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 swirl

Strawberry, 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 datesHe 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.