Compound or Complex?
What does FANBOYS stand for?
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Fragment or complete sentence? “Because Maya wanted to attend the dance.”
Fragment
What is the purpose of evidence?
To prove or support an answer, inference or claim
What three things belong in a strong thesis?
A clear position and two different reasons
Identify the technique: “The classroom was as quiet as a library.”
Simile
Identify the sentence: “Although Maya was nervous, she approached Papa.”
Complex sentence
Name the error: “Maya felt nervous she continued speaking.”
Run-on Sentence
Claim: “Devin was nervous.” Which evidence is stronger: “Devin entered the room” or “Devin’s hands trembled as he reached for the microphone”?
His hands trembled.
Which is the stronger reason for allowing phones during lunch: “Phones are cool” or “Students could contact their families”?
Students could contact their families.
Identify the technique: “My backpack is a brick.”
Metaphor
Add the missing punctuation: “Maya wanted to attend the dance but she feared Papa’s reaction.”
Maya wanted to attend the dance, but she feared Papa’s reaction.
Repair the comma splice: “Papa looked angry, Maya became frightened.”
Papa looked angry, so Maya became frightened. / Papa looked angry. Maya became frightened.
“Nia reread the directions twice and checked every answer before submitting.” What can you infer about Nia?
She is careful, responsible or determined to succeed.
What is missing? “Schools should offer longer lunch periods. Students need time to eat.”
Explanation showing how more time benefits students
Identify and explain: “The alarm clock screamed at me.”
Personification; it emphasizes how loud and unpleasant the alarm sounds.
Why is this complex instead of compound? “Maya relaxed when Papa began to smile.”
"When Papa began to smile” is dependent and cannot stand alone.
Explain why “When Papa entered the room” is a fragment, then repair it.
It has a subject and verb but does not finish the thought. Example: “When Papa entered the room, Maya became quiet.”
A student claims the setting feels dangerous. Which evidence is stronger: “It was nighttime” or “Broken glass covered the floor while footsteps echoed upstairs”? Explain.
The second because it gives specific details that create danger and uncertainty
Which evidence better supports the claim that students need more recess: a student saying recess is fun, or research showing movement improves concentration? Explain.
The research because it directly connects movement to improved learning and concentration.
What does the metaphor reveal? “A wall grew between the two friends.”
Their relationship became distant, uncomfortable or disconnected.
Create a complex sentence beginning with a dependent clause. Explain why it needs a comma.
Answers may vary.
Correct both errors: “Maya wanted to explain. Because she hoped Papa would understand, he looked angry she became silent.”
“Maya wanted to explain because she hoped Papa would understand. He looked angry, so she became silent.”
Claim: “Malik’s feelings changed from confident to uncertain.” Evidence: “At first, Malik volunteered immediately. Later, he erased his answer three times and avoided looking at the teacher.” Explain how the evidence proves the claim.
Volunteering immediately shows confidence, while repeatedly erasing and avoiding eye contact reveal doubt or uncertainty.
A student’s thesis says:
“School uniforms are good because they are good and students should wear them.”
Rewrite it into a strong thesis containing:
Schools should require uniforms because they can reduce distractions and create a stronger sense of school community.
Analyze both techniques: “The wind slapped the windows like an angry hand.”
“Slapped” personifies the wind, and “like an angry hand” is a simile. Together, they make the storm seem violent and threatening.