ADJP (RB thinly) (VBN sketched)) (NN story))))))
(ROOT (ADJP (RBR ) (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (, ) (ADJP (RB ) (VBN )) (NN ))))))