English Language Arts
Grade 2
15 min
Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons
Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons
What you'll learn
- Identify fragments and run-on sentences in a variety of complex sentence structures with 80% accuracy.
- Apply correct punctuation (periods, commas, semicolons, colons, dashes) to revise 3 out of 4 identified fragments and run-on sentences into complete sentences.
- Explain the grammatical rules that govern the appropriate use of semicolons and colons in compound and complex sentences, providing at least two distinct examples for each with clear and accurate rationales.
- Analyze a paragraph containing fragments and run-on sentences, and rewrite it into a cohesive paragraph with accurate and varied punctuation demonstrating sentence fluency and clarity.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify a complete sentence.
Identify a sentence fragment.
Identify a run-on sentence.
Use a period to end a sentence.
Use a capital letter to start a new sentence.
Fix a fragment by adding a missing part.
Fix a run-on by adding periods and capital letters.
Have you ever seen a train that is too short or way too long? 🚂 Sentences can be like that too!
We will learn how to make our sentences just right. We will use special marks called punctuation. This makes our writing easy to read! 📖
Real-World Applications
Writing a story about your favorite toy 🧸
Telling a friend about your day 🗣️
Writing a thank you card for a gift 💌
Reading a book and understanding the story 📚
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Sentence ✅A sentence is a complete thought. It tells a who or what, and what they do.The cat sleeps on the mat. 🐈
Fragment 🧩A fragment is a piece of a sentence. It is an incomplete thought.The big, yellow bus.
Run-on 🏃A run-on is too many sentences stuck together. It does not have a stop.I have a dog he likes to play we play fetch.
Period (.)A period is a punctuation mark. It is a stop sign for a sentence.My apple is red.
Capital Letter (A, B, C)A capital letter is a big letter. It is a green light to start a new sentence.She has a new bike.
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Stop Sign Rule 🛑
Complete Sentence + Period (.)
Every complete sentence needs a stop sign at the end. A period tells the reader to stop.
The Green Light Rule 🚦
Period (.) + Capital Letter
After you use a period, the very next word must start with a capital letter. It starts a new idea.
The One Idea Rule 💡
One main idea per sentence.
A sentence should be about one main thing. Don't squish too many ideas together.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
Which sentence is a run-on, not just a long but correct sentence?
A.My brother is learning to play the piano he practices every day.
B.When the sun goes down, the moon and stars come out to shine brightly.
C.I want to go to the party, but I have to finish my homework first.
D.The big, fluffy, white clouds floated slowly across the bright blue sky.
Challenging
One of these sentences is a run-on. Which one?
A.After the rain, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.
B.My favorite season is summer because I can go swimming at the pool.
C.The stars are bright tonight I can see so many.
D.Please pass the red crayon and the blue paper to me.
Challenging
This sentence is a run-on: 'We went to the beach we built a castle then we swam in the water.' Which is the BEST way to fix it?
A.beach, we built a castle, then we swam
B.beach and built a castle then we swam
C.beach we built a castle. Then we swam
D.beach. We built a castle. Then we swam
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons"?
Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons is a Grade 2 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons?
You'll be able to: Identify fragments and run-on sentences in a variety of complex sentence structures with 80% accuracy; Apply correct punctuation (periods, commas, semicolons, colons, dashes) to revise 3 out of 4 identified fragments and run-on….
Is "Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.