Comma Rules
You need at least this many items in a row to use list commas
Three
True or False: Dashes create bigger/more dramatic pause than commas
True
This acronym stands for Claim, Evidence, Reasoning
CER
True or False: "The cat sat on the mat." is a sentence with lots of detail.
False
This acronym helps you remember the 7 conjunctions that can join two full sentences with a comma
FANBOYS
Are dashes used correctly here? "My — favorite subject is math."
No — a dash shouldn't split up a sentence for no reason; it needs to set off extra info or add emphasis, not just appear mid-phrase
In CER, this part means finding the exact line in the text that supports your claim
Which "bun" of the hamburger paragraph is missing here? "I love summer because it's warm and fun. First, I get to swim every day. Second, there's no homework."
The bottom bun (closing sentence) — the paragraph never wraps up
True or False: Commas can be placed around unnecessary information
True
How many dashes are needed to interrupt a sentence with a side thought
Two
"Jamal kept checking his phone, tapping his foot, and glancing at the door every few seconds." What can you infer about Jamal, and what two clues support it?
He's anxious/nervous or impatiently waiting for someone — clues: checking phone, tapping foot, glancing at the door
Fix this closing sentence so it's a real wrap-up, not just a copy: "My favorite season is autumn. Autumn is my favorite season."
Restate it in a NEW way — e.g., "Overall, autumn will always be my favorite time of year!"
Where does the comma go (if anywhere)? "My dog Biscuit who is a golden retriever loves to swim."
"My dog Biscuit, who is a golden retriever, loves to swim." — commas go around "who is a golden retriever"
Are dashes used correctly here? "I only need one thing — my keys."
need one thing — my keys."Yes — the dash correctly adds an important detail at the end of the sentence
"Marcus was meticulous about his homework — unlike his sister, who scribbled her answers in two minutes." What type of context clue is this, and what does "meticulous" mean?
Contrast clue (signaled by "unlike") — meticulous means careful/detail-oriented
This sentence is "showing," not "telling" — what feeling does it show, and what would the "telling" version say instead? "His face turned red and he stomped his feet."
It shows anger — the "telling" version would just say "He was angry."
Where does the comma go (if anywhere)? "The game was tied 21 to 21 so the coach called a timeout to talk strategy with the team."
"The game was tied 21 to 21, so the coach called a timeout to talk strategy with the team." — comma goes before "so
True or False: You have to use two dashes to add a surprising detail at the end of a sentence,
False: You can use a single dash to add a surprising detail at the END of a sentence, but you need two dashes if the interruption is in the MIDDLE.
Passage: "Lily practiced piano for three hours a day. She entered every competition she could find and asked her teacher for extra lessons." What's the main idea, and what's just a detail?
Main idea: Lily is extremely dedicated to piano; Detail: she practices three hours a day (a detail supports the bigger point, it isn't the point itself)
Put these four sentences in the correct hamburger order: (1) "Also, they help me relax." (2) "Overall, reading is my favorite hobby." (3) "Reading is my favorite hobby." (4) "First of all, books take me on adventures."
Order: 3, 4, 1, 2 (topic sentence → detail → detail → closing sentence)