http://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/index.php?category_id=2&sub_category_id=1&article_id=37

Subordination and Coordination

Subordination

• You can improve your writing and make it more precise and more interesting by varying the length of your sentences. A mix of long and short sentences makes for interesting writing.
• You can make longer  and more precise sentences by using SUBORDINATE CLAUSES in relation to an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE. Here's an example:

I practice playing the guitar three hours a day. I have calluses on my fingers. 

Both sentences are INDEPENDENT CLAUSES. They can both stand alone as a sentence. You can show how these ideas relate to each other by SUBORDINATING one clause to another, like this:

Since I practice playing the guitar three hours a day, I have calluses on my fingers.

                         subordinate clause                                                                       independent clause

In the new combined sentence, the clause that begins with "since" has been demoted (subordinated) from a complete sentence to a dependent clause. Note how the new sentence shows the logic of the relationship between the two ideas.

Try these:

Coordination

You can also join or COORDINATE two independent clauses with a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Remember FAN BOYS

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Example:

I drive a Chevrolet Corvette, but my practical older sister owns a Dodge.

independent clause              coordinating conjunction          independent clause

Try these:

Challenge Set III

 

Sentence Combining 4: