Run-ons and Fragments
Despite the teams best efforts.
Identify and Fix
Fragment
Answers will vary
Ex: Despite the teams best efforts, they were unable to make it to the championships.
"Photosynthesis occurs in two main stages: the light-dependent reactions, which convert solar energy into chemical energy, and the Calvin cycle, which uses that energy to build high-energy sugars from carbon dioxide."
What is the author's purpose
to inform
What is the difference between Main idea and Central Claim?
Main Idea - what the passage is discussing
Central claim - What the passage is trying to prove
"Heavy reliance on plastic water bottles has flooded local landfills and polluted marine habitats. In response, several school districts installed filtered water-refill stations and issued reusable stainless-steel bottles to all students, cutting single-use plastic waste by 70% in one year."
Problem and Solution
Which piece of evidence BEST helps prove that writing is important?
A. "If you can write, you can tell stories."
B. "Writing is the painting of the voice; it transforms fleeting thoughts into lasting legacies."
C. "Writing allows us to express our thoughts clearly and share ideas effectively."
C. "Writing allows us to express our thoughts clearly and share ideas effectively."
After reviewing the extensive literature.
Identify and Fix
Fragment
After reviewing the extensive literature (answers will vary)
Ex: I concluded that there are many opinions on the topic
"Replacing standardized multiple-choice exams with project-based portfolios would give colleges a far clearer picture of a student's critical thinking and problem-solving abilities."
What is the author's purpose?
to persuade
"The Printing Press, invented by Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, dramatically reduced the time and cost of producing books. This sudden availability of written material accelerated the spread of literacy, fueled scientific progress during the Renaissance, and permanently altered European society."
What is the main idea?
Gutenberg’s printing press transformed European society by making books accessible and accelerating the spread of knowledge.
"When large forest areas are cleared for suburban expansion, local wildlife loses its natural shelter and food sources. Consequently, wild animals like coyotes and raccoons increasingly move into residential neighborhoods to scavenge for food, raising the rate of human-wildlife encounters."
Cause and Effect
Claim: High schools should shift start times later in the morning.
A. High school teachers consistently report that first-period attendance and participation improve when school starts later.
B. Sleep researchers and pediatricians agree that adolescent circadian rhythms naturally shift later, making early wake times biologically counterproductive to brain development.
C. My brother slept in until 10:00 AM on Saturday and felt much more energized.
B. Sleep researchers and pediatricians agree that adolescent circadian rhythms naturally shift later, making early wake times biologically counterproductive to brain development.
The professor assigned a challenging project the students felt overwhelmed by the workload.
Identify and Fix
Run-on
The professor assigned a challenging project, and the students felt overwhelmed by the workload.
"The old wooden floorboards still creaked in the exact same cadence, but the room felt vastly bigger without my brother’s scattered vinyl records and messy artwork covering the walls."
What is the TONE
nostalgic, melancholy
"Although smartphones offer constant connectivity, tech companies must be legally required to design stricter age-verification tools and default screen-time limits for minors to curb the documented rise in adolescent anxiety and sleep deprivation."
What is the central claim?
Tech companies should be legally mandated to implement stricter safeguards on smartphones to protect teenage mental health.
"E-books and physical print books both allow readers to access full-length literature anywhere. However, while e-books let users store thousands of titles on a single lightweight device with adjustable light settings, print books offer a screen-free reading experience that causes less eye strain."
Compare and Contrast
Claim: AI-powered tutoring software should be integrated into high school math classes to support differentiated instruction.
A. In a randomized controlled trial across 20 school districts, students using adaptive AI math tutors for 30 minutes daily demonstrated a full school year’s worth of additional progress in algebra compared to peers receiving standard instruction alone.
B. Math teachers who tested AI tutoring software reported that the programs helped them quickly identify which specific concepts individual students were struggling with during independent practice.
C. AI is the newest technology on the market, and modern schools need to adopt cutting-edge software if they want to stay up-to-date with current trends.
A. In a randomized controlled trial across 20 school districts, students using adaptive AI math tutors for 30 minutes daily demonstrated a full school year’s worth of additional progress in algebra compared to peers receiving standard instruction alone.
The novel explores complex themes many readers find it difficult to understand.
Identify and Fix
Run-on
The novel explores complex themes, so many readers find it difficult to understand.
"Leo attempted a dramatic spin move past the defender, only to trip over his own shoelaces and send the basketball flying gracefully into the referee's lukewarm cup of coffee."
What is the author's purpose?
to entertain
"Deep-sea hydrothermal vents exist thousands of meters below the ocean surface where sunlight cannot penetrate. Despite total darkness and immense pressure, diverse ecosystems thrive around these vents by utilizing chemosynthesis—a process where bacteria turn toxic chemicals from the earth's crust into usable energy."
What is the main idea?
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents support thriving ecosystems through chemosynthesis rather than sunlight.
Words like: consequently, as a result, leads to, stems from, and due to, likely refer to what type of passage?
Cause and Effect
Claim: Excessive social media use negatively affects teen mental health.
A. Brain imaging shows that constant social media notifications trigger unhealthy spikes in dopamine, creating compulsive usage patterns linked to clinical anxiety.
B. School counselors report a noticeable rise in student stress levels corresponding with increased daily screen time.
C. I deleted Instagram for three days last week and felt less stressed while doing homework.
A. Brain imaging shows that constant social media notifications trigger unhealthy spikes in dopamine, creating compulsive usage patterns linked to clinical anxiety.
We planned to visit the museum it was unexpectedly closed for renovations.
Identify and Fix
Run-on
We planned to visit the museum, but it was unexpectedly closed for renovations.
"If local governments do not upgrade our storm drainage systems within the next two fiscal years, even a standard Category 1 hurricane will cause irreversible flooding in over 40% of residential zones."
What is the TONE
Urgent / Informative
"While artificial intelligence tools can generate creative content in seconds, federal law must mandate clear, universal watermarking on all AI-generated media to protect election integrity, prevent fraud, and preserve public trust in digital information."
What is the central claim?
The federal government should legally require mandatory watermarks on AI-generated media to safeguard digital truth and prevent deception.
Words like: result, issue, strategy, and fix, most likely mean the article will be...
Problem and Solution
What are three aspects that can make a piece of evidence considered "strong"?
- Statistics / Proven Facts
- Scientific reason / studies
- Credible sources
(also strong/professional wording - BUT this is not always the case!)