Gretchen--you might find this gimmick useful. I sometimes tell students to say
Si Si (Spanish "yes," which many already know) at least these four times:
Sentences joined with a coordinating conjunction*
introductory material
Series
interrupters
*If students have not memorized the coordinating conjunctions, I give them the
FANBOYS acronym: for, and, nor, boy, or, yet, so., Many of them find
FANBOYS easier than co-ordinating conjunctions!
Wanda Van Goor
Professor
English Department
Prince George's Community College
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD 20774-2199