Discuss the following questions within your group Make

�Discuss the following questions within your group. Make sure to back up your opinion with an explanation or reason of some sort!

�How important is it for people your age to feel like they belong?

�Do you believe in bad luck? How about curses?

�Have you ever known anyone who was punished for something s/he didn’t do?

�Do you have to be big in size to be intimidating?

� Would you lie to protect someone?

Comma Rules � Rule 1: › Mom bought apples, oranges, grapes, and strawberries for the party. › Do I need to bring my coat, gloves, and hat? › Take out a pencil, piece of paper, and your book.

› Dependent clause: relies on another sentence. �A "dependent clause" is a clause that cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence even though it has a subject and a predicate. �while I was walking �because there were so many possibilities �although we could not find him › Independent clause: An "independent clause" is a clause that can stand by itself as a complete sentence.

� Rule 2: › When each of two independent clauses expresses a complete idea, but the two ideas are linked together, we often combine them into one sentence so that the reader can easily see the relationship between them. › In that case, the two most common words used to link the sentences are "and" and "but, " which are called "coordinating conjunctions. " › When we use "and" or "but" in speech, we naturally pause between the two clauses, so that is where we place a comma.

� Coordinating conjunction: remember FANBOYS › for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so �He hit the ball, but he ran towards third base. �The visitors complained loudly about the heat, yet they continued to play golf every day.

� Rule 3: › When we use a dependent clause to modify the main idea expressed by an independent clause, we link them together, usually with the independent clause coming first and then followed by the dependent clause. › In this case, there is no comma separating the two because we do not pause between them in speech.

� What makes a clause "dependent" is the "subordinating conjunction. " › Remember: AAAWWUBIS words � As, Although, After, While, When, Until, Because, If, Since › Common subordinating conjunctions include "while, " "because, " and "although. " • Because I had so much work to do, I decided to postpone our date for the movies. • While there were still many passes to traverse, I was determined to get through the mountains. • Although the mountains were beautiful, the night sky was even more breathtaking.