Fragments, Run-Ons, and

Comma Splices
Powered by the Writing Center
What is a sentence?
› a group of words expressing a complete thought
› consists of:
› a subject (tells whom or what the sentence is about)
› a predicate (tells what the subject does or did)
› Examples:
› My classmates feel tired today.

subject predicate
› Working full-time while going to school is difficult.
subject predicate
What is a fragment? #1

a group of words that does not express a complete thought

because it is usually missing a subject or a predicate

Examples:
´ The prompt available in Cougar Courses. (missing verb)
´ Cared for his younger siblings. (missing subject)
What is a fragment? #2

´ a stand alone subordinate clause

´ begins with subordinate adverbs (whenever, because, since,
until, although, even if, etc.)
´ Examples:
´ Because I said so
´ Although you’re wrong
´ Since you’ve already made your mind up
´ Even though I don’t agree
´ Whenever you’re ready…
´ As soon as we finish the test.
What is a fragment? #3

Prepositional phrases:
´ By a stroke of luck…
´ In addition to being a dinosaur wrangler...

Participial phrases:
´ Women working in the computer science field...
´ Repeatedly working until midnight, (John became ill).
 Fixing sentence fragments 1
´Pull/ attach the fragment into a nearby sentence.
Examples:

On that morning I sat in my usual spot. On the old wooden chair

in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen.
On that morning I sat in my usual spot, on the old wooden chair
in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen.

Normally the bride-price consists of cattle and sheep. Because

money has little value to these isolated people.
Normally the bride-price consists of cattle and sheep because
money has little value to these isolated people.
 Fixing sentence fragments 2
´Turn the fragment into a sentence.
Examples:

The pilots ejected from the burning plane, landing in the water
not far from the ship. And immediately popped their flares and
life vests. They

Population increases and uncontrolled development are

taking a deadly toll on the environment. So that in many parts
of the world, fragile ecosystems are collapsing. In
 What is a run-on?

Fusing two sentences into one without any conjunction and

punctuation mark.
Gestures are a means of communication for everyone
they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Connecting two or more independent sentences by a
Comma
splice comma without a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or,
nor, for, so, yet).
Gestures are a means of communication for everyone,
they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Comma splices Out in the World
4 fixes for run-on sentences

fanboys
Use a comma+ a coordinating conjunction (and,
but, or, nor, for, so, yet).
Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone, but they are essential for the hearing-
impaired.
 4 fixes for run-on sentences
conjunctiveadverb

Use a semicolon (+ transitional expression)

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone; (however,) they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.
4 fixes for run-on sentences

Make the clauses into separate sentences.

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone. they are essential for the hearing-
impaired. They
4 fixes for run-on sentences

Restructure the sentence.

Gestures are a means of communication for
everyone they are essential for the hearing-
impaired.
Although gestures are a means of communication
for everyone, they are essential for the hearing-
impaired.
 RUN-ON AND FRAGMENT EXERCISE
Below are examples of the four most common kinds of sentence errors, with an abbreviation
next to each. In the practice exercises that follow, write the abbreviation that describes each
numbered group of words in the space to its left.

S = sentence Since he was feeling hungry, John cooked dinner.

F = fragment Since he was feeling hungry.
CS = comma splice John was feeling hungry, he cooked dinner.
FS = fused sentence John was feeling hungry he cooked dinner

___1. One of the most popular films of all time being King Kong a film about a giant
gorilla.

___2. Protests against immorality which became very strong by 1928.

___3. Americans will pay to cry the proverbial buckets, too, witness the success of a
tear-jerker like Love Story.

___4. Movements toward censorship and federal regulations began.

___5. In the 1970's a new kind of spectacular became popular it allowed the public to
have an almost real experience with disaster.

___6. In 1930 the movie industry adopted the Production Code, which probably saved
the industry from government control.

___ 7. Then there are the ever-popular Disney cartoons.

___ 8. Since the industry agreed to control itself from within.

___ 9. Some films like Earthquake and Midway which treated the audience to the sights
and sounds -- and the sensations of disaster.

___10. In essence the code states that movies may portray immoral conduct but may not
advocate it.

___11. Jaws, an unusually frightening film about a shark's attacking swimmers at a

popular beach area.

___12. War may not seem a likely booster for the film industry.

___13. The duel between hero and villain that dates back to the earliest western could
still hold audiences spellbound in High Noon and will doubtless reappear as long
as westerns are made.
___14. It was.

___15. Masses of Americans paid five cents to see The Great Train Robbery, the first
full-length movie, today they pay several dollars to see the latest western
adventure.

___16. When the Second World War swept the globe, people went to the movies in
greater numbers than ever before.

___17. Next came a cycle of films about juvenile delinquency, this subject was a
common newspaper headline of the mid-1950's.

___18. Partly because they had more money to spend on entertainment than they had
previously had.

___19. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest entertained its audience throughout,
nevertheless it dealt with a social issue--the treatment of mental illness.

___20. During the Second World War the movie industry had an unprecedented period
of prosperity.

■Answers
1. F 6. S 11. F 16. S

2. F 7. S 12. S 17. CS

3. CS 8. F 13. S 18. F

4. S 9. F 14. S 19. CS

5. FS 10. S 15. CS 20. S

Last Revised Fall 2016

Pocatello ISU Writing Center Idaho Falls

REND 323 Student Success Center CHE 220
208-282-4823 www.isu.edu/success/writing 2082-7925
 Answers
1. First-Person
2. Third-Person Objective
3. Second-Person
4. Third-Person Limited
5. Third-Person Limited
ELA Virtual Learning

8th Grade/ELA
Allusions
May 21, 2020
 Lesson: May 21, 2020

Objective/Learning Target:

I can identify allusions.

 LEARN

What is an Allusion?
—Definition-a reference within a work (text) to
something famous outside it, such as a well-known
person, place, event, story, or work of art, literature,
music, pop culture
 LEARN
Examples of Allusions
Some of the most common allusions are derived from the following works:

—The Bible
In this lesson, we will
focus on allusions to
mythology.
—Shakespeare

—Mythology
 WARM UP
Copy down this table on a piece of paper and use the internet to fill in the blanks.

Greek God/Goddess Roman God/Goddess Domain

king of all gods, god of

Hera's wrath weather, fate, and law

Hera

goddess of beauty and love

Pluto

god of the sea

Mars

Apollo

goddess of wisdom and

defense
 WARM UP - Answers
Greek God/Goddess Roman God/Goddess Domain

Zeus Jupiter king of all gods, god of

weather, fate, and law

Hera Juno queen of the gods, goddess

of women and marriage

Aphrodite Venus goddess of beauty and love

Hades Pluto god of the underworld

Poseidon Neptune god of the sea

Ares Mars god of war

Apollo Apollo god of prophecy, music,

poetry, and knowledge

Athena Minerva goddess of wisdom and

defense
 LEARN

Example: Greek Myth

The car was his Pegasus!
winged horse

This reference to the well-known and very powerful horse used in

the Greek Myths. This would help the reader connect the power of
the car to the power Pegasus is known for displaying
 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Read the following sentence: She was on a diet, but french
fries were her Achilles’ heel. neatness
7447 2 only
Now, do a little research to answer the following questions about the
allusion in that sentence.

Interpret: Where does it come from?

Explain: What does it mean?

 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE Suggested answer
Read the following sentence: She was on a diet, but french
fries were her Achilles’ heel.
Interpret: Where does it come from? In Greek mythology, the warrior Achilles
was made invulnerable as a baby by being dipped into the River Styx. Only his heel—the
place he was held by when being dipped—was left unprotected, which led to his downfall
when it was struck by an arrow.

Explain: What does it mean? In the sentence above, french fries are her
weakness. They cause a downfall of her diet.
 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
There are many allusions to mythology in our culture.
Copy and complete the chart. Use your Google skills to find the answers.

Brand/Title What it Names Myth or God or Goddess it alludes to

Nike .

Apollo

Midas

Venus
 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ANSWERS
Brand/Title What it Names Myth or God or Goddess it alludes to

Nike Athletic Apparel Company Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.

Apollo Famous music hall in New York Apollo was the Greek god of music.
city

Midas Muffler and Brake Shop Greek Myth: King Midas was granted one
wish by the god Dionysus. Midas asked
that everything he touched turn to gold.

Venus Brand of women’s razors Venus was the Roman Goddess of love and
beauty.
 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Read this poem about Pandora’s Box. Then read the following sentences. On
your notebook paper, write what you think the allusion to Pandora’s box
means.

❏ When I asked Jane about her problems, I didn't know I had opened Pandora's
box. You should be cautious with people who are upset. You don't want to
open Pandora's box.
❏ It seems like we've opened Pandora's box with this topic today. We've been
getting hundreds of messages from listeners from around the country who
have been affected by it.
❏ Trying to fix the bug opened a Pandora's box of other issues with the
computer.
 INDEPENDENT PRACTICE suggested answer
The phrase Pandora’s box means to begin or introduce something that leads
to many other problems. It is an allusion to the story from Greek mythology
in which Pandora opens a box containing all the possible things that can
affect humanity negatively.
 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Names in literature and film are full of allusions to mythology.

In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy had a daughter named Hermione.

Adonis Creed is named after Adonis, who was so handsome that the Greek
goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, fell in love with him.
 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cities/towns whose names are allusions to mythology:
Athena
● Athens, Georgia - Greek goddess Athena Atlas
● Atlanta, Georgia - Greek god Atlas
Paris
● Atlantic City, New Jersey - Greek god Atlas

● Aurora, Colorado - Roman goddess Aurora

● Ithaca, New York - Ithaca was the home of

Odysseus, a Trojan War hero
Mount Olympus
● Olympia, Washington - Olympus was the home
of the Greek gods/goddesses

● Paris, France - Paris was famous in Greek

mythology for stealing Helen of Troy from her
husband.