Comma Splices

Notes	Expectations
	¨     use a period and commas accurately with quotation marks; ¨     use the comma to separate an introductory phrase or clause from the main part of the sentence, and to separate phrases and clauses in a series;

Materials

Comma Splices Concept Attainment Overhead, Overhead projector, chalk, chalkboard

 

Method

¨     Do a warm up concept attainment: “I’m going on vacation and you can come with me”

¨     Comma Splices Concept Attainment

¨     Board Note:

Definition: Comma splices join two complete sentences with a comma.

How to correct a comma splice

1. Separate the two main ideas with a period
2. Separate the two main ideas with a semi-colon
3. Separate the two main ideas with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet àfanboys is the acronym
4. separate the two main ideas with a subordinating conjunction (after, although, before, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until, when, while)
5. Replace the comma with a semi-colon and transitional word

¨     Hand out comma splice worksheet

¨     Take up and collect

 

Assessment

Worksheet

 

IEP

Write 5 comma splices rather than 10, work with partner

 

Focus Statement: The following are examples of sentences. The “Yes” Examples are good examples of sentences. The “No” Examples are bad examples of sentences called comma splices. I want you to focus on the structure of the sentence to determine what makes the no examples nos and the yes examples yeses.

Comma Splices

Testers:

1.    The Titanic continues to draw big crowds, I really want to see it.

2.    The Sandia Mountains are east of Albuquerque. They rise 10,000 feet above sea level.

3.    My parents can’t make it this weekend, they have other plans.

4.    He agreed to do the job for awhile, he hoped they would soon find another manager.

5.    John went to a movie today, and he said it was a poor show.

 

Extension:

Write 10 comma splices and correct them.

Comma Splices

Correct the following comma splices:

The following paragraphs have comma splice errors. Revise the paragraphs, correctly punctuating between sentences. Try to use all the different methods of correction.

 

 

My friend Sonny has a knack for getting in and out of trouble, the weekend he married Martha was no exception. On Friday, he got lost on the way to the wedding rehearsal, and he was an hour late. When he finally got there, his bride’s family glared at him they didn’t say a word to him, however, we could hear them talking among themselves. Afterwards, though, he surprised them all with a scrapbook he had made for Martha’s parents. Everyone was delighted, they forgot all about him showing up late. On

Saturday, the wedding day, he realized that he had lost his wallet, it had all the honeymoon arrangements in it. He searched everywhere for it, but he couldn’t find it anywhere. On the way to the wedding, he was sweating, I thought he was going to be sick. Sonny made it through the ceremony, unfortunately, he looked very nervous in the receiving line because he knew that he had to tell Martha soon that they couldn’t go on the planned honeymoon. As the line almost ended, one of Martha’s distant uncles handed

Sonny the lost wallet. Sonny had lost it during the rehearsal, and the uncle found it during the wedding. Sonny had escaped trouble once again, this time he was off to the Caribbean.

 

Elizabeth and John had been looking forward to summer vacation. Elizabeth was planning to go to Virginia Beach for a month, John intended to tag along to make her life miserable. While Elizabeth was excited about going to Virginia Beach, she was not excited about John accompanying her, monitoring every move she made. She knew that John was romantically interested in her, however, Elizabeth did not want to be tied down while cruising the beach for hunks. Hoping to escape John, Elizabeth caught the midnight flight out of Youngstown, unfortunately for Elizabeth, John was not fooled so easily. Somehow he discovered her flight plan and triumphantly greeted her as she arrived in Norfolk. Needless to say, John thoroughly enjoyed his vacation at Virginia Beach, Elizabeth did not. In a fit of desperation and with no thought for her future as manager at Burger King, Elizabeth enlisted in the US Navy, she was assigned to the U.S.S. Nautilus and was never heard from again.

COMMA SPLICE

DIRECTIONS: In the following exercise, indicate whether an item is a comma splice (CS) or is correct (C).
 
1. One of the most interesting plants is the cactus, for it is able to live without water for years. ________

2. The average woman does not find it hard to get a job, instead she finds it hard to get a promotion.  ________

3. The time you spend in traffic court is not actually very long, but it seems like a long time.  ________

4. I never did any studying in high school; as a matter of fact, I never even took a book home with me.  ________

5. One of my problems is spelling, the other one is writing legibly.  ________

6. This is not actually a real diamond, it is only a good imitation.  ________

7. Cassette recorders are not merely toys; they are also very effective learning tools.  ________

8. The tires on this bike are in good condition, furthermore, the chrome is clean.  ________

9. Compared with others on the team, Janet has remarkable stamina.  ________

10. The collar on this shirt is small, therefore, this shirt will not fit a person with a large neck.  ________

11. Even after the car was tuned, it still was difficult to start in the mornings.  ________

12. The trail was steep and very rocky, nevertheless, every one of the hikers reached the top.  ________

13. Our neighbors are all trustworthy people, the kind you want your children to associate with.  ________

14. The dog walked around the garage, looking for the cat.  ________

15. Jill didn't really want to visit me, all she wanted was to borrow money.  ________

COMMA SPLICE Answer Key

DIRECTIONS: In the following exercise, indicate whether an item is a comma splice (CS) or is correct (C).
 
1. One of the most interesting plants is the cactus, for it is able to live without water for years. __C__

2. The average woman does not find it hard to get a job, instead she finds it hard to get a promotion.  _____CS___

3. The time you spend in traffic court is not actually very long, but it seems like a long time.  ___C_____

4. I never did any studying in high school; as a matter of fact, I never even took a book home with me.  ____C____

5. One of my problems is spelling, the other one is writing legibly.  ___CS_____

6. This is not actually a real diamond, it is only a good imitation.  ____CS____

7. Cassette recorders are not merely toys; they are also very effective learning tools.  ____C____

8. The tires on this bike are in good condition, furthermore, the chrome is clean.  ____CS____

9. Compared with others on the team, Janet has remarkable stamina.  ____C____

10. The collar on this shirt is small, therefore, this shirt will not fit a person with a large neck.  ___CS___

11. Even after the car was tuned, it still was difficult to start in the mornings.  ___C_____

12. The trail was steep and very rocky, nevertheless, every one of the hikers reached the top.  ____CS___

13. Our neighbors are all trustworthy people, the kind you want your children to associate with.  ___C__

14. The dog walked around the garage, looking for the cat.  ____C____

15. Jill didn't really want to visit me, all she wanted was to borrow money.  ____CS____