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A SELF-GUIDED

TUTORIAL

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Introduction

This presentation

has been provided for you

by the LAVC Writing Center

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What Will We Know By the End?What Will We Know By the End?

• What are comma splices and run-on sentences?

• Why do we need to fix sentences with these mistakes?

• How do we fix these sentences?

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Terms to become familiar with…Terms to become familiar with…

• Subject• Verb• Comma• Semi-colon• Independent Clause/

Complete Sentence

• Dependent Clause• Conjunction• Run-on sentence• Comma Splice

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What is a Subject?What is a Subject?

• A subject is who or what the sentence is about.

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Examples of a Subject

Person, Place, or Thing:Person, Place, or Thing:

Person = George Bush

Place = The LAVC Writing Center

Thing = A baseball

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What is a Verb?What is a Verb?

• A verb describes the action or the state of being of the subject.

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Examples of a Verb

VerbsVerbs:

Jump(s), Jumping, Jumped

Run(s), Running, Ran

Talk(s), Talking, Talk

Write(s), Writing, Wrote

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What is an Independent Clause?What is an Independent Clause?

• An independent clause is a sentence with at least one subject and one verb and is a complete thought. A complete sentence is an independent clause.

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Example(Independent Clause/Complete Sentence)

subject verb

Independent Clause

Johnny ran quickly .

This statement

can stand alone.

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What is a Dependent Clause?What is a Dependent Clause?

• A dependent clause is a fragment of a complete sentence that cannot stand alone. It cannot stand alone because it is missing either its subject or its verb, which leaves the reader confused as to who is doing what.

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Example(Dependent Clause)

When Tom wrote his paper …

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

•This statement depends on more information.

• This statement cannot stand alone.

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What is a Comma?What is a Comma?

• A comma is a form of punctuation that can off-set or set aside specific details in a sentence as well as help prevent confusion within or misreading of a sentence.

,

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EXAMPLEEXAMPLE(Comma Usage with Independent and (Comma Usage with Independent and

Dependent Clauses)Dependent Clauses)

Because I love flowers, I grow a garden.

Dependent Clause Independent Clause

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The Comma in the SentenceThe Comma in the Sentence

• If the Dependent Clause (incomplete sentence) appears before the Independent Clause (complete sentence), there must be a comma connecting the two clauses in the sentence. (Like the sentence on this page!)

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NOW what is our Focus?

Sentences with two or more Independent Independent ClausesClauses (complete sentences).

• How do these Independent Clauses get properly connected or linked in a single sentence?

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What do we have if there is no (or What do we have if there is no (or the wrong) punctuation connecting the wrong) punctuation connecting

your Independent Clauses??your Independent Clauses??

*Two very common punctuation mistakes in writing…

•A RUN-ON SENTENCE

or

•A COMMA SPLICE

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What is a Semi-Colon?What is a Semi-Colon?

• A semi-colon is one method of punctuation that unites two related independent clauses without using a conjunction. (We’ll talk about conjunctions later)

;

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EXAMPLEEXAMPLE(Semi-colon)(Semi-colon)

The Writing Center tutors LAVC students ;

it is open five days a week.

Independent Clause

Independent Clause

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What are Coordinating What are Coordinating Conjunctions?Conjunctions?

• A coordinating conjunction is one of seven (7) words that are used to connect two independent

clauses together in one sentence. In order to use a conjunction correctly, it is necessary to add a

comma when using a conjunction.

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(Coordinating Conjunctions)F A N B O Y S

F or

A nd

N or

B ut

O r

Y et

S o

“FANBOYS” is an easy way of remembering all 7 Coordinating Conjunctions (For, And, Nor, But,

Or, Yet, So).

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Example of How to Use a Example of How to Use a Coordinating ConjunctionCoordinating Conjunction

• Sentence 1: Robert is reading his favorite book.

• Sentence 2: Tam is writing an essay for English 101.

* Combined Sentence: Robert is reading his favorite book, and, and Tam is writing an essay for English 101.

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What is a Run-On Sentence?What is a Run-On Sentence?

A run-on sentence is two or more independent clauses combined without ANY punctuation.

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ExampleExample(Run-On Sentence)(Run-On Sentence)

• Joey thought that Jill was pretty Jill thought that Joey was handsome.

What’s the problem with this sentence? We don’t know where one idea begins and the next ends!

• How do we fix it??Joey thought that Jill was pretty, and Jill thought that Joey

was handsome.OrOr

Joey thought that Jill was pretty; Jill thought that Joey was handsome.

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HOW DID WE FIX IT?HOW DID WE FIX IT?

We used a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS), OR we used a semicolon

to properly connect and separate the sentences.

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What is a Comma Splice?What is a Comma Splice?

• A comma splice is two independent clauses connected with only a comma. The comma is not strong enough to properly end a sentence.

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Example (Comma Splice)

It is really hot outside,

drink plenty of water.

•This sentence needs a “FANBOY” (conjunction) or a semi-colon ( ; ) to fix the comma splice.

EXAMPLE :

It is really hot outside, so drink plenty of water.

Or

It is really hot outside; drink plenty of water.

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WHY DO WE NEED TO USE THE SEMI-COLON OR FANBOY’S?

• Punctuation is like a street sign on the road of writing; without these guides our written thoughts become confusing to our readers.

• Commas and semi-colons are two types of street signs.

• Run-on sentences are areas in need of signs.

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Is there a more simple way to fix a Is there a more simple way to fix a

Comma Splice or Run-On Sentence?Comma Splice or Run-On Sentence?

THE PERIOD

.You can end one Independent Clause (complete sentence) and start another one by connecting them with a period.

ExampleExample: I like toast for breakfast. It tastes great.

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Comma Splices and Run-ons detract from our ability to clearly and effectively express our thoughts and ideas in writing.

The comma, semi-colon, period, and conjunctions help us to organize our thoughts and guide our readers through our text, but only the semi-colon, the conjunctions, and period can properly end a sentence or independent clause.

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LIST OF WORKS USED TO LIST OF WORKS USED TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATIONMAKE THIS PRESENTATION

Gibaldi, Joseph ed. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: Modern Language Association, 1999.