1. THE SENTENCE The basic building block of communication

2. A SENTENCE MUST EXPRESS A COMPLETE THOUGHT. Every sentence has two essential parts: a subject and a predicate. Example: My favorite ballerina/ danced the Swan Queen. SubjectPredicate

3. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: A GROUP OF WORDS THAT CAN STAND ALONE AS A SENTENCE. Example: Unfortunately, my father does not get a vacation this year.

4. DEPENDENT CLAUSE: CONTAINS A SUBJECT AND A PREDICATE, BUT CANNOT STAND ALONE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A COMPLETE THOUGHT Examples: Since I was sick While I was sleeping A dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction.

5. SENTENCES REQUIRE APPROPRIATE PUNCTUATION Sentence fragments, run-ons, and comma splices detract from a reader’s ability to understand the writing.

6. A FRAGMENT IS PUNCTUATED AS A SENTENCE BUT IS NOT A COMPLETE THOUGHT. Example: Including W.B. Travis and Davy Crockett. When he can get the ball near enough to the plate.

7. TO DETECT A FRAGMENT, READ EACH SENTENCE OUT LOUD. 1. Check for a subject and verb. 2. Check that the group of words make a complete thought.

8. THE SIMPLEST WAY TO CORRECT A FRAGMENT IS TO JOIN IT TO THE SENTENCE FROM WHICH IT HAS BEEN SEPARATED. Example: The Tigers were expecting to be invited to the Rose Bowl. Until they lost three straight games. Corrected: The Tigers were expecting to be invited to the Rose Bowl until they lost three straight games.

9. A RUN-ON SENTENCE CONSISTS OF TWO OR MORE SENTENCES SEPARATED BY NO MARK OF PUNCTUATION. Example: Finally, the supplies were delivered the settlers rejoiced.

10. A COMMA SPLICE SEPARATES TWO SENTENCES WITH ONLY A COMMA. Example: The police were called, they sped to the scene of the crime. Corrected: The police were called, and they sped to the scene of the crime.

11. TO CORRECT A RUN-ON OR COMMA SPLICE 1. MAKE 2 SENTENCES 2. USE A SEMI-COLON 3. USE A DEPENDENT CLAUSE AND A INDEPENDENT CLAUSE 4. USE A COMMA AND A CONJUNCTION.

12.  Example:  The stars, as well as the planets, are in motion, some of them move rapidly.  Corrected:  The stars, as well as the planets, are in motion. Some of them move rapidly.  The stars, as well as the planets, are in motion, and some of them move rapidly.  The stars, as well as the planets, are in motion; some of them move rapidly.  While the stars, as well as the planets, are in motion, some of them move rapidly.

13. PRACTICE #1 Directions: Correct the following sentences. Then write a sentence using a semicolon correctly. The stars, as well as the planets, are in motion, some of them move rapidly. We do not see the stars move they are so far away that they seem to be motionless.

14. PRACTICE #2 Directions: Correct the following sentences. Then write two sentences that have connected ideas. Pluto is far from the earth, a large telescope is needed to see it. Mars is a desert of reddish rock, sand, and soil it is called the red planet. Mars has some vegetation, an area of vegetation the size of Texas has developed on the planet in a few years’ time.