I thank those of you who responded. The sentence is from a group of 31
papers by seventh graders that I am analyzing and have on the web.
Because the papers include a large number of fragments, comma-splices,
and run-ons, I'm writing an exploratory essay about their possible
causes, with a brief discussion of each error. Personally, I considered
the sentence in question a comma-splice, but perfectly acceptable. In my
draft, I so noted, and I said that I thought most teachers would agree.
     Having posed the question to this group, and having received a
variety of responses, I'm wondering if there would be any objection to
my quoting the entire thread as a note to the document. If there are no
objections, I will use your first names, but no other identifying
information. (Dick, I'll fix the "Ooops" in context.) I would like to
show the differences of opinion, so I will appreciate your letting me do
this very much.
    The students' essays, by the way, (unanalyzed and analyzed) are
already on the web at:
http://www.pct.edu/courses/evavra/ED498/R/1986/W7/W7.htm

The essay in question is number nine.
Thanks again,
Ed V.

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