Coordination in the Compound Sentences By: Samantha Dobbin and Jillian Kornberger
What is Coordination in the Compound Sentence? Coordination confers equal value and significance on two or more elements in a sentence. you can use coordination to join words phrases independent clauses that could be their own sentences Without the coordinating conjunction or the semicolon, a reader cannot immediately figure out the relationship between the ideas in the sentences.
Compound Sentences By using the coordination to combine sentences you are creating a compound sentence. A compound sentence can be created by using coordinating conjunctions such as: and, but, or, not, for, so,yet Or created by using correlative conjunctions such as; Not only but also; either or; just as so also Or with a conjunctive adverb however, indeed, thus, moreover, in fact, therefore, nevertheless
Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Main Clauses Before: Tom ate all the peanuts. Phil ate the cookies. After: Tom ate all the peanuts, so Phil ate the cookies. Before: I don t care for the beach. I enjoy a good vacation in the mountains. After: I don t care for the beach, but I enjoy a good vacation in the mountains.
Can you determine the conjunctions? 1. You can eat your cake with a spoon or fork. 2. My dog enjoys being bathed but hates getting his nails trimmed. 3. Bill refuses to eat peas, nor will he touch carrots. 4. I hate to waste a drop of gas, for it is very expensive these days.
Examples Answers 1. You can eat your cake with a spoon or fork. 2. My dog enjoys being bathed but hates getting his nails trimmed. 3. Bill refuses to eat peas, nor will he touch carrots. 4. I hate to waste a drop of gas, for it is very expensive these days.
Semicolons Joining Main Clauses Before: That was then. This is now. After: That was then; this is now. And tomorrow, at the Choosing Ceremony, I will decide on a faction; I will decide the rest of my life; I will decide to stay with my family or abandon them. - Passage from the novel Divergent by Veronica Roth
Where do the semicolons go? 1. Some people write with a word processor. Others write with a pen or pencil. 2. But however they choose to write, people are allowed to make their own decisions. As a result, many people swear by their writing methods. 3. There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible. Or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat. 4. Some people write with a word processor, typewriter, or a computer. But others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.
Example Answers 1. Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen or pencil. 2. But however they choose to write, people are allowed to make their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their writing methods. 3. There are basically two ways to write: with a pen or pencil, which is inexpensive and easily accessible; or by computer and printer, which is more expensive but quick and neat. 4. Some people write with a word processor, typewriter, or a computer; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or pencil.
Semicolons and Conjunctive Adverbs Joining Main Clauses The students had been advised against walking alone at night; however, Cathy decided walking wasn t dangerous if it was early in the evening. I needed to go for a walk and get some fresh air; also, I needed to buy milk. I m not all that fond of the colors of tiger-lilies; moreover, they don t smell very good.
Punctuation of Sentences That Contain Coordination Commas indicate a pause in the sentence. A semicolon indicates a full stop and joins two complete thoughts together. By using a semicolon you are effectively establishing coordination between the two sentences.
Comma Splices If you exclude conjunctions or semicolons and place a comma between the main clauses, you re splicing the clause. Splicing- to join loosely or ineffectively The correct way to fix comma splices is to separate it into two different sentences or turn it into a compound sentence by using coordinating conjunctions.
Replacing Comma Splices Ways to eliminate comma splices by using a coordination conjunction, a semicolon, or a period: Incorrect way: Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Correct way with period: Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle. Her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Correct way with a coordinating conjunction: Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle, and her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Correct way with a semicolon: Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle; her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars.
Replace the Comma Splice Original: Megan read three novels last week, Sue read four short stories. 1. With a period: 2. With a coordinating conjunction: 3. With a semicolon:
Rhetorical and Stylistic Strategy Writers use coordinating conjunctions to combine two sentences into one smooth and flowing sentence that is also more cohesive The conjunctions specify the relationship between the two ideas Examples: It has distorted the choices faced by others as they try to balance their lives, and it has multiplied the anguish of parents whose children who haven t turned out as hoped. - Sven Birkerts If he had stopped the sentence after lives, the sentences would not flow and would abruptly stop. The addition of the conjunction add emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses.
Starting a Sentence with a Coordination Conjunction This practice is perfectly acceptable and effective as long as it is not overused. It can be used a transition for the previous sentence and used to emphasize the point being made in the sentence. It stresses the differences between the sentences and makes the longer sentences easier to read and understand.
Polysyndeton Polysyndeton is the deliberate use of a series of conjunctions. When you get to college you may study history and psychology and literature and mathematics and botany. The result from this technique is emphasis on the choices that are brought up in the sentences.
Asyndeton Asyndeton is the deliberate omission of conjunctions. From his wealthy parents he received his wardrobe, his car, his tuition, his vacation, his attitude. This technique has an ironic effect on the separation of the ideas, gives them a greater emphasis.
Polysyndeton or Asyndeton? 1. This is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant to betray you completely... - Aristotle 2. Let the whitefolks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly mostly let them have their whiteness. - Passage from the novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Example Answers 1. Asyndeton 2. Polysyndeton