ENGL1A Exam 3 Study Guide
Exam date: Monday, 11-16
Exam 3
• 100 points total
• Sentence errors: 50 points
– You will have to identify c-s, r-o, and frag.
• Definition paragraph: 25 points
• Evaluation paragraph: 25 points
Fixing sentence errors
• Run-on (r-o) sentence: I study at Chaffey College I
live in Santa Monica.
• Comma-splice (c-s) sentence: I study at Chaffey
College, I live in Santa Monica.
• We must join the two independent clauses properly.
• There are 4 “fixes” for these problems.
1) Make 2 sentences
• R-O: I study at Chaffey College I live in Santa Monica.
• C-S: I study at Chaffey College, I live in Santa Monica.
• Simply put a period between the two independent
clauses.
•  I study at Chaffey College. I live in Santa Monica.
2) Use a ,FANBOYS
•
•
•
•
R-O: I study at Chaffey College I live in Santa Monica.
C-S: I study at Chaffey College, I live in Santa Monica.
Use the appropriate FANBOYS.
 I study at Chaffey College, but I live in Santa
Monica.
– Here, BUT is a good choice, because it shows contrast.
3) Use a ; (semi-colon)
• R-O: I study at Chaffey College I live in Santa Monica.
• C-S: I study at Chaffey College, I live in Santa Monica.
•  I study at Chaffey College; I live in Santa Monica.
– Here, ; does not need any further help. It is used on its
own.
4) Use a ; transition,
• R-O: I study at Chaffey College I live in Santa
Monica.
• C-S: I study at Chaffey College, I live in Santa
Monica.
•  I study at Chaffey College; however, I live in Santa
Monica.
– Here, ; must be accompanied by:
• Transition word/phrase +
,
• FANBOYS are NOT appropriate for this option
Complex sentence
• You can always just turn one of the independent
clauses into a dependent clause.
• R-O: I study at Chaffey College I live in Santa
Monica.
• C-S: I study at Chaffey College, I live in Santa
Monica.
•  Although I study at Chaffey College, I live in Santa
Monica.
– This is now a complex sentence, not a compound
sentence.
Fragment
• Is an incomplete sentence.
• Because I like her.
• There is a subject + verb, but this is a dependent clause
(not a complete thought).
• For example, Kobe Bryant’s win-loss record with the
Lakers.
• Often, examples are “afterthought” fragments.
• To fix fragments:
– Add something
– Attach it to the sentence before or after.
Fragment
• To spot fragments: Cover your paper and read it
backward (from the last sentence to the first sentence).
– Reading the sentences in isolation forces you to
consider the grammar of them.
• To fix fragments:
– Add something
– Attach it to the sentence before or after.
More practice…
• Worksheets & interactive exercises:
http://www.chompchomp.com/handouts.htm
Definition & Evaluation
• Remember to make your definitional aspects
& evaluation criteria specific.
• Evaluation: You must show how the object
you’re evaluating meets the criteria you have
set.
• For this exam, your paragraphs should have
clear topic sentences and transitions showing
when you’re moving from one aspect/criterion
to the next.