1. ACT English Preparation University of Illinois-Chicago Curriculum Framework Project Spring 2011

2. Schedule of Lessons Introduction to Test Strategies General Commas/Punctuation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Adjective vs Adverb

3. Lesson #4 Introduction to Test Strategies General Commas/Punctuation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Adjective vs Adverb

4. COMMA RULE: KNOW YOUR ABBIs! COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • ABBI SAW A WUWU • After • Before • Because • If • Since • Although • When(ever) These twelve words are the second KEY to correctly placing commas. They are easy to remember, so MEMORIZE them. Once you RECOGNIZE them in a sentence, you can evaluate how they are being used so you can correctly place a comma. • As • While • Unless • Whether • Until

5. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • ABBIs get a comma EVERY TIME a sentence begins with one of those words. Because I love to read, I go to the library every week. An ABBI word begins an INCOMPLETE THOUGHT. It must be followed by a complete sentence/thought. ABBI CLAUSE COMMA COMPLETE SENTENCE

6. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • ABBI rule changes when the ABBI clause is at the end of a sentence. Remember this! I go to the library every week because I love to read. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON ERROR MADE with COMMAS. ACT knows this; people want to put a comma before “because” but it is NOT CORRECT! Commas do NOT go before an ABBI when the complete sentence comes before it. COMPLETE SENTENCE NO COMMA ABBI CLAUSE

7. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • TRICK #1 with ABBIs Sometimes the ABBI clause comes in the middle of a sentence. You have to be aware of what the complete thought is. I, because I love to read, go to the library every week. The complete thought/action is I GO TO THE LIBRARY. The ABBI “interrupts” the sentence and works just like a nonessential. It gets surrounded by commas. This is the only time you will ever have a comma before an ABBI in a single sentence.

8. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • TRICK #2 with ABBIs When an ABBI is used in a more complex sentence, you have to be very careful. You have to separate the two sentences to figure out what you need. I am an avid reader, and because I love to read, I go to the library every week. LET’S BREAK THIS UP AND FIGURE OUT THE RULES HERE.

9. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • TRICK #2 with ABBIs THIS IS ONE COMPLETE THOUGHT THIS IS ANOTHER I am an avid reader I go to the library every week

10. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • TRICK #2 with ABBIs THIS IS THE ABBI CLAUSE because I love to read

11. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • TRICK #2 with ABBIs THE ABBI CLAUSE goes with the 2nd sentence so you need the comma because I love to read, I go to the library every week

12. IMPORTANT CONCEPT #1 COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 2 • TRICK #2 with ABBIs The other sentence is then combined with the 2nd using a FANBOYS. I am an avid reader, and because I love to read, I go to the library every week. So, this other comma deals with a different rule: the FANBOYS rule we learned earlier.

13. Review of COMMA RULES • KNOW your FANBOYS • Watch for NONESSENTIALS • Recognize your ABBI phrases • Remember to be consistent with dashes and parenthesis • Know the three combo options