English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Identify run-on sentences
Identify run-on sentences
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 8 out of 10 homophone pairs correctly from a list.
- Explain the difference between two given homophones using a complete sentence, demonstrating understanding of their different meanings.
- Choose the correct homophone to complete a sentence with 80% accuracy in a fill-in-the-blank activity.
- Create two original sentences, each using a different homophone from a given pair (e.g., 'there' and 'their'), demonstrating their correct usage in context.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define a run-on sentence and differentiate between its two primary types: fused sentences and comma splices.
Accurately identify the independent clauses within complex and compound sentences.
Analyze sentences to determine if independent clauses are joined correctly using appropriate punctuation and conjunctions.
Distinguish between a grammatically correct long sentence and a run-on sentence.
Evaluate their own analytical writing for run-on errors that impede clarity and sophistication.
Justify their identification of a run-on sentence by referencing specific grammatical rules.
Apply the 'Two Independent Clause Test' to diagnose sentence boundary errors in AP-style prompts and literary analysis.
Ever read a sentence that feels like a breathles...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Independent ClauseA group of words containing a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.In 'The Crucible,' Abigail Williams manipulates the court.
Run-On SentenceA sentence error that occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined improperly.The American Dream is a central theme in the novel the characters' pursuits are ultimately futile.
Fused SentenceA type of run-on where two or more independent clauses are joined with no punctuation or coordinating conjunction between them.Huck Finn seeks freedom he journeys down the Mississippi River.
Comma SpliceA type of run-on where two or more independent clauses are joined only by a comma.Walt Whitman's poetry celebrates individualism, his style was...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Two Independent Clause Test
If a sentence contains two or more independent clauses, they must be separated by either: 1) a period, 2) a semicolon, or 3) a comma followed by a FANBOYS conjunction.
Use this as your primary diagnostic tool. Find the subject and verb for the first complete thought, then see if another complete thought follows. If the connection between them doesn't meet one of the three criteria, it's a run-on.
The Comma's Limit
A comma by itself is not strong enough to connect two independent clauses.
This rule specifically helps you identify comma splices. When you see a comma between two parts of a sentence that could each stand alone, check for a FANBOYS conjunction immediately after it. If it's missing, you've found a comma spli...
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Challenging
Analyze the following sentence: 'The character felt immense guilt, a burden he carried for the rest of his life.' Why is this sentence NOT a comma splice?
A.Because the two parts are too closely related in meaning to be separated.
B.Because the sentence uses a comma correctly to set off a concluding thought.
C.Because the second part, 'a burden he carried for the rest of his life,' is an appositive phrase, not an independent clause.
D.Because short sentences like this are rarely considered run-ons.
Challenging
Of the following complex sentences analyzing a literary theme, which one is a run-on sentence?
A.While the protagonist believes he is in control of his destiny, his actions are ultimately dictated by societal pressures, a conflict that drives the narrative.
B.The novel explores the illusion of free will the characters make choices that seem their own, yet they are trapped by circumstances.
C.The author suggests that true freedom is impossible, a bleak message that is reinforced by the story's tragic conclusion.
D.Although the characters strive for autonomy, they are ultimately constrained by the rigid social structures of their era.
Challenging
A student writes a fused sentence using a conjunctive adverb: 'The setting is a character in itself therefore its description is rich with symbolic meaning.' What is the most effective and sophisticated way to revise this sentence?
A.The setting is a character in itself, so its description is rich with symbolic meaning.
B.The setting is a character in itself. Therefore its description is rich with symbolic meaning.
C.The setting is a character in itself, therefore, its description is rich with symbolic meaning.
D.The setting is a character in itself; therefore, its description is rich with symbolic meaning.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Identify run-on sentences"?
Identify run-on sentences is a Grade 11 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Identify run-on sentences?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 8 out of 10 homophone pairs correctly from a list; Explain the difference between two given homophones using a complete sentence, demonstrating understanding of their different meanings; Choose the correct….
Is "Identify run-on sentences" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Identify run-on sentences?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.