An interesting example.  “As well as” may have started life as an introducer for a slight digression, but it’s bleaching into a conjunction.  Whether it demands commas depends on how grammaticalized the particular instance is.  In this instance, it sounds pretty grammaticalized, and so the commas can reasonably be left out.  But then grammaticalization is not a concept found much in pedagogical grammar discussions.

Herb

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jason Jones
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2015 3:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: How to Punctuate

Here is a practice sentence from Martha Kolln's Rhetorical Grammar:
"The lectures in our astronomy class as well as the assigned reading and the lab work make it clear that I am in the wrong class I have decided to drop the course."
I believe that only a colon or semicolon is needed between class and I. My colleagues in the English department, however, have all punctuated the sentence this way:

"The lectures in our astronomy class, as well as the assigned reading and the lab work, make it clear that I am in the wrong class; I have decided to drop the course."
Any help would be appreciated!
--
Regards,

[http://oi55.tinypic.com/2ppn3vq.jpg]

William Jason Jones
English Teacher (English III & Comp I/II)
Writing Center Director
Independence Jr./High School
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