ENGLISH 380Wednesday, October 10, 2012
CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH
CARTOONS
Grammar ReviewFragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
But First -Review of clauses from Tuesday
Independent Clauses Independent clauses have a subject and
verb, and can stand alone as a sentenceShe ranHe spokeHe spoke fluent English
Dependent Clauses CANNOT stand alone as sentences,
though they will also contain a subject and verbWhen she ranAlthough he spoke fluent English
Santa Claus
How to tell the difference Independent clauses will sound complete. Dependent clauses will begin with a connecting
word, and won’t sound complete. AlthoughWhenAndBecauseAfterWhileSince
Santa Claus is a fat man in a red suit with a white beard.
Why it matters Knowing the differences between the
types of clauses will help you to identify and correct your mistakes. Some of the most common errors (run-ons and fragments) are caused by joining clauses incorrectly.
Finding and Correcting Sentence Fragments (frag)
Fragments A sentence fragment is an incomplete
sentence – a clause or a phrase—that is punctuated as if it were a sentence.
Common fragment errors:Missing a subjectMissing a verbMissing a subject and verbBeing an incomplete thought
Missing a subject Many astrophysicists now believe that
galaxies are distributed in clusters. And even form supercluster complexes.
Missing a verb Every generation has its defining
moments. Usually the events with the most news coverage.
Missing both subject and verb Researches are engaged in a variety of
studies. Suggesting a link between alcoholism and heredity.
Suggesting looks like a verb, but in this case, it is not the main action verb of the sentence
Incomplete Thought(dependent clause) Bishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the
1984 Nobel Peace Prize. Because he struggled to end apartheid.
The pH meter and the spectrophotometer are two scientific instruments. That changed the chemistry laboratory dramatically.
Correcting Sentence Fragments Attach it to an independent clause Deleting the conjunction or relative
pronoun Supply the missing subject and/or verb
Attach
President Johnson did not seek reelection. For a number of reasons.
Students sometimes take a leave of absence. To decide on definite career goals.
Delete
Property taxes rose sharply. Although city services declined.
The battery is dead. Which means the car won’t start.
Supply
In 1948, India became independent. Divided into the nations of India and Pakistan.
A familiar trademark can increase a product’s sales. Reminding shoppers that the product has a longstanding reputation.
Another trick Try adding “it is true that” in front of a
sentence that you think may be a fragment. A complete sentence will make sense; a fragment will not.
Fragment triggers Look out for the following. They almost
always trigger a sentence fragment:Beginning a sentence with “for example.”Beginning a sentence with a gerund (-ing)
form verbBeginning a sentence with a subordinating
conjunction (however, because, although)○ These are words used to set up dependent
clauses, which cannot function as sentences without the support of an independent clause.
Practice: Complete the handout I’ve given you.
You may work with a partner.
Recognizing and Correction Run-On Sentences (ro)
Two types of Run-On Sentences Run-on sentences are two complete
sentences that have been fused together with a lack of punctuation (ro).
A comma splice is a run-on sentence that uses a comma to separate two independent clauses (cs).
Fused or Run-On Sentence Charles Dickens created the character
of Mr. Micawber he also created Uriah Heep.
Comma Splice Charles Dickens created the character
of Mr. Micawber, he also created Uriah Heep.
Charles Dickens created the characters of Mr. Micawber and Uriah Heep.
Correcting Run-Ons and Comma Splices Add a period Add a semi-colon Add a coordinating conjunction Add a subordinating conjunction or
relative pronoun
Add a Period In 1894 Frenchman Alfred Dreyfus was
falsely convicted of treason his struggle for justice pitted the army against the civil libertarians.
Add a semi-colon Chippendale chairs have straight legs however,
Queen Anne chairs have curved legs.
Note: use a semi-colon as you would a period, but with two closely related ideas.
If you use a word like however (transitional word), you must precede it with a semi-colon and follow it with a comma
Add a conjunction Coordinating conjunctions = FANBOYS
Elias Howe invented the sewing machine, Julia Ward Howe was a poet and social reformer.
Subordinating Conjunction or Relative Pronoun Sub. Conj. (however, therefore, although,
because) Rel. Pronoun (that, who, which, what)
Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring shocked Parisians in 1913, its rhythms seemed erotic.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu had suffered from smallpox herself, she helped spread the practice of inoculation
Practice Please complete the handout I’ve given
you. You may work with a partner.
Your Questions
Punctuation Review
Commas and Semi-Colons
Commas Rule 1: Use a comma to separate two independent
clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.Coordinating conjunction = FANBOYS
○ For○ And○ Nor○ But○ Or○ Yet○ So
Independent clauses look like they could be sentences of their own; they contain a subject and a verb and a complete thought.
Examples You can bury your savings in the
backyard, but don’t expect Mother Nature to pay interest.
I’m going home tomorrow, and I’m never coming back.
CAUTION Do not join two sentences with a
comma. This makes a comma splice. Only use a comma between two independent clauses if they are joined by a FANBOYS.
Rule 2 Set off an introductory phrase or clause
with a commaAfter we had finished our laundry, we
discovered that one sock was missing.According to the owner of the Hall Laundry
House, customers have conflicting theories about missing laundry.
An introductory phrase or clause will not be able to stand alone as a sentence, and that’s how you can tell if it needs to be followed by a comma to join it to the rest of the sentence.
Rule 3 Set off non-essential phrases and clauses.
If the words can be taken out without changing the meaning of the sentence, put the phrase between commas.The jukebox, now reappearing in local honky-
tonks, first gained popularity during the 1920s.○ The addition of the phrase that they’re making a
comeback doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence if left out, so it goes between commas.
You can kind of think about these kind of commas as elevators that life out these phrases that give extra information without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Rule 4 Put commas around conjunctive
adverbs words like “however,” “therefore,” “consequently,” etc.She soon discovered, however, that he had
stolen her monogrammed towels in addition to her pet avocado plant.
If the conjunctive adverb is at the beginning of the sentence, the comma follows the word.
○ Therefore, she resolved to never speak to him again.
Rule 5 Use commas to separate the items in a list
or series. Julio collects coins, stamps, bottle caps, erasers,
and pocket lint. A comma before the ‘and’ at the end is
essential for clarityThis is formally known as the Oxford Comma
Strawberry, peach, coffee, vanilla and chocolate swirlStrawberry, peach, coffee, vanilla, and chocolate swirl.
4 or 5 pints?
Rule 6 Use a comma to separate adjectives of
equal emphasisShe finally moved out of her cold, dark
apartmentShe finally moved out of her cold and dark
apartment.
These commas can replace the “and” when using multiple words to describe the same noun.
Rule 7 Follow direct address with a comma.
Gentlemen, you may be seated.Students, may I have your attention please?Bitch, please.
Rule 8, 9, and 10 8: set off items in addresses and dates
He found me on February 2, 1978, when I stopped in Fairbanks, Alaska, to buy sunscreen.
9: set off degrees or titlesThe Darwin Award went to Samuel Lyle, Ph.D.
10: set off dialogue“Eat hearty,” said Marie, “because this is the
last of the food.”
Rule 11 Set off weak exclamations like “yes,”
“no,” and “well.”Yes, there will be a quiz on this material next
week.No, it will not be open book.
Rule 12 Set off interrupters or parenthetical
phrases.Jack is, I think, still a compulsive gambler.Harvey, my brother, sometimes has
breakfast with him.
This works a lot like Rule 3.
Rule 13 Reduce temptation to over use commas.
If you don’t need to pause, think about leaving it out.
Activity Working with a partner, make
corrections as necessary to the handout provided.
Semi-colons The big rule for semi-colons is that they
work like periods; each side has to be a complete sentence.
;
Rule 1 Link two closely related independent
clauses.Anthropologists believe that popcorn
originated in Mexico; they have found popcorn poppers that are over 1,500 years old.
Rule 2 When using words like “however,”
“moreover,” and “thus.”Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in
his entire life; however, in 1987 his Sunflowers sold for almost $40 million.
Rule 3 Use a semi-colon to separate details as
part of a series. Last year the Wildcats suffered enough
injuries to keep them from winning the pennant, as Jake Pritchett, third baseman, broke his arm in a fight; Hugh Rosenbloom, starting pitcher, sprained his back on a trampoline; and Boris Baker, star outfielder, ate rotten clams and nearly died.
Practice Again, working with a partner, complete
the handout of editing practice.
There will be a quiz next week.