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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 IndependentIndependent
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 (orWhat do we have if there is no (or
the wrong) punctuation connectingthe 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 CoordinatingWhat 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 aExample 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

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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 aIs 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 TOLIST 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.