MITS Unit 5 Lesson

Mechanics Instruction

That Works (MITS)

Simple Warm Ups to Improve Student Writing

By Doug Stark

Unit Five

Unit 5- Compound Sentences

An independent clause is a clause containing a subject, a verb, and a
complete thought. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE by itself:

Steve excels in the classroom.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE as part of a sentence:

Because he studies regularly, Steve excels in the classroom.

TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined in a compound sentence:

Steve is not a great athlete, but he excels in the classroom.

FANBOYS is an acronym representing the seven coordinating
conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). You can use a comma +
one of the FANBOYS to join two sentences together.

• I'd love to go to the dance with you, but I'm going to be in Colorado.

• Joe will be on time tomorrow, or he will be fired.

A SEMICOLON can also be used to join two sentences. You can use
the semicolon by itself, or you can use the semicolon with a transition.

The editor puts together the newsletter; the publisher distributes it.

I'd love to go to the dance with you; unfortunately, I'm going to be in
Colorado.

5.1

Activating Background Knowledge

An independent clause contains a ______________, a ___________, and a complete _____________.

An independent clause can stand alone as a simple sentence, or it can act as a part of a sentence.

SIMPLE SENTENCE: Steve excels in the classroom.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE as part of a sentence:
Because he studies regularly, Steve excels in the classroom.

TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined in a compound sentence:
* Steve is not a great athlete, but he excels in the classroom.
* Steve is not a great athlete; however, he excels in the classroom.

You can create a compound sentence by joining two
independent clauses using a comma and one of the fanboys.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Model Sentence:
The embarrassment of receiving negative feedback might force some students to aspire for better grades, yet it might cause others to shut down and drop out.

FOR
AND
NOR
BUT
OR
YET
SO

Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ; INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Model Sentence:

Dress codes are either extremely vague or mind-bogglingly detailed;

they force school administrators to make ridiculous judgments on a

daily basis.

5.2

Activating Background Knowledge

An independent clause contains a ______________, a ___________, and a complete _____________.

An independent clause can stand alone as a simple sentence, or it can act as a part of a sentence.

SIMPLE SENTENCE: Steve excels in the classroom.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE as part of a sentence:
Because he studies regularly, Steve excels in the classroom.

TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined in a compound sentence:
* Steve is not a great athlete, but he excels in the classroom.
* Steve is not a great athlete; however, he excels in the classroom.

Use a semicolon and a transition to join two independent
clauses.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ; INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Model Sentence:

The coach wanted to draft a left tackle; however, the general

manager chose a wide receiver.

Transitions

therefore
however

nevertheless

hence
thus

consequently
accordingly
unfortunately

otherwise
similarly

5.3

Activating Background Knowledge

An independent clause contains a ______________, a ___________, and a

complete _____________.

An independent clause can stand alone as a simple sentence, or it can act as a part of a sentence.

SIMPLE SENTENCE: Steve excels in the classroom.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE as part of a sentence:
Because he studies regularly, Steve excels in the classroom.

TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined in a compound sentence:
* Steve is not a great athlete, but he excels in the classroom.

* Steve is not a great athlete; however, he excels in the classroom.

Comma + fanboys (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

You can create a compound sentence by joining two independent clauses using a comma and one of the fanboys.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ; , INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Model Sentence:
I'm not saying that having good grades isn't important, but I do believe

this law is unfair because it incorrectly links academic ability to driving

ability.

FOR
AND
NOR
BUT
OR
YET
SO

Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE; INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

Model Sentence:

Maybe it's the school's fault for not having stricter rules; maybe it's the

student's fault for failing to abide by the rules that are in place.

5.4

Activating Background Knowledge

An independent clause contains a ______________, a ___________, and a complete _____________.

An independent clause can stand alone as a simple sentence, or it can act as a part of a sentence.

SIMPLE SENTENCE: Steve excels in the classroom.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE as part of a sentence:
Because he studies regularly, Steve excels in the classroom.

TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined in a compound sentence:
* Steve is not a great athlete, but he excels in the classroom.
* Steve is not a great athlete; however, he excels in the classroom.

DIRECTIONS: Put brackets around the independent clauses in
the following compound sentences. Complete the sample
sentence with your teacher.

SAMPLE:

1.

2.