Not Too Short, Not Too Long: Fragments and Run-On Sentences

About This Resource

A complete Grade 7 ESL writing lesson pack on sentence fragments and run-on sentences: what makes a complete sentence, spotting fragments that are missing a subject, a verb or a complete thought, recognizing run-ons and comma splices, and fixing them with a period, a comma and a conjunction, a semicolon or a subordinating conjunction. Includes slides, a timed lesson plan, flashcards, worksheet, quiz, homework, rubric and answer key.

Overview

Students learn that a complete sentence needs a subject, a verb and a complete thought. They identify three kinds of fragment (no subject, no verb and a dependent clause standing alone) and two kinds of run-on (a fused sentence with no punctuation and a comma splice with only a comma). They then practice four ways to repair a run-on: splitting it with a period, joining it with a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as and, but or so, using a semicolon, or turning one part into a dependent clause with because, when or although. Students analyze and edit a short student paragraph and finish by writing and checking their own paragraph.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Sentence Fragments and Run-On Sentences
Category: Writing
File Type: PDF
File Size: 365 KB
Published: 04 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 7 (ages 12–13) 55 minutes Grammar punctuation editing sentence combining paragraph writing

Learning Objectives

Explain that a complete sentence has a subject, a verb and a complete thought.
Identify and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences, including comma splices.
Use periods, conjunctions and semicolons to write clear, correctly punctuated sentences.

How to Use This Resource

Start with slide 1: "Because I was late." and "I was late I missed the bus." Ask, "What is wrong with each one?"
Teach complete sentences, fragments, run-ons and the four fixes with the slides, then do activities 1 and 2 together.
Students complete activities 3 to 6, then use the quiz to check and the homework editing task. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Activity Ideas

Sentence surgery: give groups strips of paper with fragments and run-ons. They cut, join and add punctuation to make complete sentences.
Read it aloud: students read their writing aloud and listen for places where they naturally pause; these are often where a period is needed.
Fragment fix race: teams take turns turning a fragment into a complete sentence by adding the missing part.

Differentiation

Support: give a checklist (Who or what? Does what? Complete thought?) and a list of conjunctions. Challenge: rewrite a paragraph of short, choppy sentences using a variety of the four methods.

Assessment

Worksheet activities 1 to 5 and the quiz check identifying and fixing fragments and run-ons (answer key included). Activity 6 and the homework editing task are assessed with the rubric.

Teacher Tips

Students often think a long sentence is a run-on. Make it clear that length is not the problem: a run-on joins complete sentences without the right punctuation, and a long sentence can be perfectly correct.

What's Included

12-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (8 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
Homework practice page
Printable flashcards: 8 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
Assessment rubric (4 levels)
Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
Editable Word version of all student pages
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

Lesson Slides (PPTX)
Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
A5 Flashcards (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)

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