Homework: Master this rule: Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions and complete the exercises in The Crafted Word Unit One Document. It is not due until Monday, but you can do it early if you want.
Commas with conjunctions must have an independent clause (meaning, it can stand alone as a sentence) BEFORE and AFTER the conjunction and comma.
- I need to buy a new computer, so I am going to the mall.
- It is a cold day, yet it is a beautiful day on the mountain.
- Sally is happy today, and she is feeling better.
- I am either going to climb the mountain, or I going to die trying.
- I am neither talented, nor is there a place for me on the team.
- Do not show up at my house, for I am not going to be home today.
- I am not a good basketball player, but I am an amazing baseball star.
A comma and a conjunction can always be replaced with a period or semi-colon instead of the comma and conjunction.
- It is raining, so I am not going to school. [comma and conjunction]
- It is raining; I am not going to read. [semi-colon]
- It is raining. I am not going to study comma usage. [period]