What is a Comma Splice?

Take notes on everything in

red

Just as you SHOULD NOT use

Duct Tape

for everything...

ALERT!!!!

Can you identify the literary concept being used?

…

commas

SHOULD NOT be used for every punctuation situation.

Today we are going to work on correcting the most common writing error, it is made often by even the most educated people! It’s a

comma splice

!

________________________________

There are some important terms we’ll need to define before we can do this though...

A

Comma Splice

is created when

only

a comma is used to connect 2 independent clauses.* *An

independent clause

is a group of words that could be written as a complete sentence (contains ONE subject and ONE Predicate).

*A

dependent clause

is a group of words that contain one subject and one predicate but CANNOT stand on its own: it does not complete a thought. (^)

Commas may separate:

❖ Items in a series ❖ Adjectives ❖ Numbers ❖

Dependent clauses

from

independent clauses

Items in a series

My backpack was stuffed full of books, binders, shoes, and my lunch.

Adjectives

The pretty, tall woman stood in the bright, blue room and squinted at the hot, yellow sun shining on her face.

Numbers

The town has 2,300 residents and the oldest ones are 99,88,87, and 82 years old.

Dependent clauses

from

independent clauses

As long as she was well caffeinated

,

her customer service skills were exemplary.

Commas may

NOT

connect

 2

independent clauses

She was well caffeinated , her customer service skills were exemplary.

What is the problem with this sentence?

Think of a comma as a piece of tape

Commas

good at are holding small things together like single words but... ... …

independent clauses

are very important and need something bigger than a comma to join them

4 super glue“Fixes” stronger than duct tape:

Semicolon

U

se a semicolon …

1. To join 2

independent clauses

if the 2 clauses are related.

HINT:

DO NOT use FANBOYS with semicolons.

Semicolons hate FANBOYS and will beat them up if they’re too close.

Period Use a period …

1. To separate 2 independent clauses 2. At the end of a complete sentence

Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS

FANBOYS introduce or join

independent clauses

• •

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

Sub = beneath or less important Subordinating conjunctions connect

independent clauses

to

dependent clause

after although as because before Even if in order that once since so that than that though unless until when where whether while why

Review: 4 “Fixes” Stronger than duct tape:

1. ; Semi-colon 2. . Period 3. Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS 4. Subordinating Conjunctions (If, Because, When, etc...) (^)

Question:

What is a

Comma Splice?

Answer:

Using a comma to connect two independent clauses.

A

common splice

together.

is wrong because a comma is not “strong enough” to hold two independent clauses

Use each method once to fix the 5 comma spliced sentences in your handout.

1) ; Semi-colon 2) . Period 3) Coordinating Conjunctions/FANBOYS 4) Subordinating Conjunctions (If, Because, When, After, etc...) (^)

Exit Slip

1. What is a Comma Splice?

2. List 2 ways you can fix a Comma Splice.

What is a sentence fragment?

Take notes on everything in

red

❖ A

sentence

thought.

communicates a complete ❖ A

fragment

is just a group of words that lacks enough information to complete a thought.

Cool.

At the party.

We write sentence fragments because we often speak in sentence fragments!

❏ When we answer a question: Q: “What are you doing?” A: “Eating.” ❏ When we give a command: “No headphones!”, “No running!”

How to fix a sentence fragment

In order to make the sentence a complete thought…

❖ Add information ❖ Rewrite the sentence- this may be as simple as removing or adding a single word !

Fragments

1. After leaving the mall.

2. What pet dander?

3. Even though you learned this in 5 th grade. 4. Romeo and Juliet, though desperately in love.

Directions: “Fixing Fragments” Handout

 Place an “C” on the line before each number IF it is a complete sentence .

 Place an “F” IF it is a fragment of a sentence.

 Correct each fragment by adding information or rewriting in the space provided.

 Each correction should be a complete sentence! (^)

Part 2: Run-on or “fused” sentences

Run-on Sentences are...

…2

independent clauses

, each of which could be a sentence on its own, joined together without adequate punctuation and/or conjunctions.

Examples of run-on sentences

1. They are not just really long sentences those are called rambling sentences.

2. Grammar is confusing it is also important.

3. Mrs. Asfour makes learning grammar fun her students just won’t admit it.

With your elbow partner, fix the run-on sentence below using 2 different “fixes” that we learned yesterday and jot down what “tools” you used.

Did you use any of the following “tools”?

1) : Colon 2) ; Semi-colon 3) . Period 4) Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS 5) Subordinating Conjunctions (If, Because, When, After, etc...)

Time to Practice! (see handout 209-210 Sentences 1-10)

❏ Write “RO” on the line before each run-on sentence and insert the punctuation and/or conjunctions that will correct the sentences. You may have to change capitalization as well. Some sentences require TWO punctuation corrections.

❏ If the sentence is correct, write “C” on the blank.

Exit Slip

In your own words, define: 1. sentence fragment 2. run-on sentence