It’s not just about pausing.

 Compound sentence = two independent clauses are joined by a comma + coordinating conjunction (cc)  Formula: ◦ Compound sentence = I +, + cc + I +.  Example:  I love to dance, so I enrolled in a jazz class.

 Series = a list of 3 or more words, phrases, or clauses  All items in a series should be separated by commas  Formula: ◦ Series = Item +, + Item +, + cc + Item  Examples:  I met the principal, the secretary and the custodian.  I went to the market, Joel went to the shoe store, and Francine went to the hospital.

 Use commas to separate adjectives of equal rank ◦ The tired, hungry hikers straggled into camp. ◦ The hungry, tired hikers straggled into camp.  Do not use commas to separate adjectives if they must go in a specific order.  Several tired hikers straggled into camp.  NOT: Tired several hikers straggled into camp.

 Types of introductory words: ◦ Interjections ◦ Names  Types of introductory phrases ◦ Prepositional phrase ◦ Participial phrase ◦ Infinitive phrase  Examples of introductory words:  Boy, those socks smell bad!  Sarah, do you love me?  Examples of introductory phrases:  In the front of the bus, the teacher took a nap.  Lying all about, the seals were awfully lazy.  To be perfectly honest, I don’t like grammar

 A noun of direct address  An appositive phrase  Some adverbs  Common expressions  A non-essential dependent clause  Example of noun of direct address ◦ What do you think, Hank?  Example of an appositive phrase ◦ Hank, the cow-dog, loved to take long naps.  Example of an interrupting adverb  Hank, therefore, had to work long afternoons on the trail.  Example of a common expression ◦ Hank, in fact, loved to nap.  Example of a non-essential dependent clause ◦ Hank, who loves to sleep in the sun, worked long afternoons on the trail.

 Dates  Geographical names  Addresses  Letter parts  Numbers  Quotations  Example date ◦ Thursday, October 21, 2010, was the day that I edited this PowerPoint.  Geographical name ◦ McKinney, Texas, USA, was where this PowerPoint was made.  Address ◦ To be specific, Scoggins Middle School at 7070 Stacy Road, McKinney, TX 75070, was where this was made.  Letter parts ◦ Dearest students, ◦ Love, Mrs. Wiseman  Numbers ◦ 1,304,213 minutes went into becoming amazing.  Quotations ◦ “I hope,” said the student, “that the test is easy.”