CRN 41799
CRN 41545
PROF DAVID HODGES COLLEGE COMPOSITION I FALL 2009 COMP 01.111.21
COMP 01.111.34
Sentence Workshop
T H I R D W E E K
Run-ons, Comma Splices, and Fragments
Run-ons connect independent ideas that should be separated by punctuation or transition words, or broken into more than one sentence.
Comma splices are illegal sentences too, because they use commas instead of stronger punctuation such as periods or semicolons.
Find and fix the run-ons and comma splices in the writing below using only punctuation and without rewriting or re-phrasing,

CRN 41799
CRN 41545
PROF DAVID HODGES COLLEGE COMPOSITION I
Sentence Workshop
T H I R D W E E K
Run-ons, Comma Splices, and Fragments
FALL 2009 COMP 01.111.21
COMP 01.111.34
Teachers at Stone Mountain college give higher grades than teachers at 12 of the 19 other colleges in the state system, according to a recent report from the Research Committee the report showed that more than one-third of the grades in 2007 were A’s only 1.1 percent were F’s. The percentage of A’s awarded to graduate students was even higher, almost twothirds were A’s. While students are happy to receive higher grades, the trend has negative consequences with some graduate schools indicating that the admissions offices are discounting high grades received by students because they suspect grade inflation, this means that an A from one school is not as valuable as an A from another school. Grade inflation may actually hurt graduates from Stone Mountain who want to go to graduate school they may be rejected despite their high averages some graduate schools may reject all Stone Mountain students because they can’t be certain how reliable their grades actually are. If the trend continues an A will be essentially meaningless an F won’t mean much either it may indicate that a student dropped a course or didn’t attend the classes but that greatly diminishes the value of grades if an institution of higher learning can’t be trusted to accurately evaluate the academic achievement of its students it might lose its credibility and accreditation. Students who hope to further their academic careers should not be hoping for A’s they should be hoping that the A’s they receive will actually mean something after classes end.

CRN 41799
CRN 41545
PROF DAVID HODGES COLLEGE COMPOSITION I
Sentence Workshop
T H I R D W E E K
Run-ons, Comma Splices, and Fragments
FALL 2009 COMP 01.111.21
COMP 01.111.34
Sometimes a word group is a fragment because it lacks a subject or a verb. A word group that does not express a complete thought is also a fragment.
Other times, a perfectly good independent clause accidentally becomes a fragment because the author adds a subordinator----a common transition word like because or however , or even a simple adverb like when ----that makes it dependent.
A dependent clause, unattached to an independent clause, is a fragment.
Find and fix the fragments in the writing below using only punctuation and without rewriting or re-phrasing,

CRN 41799
CRN 41545
PROF DAVID HODGES COLLEGE COMPOSITION I FALL 2009 COMP 01.111.21
COMP 01.111.34
Sentence Workshop
T H I R D W E E K
1.
Sharon was going to charge her new suit. But then decided to pay cash instead. She remembered her resolution. To cut down on her use of credit cards.
2.
We both began to tire. As we passed the halfway mark in the race. But whenever I’d hear
Reggie’s footsteps behind me. I would pump my legs faster.
3.
I have a few phobias. Such as fear of heights and fear of dogs. My nightmare is to be trapped in a hot-air balloon. With three German shepherds.
4.
Punching all the buttons on his radio in sequence. Phil kept looking for a good song. He was in the mood to cruise down the highway. And sing at the top of his voice.
5.
The alley behind our house was flat. Except for a wide groove in the center. We used to sail paper boats down the groove. Whenever it rained hard enough to create a “river.”
6.
I’ve decided to leave home. And rent an apartment. By being away from home and on my own. I will not get along any better with my parents. But I won’t have to see them much.
7.
I noticed two cartons of cigarettes. Sticking up out of my neighbor’s trash bag. I realized he had made up his mind. To give up smoking for the fifth time this year. Whenever he gets the urge to quit and I find these cigarettes in his trash. I don’t have to buy smokes for a while when that happens I’m delighted he’s going to try to get healthy again.