what is a run-on? 11/27/2012 fused sentences, lack of end marks, lack of punctuation, stringy...

What is a run-on?11/27/2012

• Fused sentences, lack of end marks, lack of punctuation, stringy sentences, “and-then-it is” (strings of ‘and then’ in place of periods.


Something that makes me happy is my friend Destiny she doesn’t try to act all cool she is just goofy like when she dances she doesn’t care about what anybody says and she just twirls and laughs and doesn’t worry so she is a lot of fun to hang out with because she makes me laugh and we can go to Ingram Park and walk around she is not shy so we always get to meet people.

Dependent v. Independent clauses

• Independent: subject and verb; a complete thought

• Dependent: cannot stand on their own; not a complete thought

Dependent or Independent?11/27/2012

They handle the BB gun carelessly.


Trading it back and forth

• A dependent clause cannot stand alone. It can LEAN on an independent clause.

• You can attach dependent clauses onto independent clauses in your sentences, but using COMMAS.

Full picture (dep & ind together)11/27/2012

They handle the BB gun carelessly, tradi

ng it back and forth, each slinging the barrel over his shoulder like a hunter in a frontier television show.

Jim Grimsley, Winter Birds

Commas clarify!

• Commas do the job of SEPARATING and JOINING clauses, making a very clear picture.

11/27/2012

They are shouting your name asking if dinner is ready yet.

11/27/2012

They are shouting your name, asking if dinner is ready yet.


And Furlough found his brother in the library standing on top of the great open book his tail wrapped tightly around his feet his small body shivering.


And Furlough found his brother in the library, standing on top of the great open book, his tail wrapped tightly around his feet, his small body shivering.


Abraham was growing fast shooting up like a sunflower a spindly youngster with big boney hands unruly black hair a dark complexion and luminous grey eyes.


Abraham was growing fast, shooting up like a sunflower, a spindly youngster with big boney hands, unruly black hair, a dark complexion, and luminous grey eyes.


She stands there staring at the lake knowing that her dad is gone forever.


She stands there, staring at the lake, knowing that her dad is gone forever.

Is your modifier dangling?12/4/2012

Jumping up and down, the lamp broke.


Jumping up and down, my brother knocked over the lamp.


Yoko Ono will talk about her husband, John Lennon, who was killed in an interview with Barbara Walters.


In an interview with Barbara Walters, Yoko Ono will talk about her husband, John Lennon, who was killed.


Barking like a burglar was breaking in, I checked on the dog.

The dog approached me.


Barking furiously, Cujo gave chase. Cujo trailed at Brett’s heels, looking hot and dispirited. Cujo stood at the end of the lawn, his great head lowered, his eyes reddish and filmy, growling.

- Stephen King, Cujo


The dog stood up like a lion, stiff-standing hackles, teeth uncovered as he lashed up his fury for the charge.

- Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

Revision12/1/2012

• Things to read for:– Characters do you have a sense of what

the characters are like?– Setting– Plot – Problem/solution– VOICE? Where is the ENERGY?

– Write constructive feedback for your classmate – only comments that will help their work.

• My neighbor said she wanted to ask me for a small favor. Little did I know what was in store for me when I agreed to feed her cat. After my neighbor left on her trip, I walked across the street to her house. Once I got inside the house, I was overwhelmed by the stench of cat urine. I looked around the house and couldn’t believe what I saw. My eyes fell on two salad dressing containers sitting on a talbe beside the couch, which was completely covered with dirty laundry, except for this one worn area by the table. The volume on the TV was turned up all the way. In disbelief and despite my better judgement, I walked toward the restroom. Around the base of the tub, I saw these red velvety mushrooms coming up between the tub and tile floor. This filth was beyond anything I’ve ever seen in my life. Within two minutes, the cat was fed and I was out of there. Since she returned from her trip, I have never been available to watch her cat again.

• My neighbor said she wanted to ask me for a small favor. Little did I know what was in store for me when I agreed to feed her cat. After my neighbor left on her trip, I walked across the street to her house. Once I got inside the house, I was overwhelmed by the stench of cat urine. I looked around the house and couldn’t believe what I saw. My eyes fell on two salad dressing containers sitting on a table beside the couch, which was completely covered with dirty laundry, except for this one worn area by the table. The volume on the TV was turned up all the way. In disbelief and despite my better judgement, I walked toward the restroom. Around the base of the tub, I saw these red velvety mushrooms coming up between the tub and tile floor. This filth was beyond anything I’ve ever seen in my life. Within two minutes, the cat was fed and I was out of there. Since she returned from her trip, I have never been available to watch her cat again.

How important are prepositions?12/12/2012

• Hold on, what IS a preposition???

• A preposition shows the relationship between a noun and other words in a sentence

• “all the places a cat can go” --- above, around, behind, beneath, in, toward, outside, over, under, with

• Take the teasing comb and back-comb all your until it looks like an electrified Persian cat. To tease your hair, grab a small section and hold it up by the end. Comb downward with the teasing comb in short fast strokes until it gets tangled at the bottom. Pull the teased hair up and out to achieve maximum altitude. Liberally apply the hair spray to hold the teased hair in place. If you can still see the walls, you haven’t sprayed enough. Spray more. All these styles must be taken care of while you sleep. Some women use the beehive hairnet; others use feather pillows to sleep upon; while still others sleep upright in the La-Z-Boy. Your mileage may vary. Just be careful not to put anyone’s eye out.

• Take the teasing comb and back-comb all your hair. To tease your hair, grab a small section and hold it. Comb downward. Pull the teased hair. Liberally apply the hair spray. If you can still see the walls, you haven’t sprayed enough. Spray more. All these styles must be taken care of while you sleep. Some women use the beehive hairnet; others use feather pillows to sleep upon; while still others sleep upright in the La-Z-Boy. Your mileage may vary. Just be careful not to put anyone’s eye out.

What is a prepositional phrase?Preposition + noun

• Look at the list of prepositions

• When you use a preposition with a noun, it’s called a prepositional phrase!

Copy the following sentences. Underline the preposition. Draw

parentheses around the prep. phrases.

• You can see people from many places.

• New York City has a zoo in a large park.

• The arch in St. Louis rises into the sky.

• President Lincoln sits on a huge chair.

O, I or C?

• His voice cracked but triumphant, shattered the dead air.

• He was awake, jerked suddenly into consciousness in the black stillness of the night.

what is a run-on? 11/27/2012 fused sentences, lack of end marks, lack of punctuation, stringy...

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