1. Based on your first essays, Let’s talk about the following: Run-on Sentences Comma Splices Fragments Homonyms Subject verb agreement Commas

2.  A sentence has a subject and verb  It can stand alone and make sense  Mary sneezed.  Some parts of Mexico are not safe for tourists.  Obama’s healthcare plan was immediately labeled a socialist product.  John and Mary recently divorced.  John and Mary recently divorced and remarried other people.  Before John and Mary divorced, they fought on a daily basis.  John and Mary divorced, but marriage is something they still value.

3.  If you put two sentences together, you have created a run-on sentence:  I enjoy my English class I don’t like writing essays.  If you try separating the sentences with a comma, you’ve created a comma splice.  I like my English class, I don’t like writing essays.  Here are your options:  I enjoy my English class; I don’t like writing essays.  I enjoy my English class; however, I don’t like writing essays.  I enjoy my English class, but I don’t like writing essays.  I enjoy my English class. I don’t like writing essays.

4. Writing a fragment Writing a fragment is a serious misstep Writing a fragment tells the reader that you have not mastered writing sentences Let’s discuss why…

5.  Just like the dictionary definition of fragment says, it is just a piece of something; a piece of a whole.  Writing only a piece of a sentence is going to confuse your reader.  The performance presented by the actors in “Facing the Rain.”  What is missing?  Both the subject and verb are missing!  I really enjoyed the performance by the actors in “Facing the Rain.”  Each actor had.  What’s missing?  Information!  What did each actor have?  Each actor had a compelling story to tell.  Let’s practice.

6. Here’s how students tend to make fragments: They are writing their sentence and finish It too quickly with a period. Then they finish the thought in the next sentence. Example: there are three main types of college drinkers. The social, casual, and binge drinker. Which sentence above is a fragment?

7.  Homonyms are words that sound alike but are spelled differently:  There, They’re, Their  Your, You’re  It’s, Its  Effect, Affect  Whether, Weather  Loose, Lose  Than, Then  Quite, Quiet  Accept, Except  Let’s practice

8. A SINGULAR SUBJECT MUST HAVE A SINGULAR VERB A PLURAL SUBJECT MUST HAVE A PLURAL VERB  John writes in his journal everyday.  Also note: singular pronoun must be used.  Everyone uses his or her favorite deodorant after a shower.  Note: singular pronoun is used.  John and Mary write in their journals everyday.  Also note: plural pronoun must be used.  Most people use their favorite deodorant after a shower.  Note: plural pronoun is used

9.  If you said the comma, you are right!  Here are the basic rules for comma usage:  Separates two sentences using a coordinating conjunction  I enjoy my English class, but I don’t like writing essays.  Separate items in a list  The various types of college drinkers are the social drinkers, the partiers, and the binge drinkers.

10.  Sets off a dependent clause added to the beginning of an independent clause:  Even though it is Monday, I’m still glad to be at work!  Because you are my friend, I am going to lend you $100.  Allows an interruption in a sentence:  Gloria, my mother-in-law, is going to babysit my son.  But let’s go back to the other column:  I’m still glad to be at work even though it is Monday.  I am going to lend you $100 because you are my friend.