Connectors

 When you begin the sentence with the subordinating conjunction and the dependent clause, use a comma after the dependent clause 

 Although I wrote for ten hours, I didn't finish my composition.

When you use the subordinating conjunction in the middle of the sentence and the dependent clause at the end, don't use a comma after the first (independent) clause.

 I didn't finish my composition although I wrote for ten hours.

 These conjunctions can be used to join two independent clauses, so they come in the middle of a sentence rather than the beginning.

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it is being used to join two independent clauses.

I was tired, so I went to bed.

The coordinating conjunctions and and or can be used to join two nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. In these cases, don't use a comma before the conjunction.

This research examined the practices of summer sites serving migrant students. Our results indicate that there is great variance among the sites. _________ guidance and training originate from the central office at the Department of Education and Learning, the leaders of each site decide what to do with this information. Some sites that are in close proximity act cooperatively, ________ by sharing resources or by coordinating activities. Other sites draw mainly from internal resources _________ looking for help from the immediate community. ________ there are resources available at the federal level, few respondents seemed aware of them.