 A compound sentence is a sentence

that combines two or more simple

sentences
  A clause is any group of words that contains a subject and
verb
  Some clauses are dependent and others are independent.
  Clauses are independent if they can stand alone as simple
sentences and dependent if they cannot.
  Therefore, “Independent clause” is another way of saying
simple sentence.
  Compound sentences combine two independent clauses or
simple sentences.
 Nina ate a pizza.
 Nina ate a pizza and drove home.
 Nina ate a pizza, and she drove home.
Simple Sentence #1 (Nina ate a pizza.)
+
Proper Punctuation (,)
+
Transition Word (and)
+
Simple Sentence #2 (She drove home.)
However, there are two different methods of punctuating
compound sentences. The method of punctuation
depends on which transition word you choose to
connect the two simple sentences.
  FANBOYS transitions are used after commas

For And Nor But Or Yet So

  These are called coordinating conjunctions.

  Coordinating conjunctions join ideas of equal importance,

and they should always be preceded by a comma.
  For example:

There was traffic on the way to LAX, so I missed my

flight.

I wanted to go to the movies, but I had too much

homework to do.

Tony could go to the party, or he could study.

  The semicolon (;) acts just like a period.

  The two clauses on either side of a semicolon must be

independent, meaning they must able to stand on their
own as simple sentences.

  All transition words used in compound sentences that

are not FANBOYS must be used after a semicolon.
  For example:

California state budget cuts have led to fewer course offerings;

class sizes are often over forty.

Tuition has increased across the district; however, it is still

lower than most other states.

I hope schools are able to provide all students the resources they
need to learn; otherwise, higher education will become a
privilege only afforded to the wealthy.
  Because forming a compound sentence without using
Method 1 or 2 results in a run-on sentence!

  And you can’t pass English 21 if your writing is full of

run-on sentences!
Nina ate pizza she drove home.

Nina ate pizza; she drove home.

Nina ate pizza; afterwards, she drove home.

Nina ate pizza, she drove home.

Nina ate pizza, and she drove home.

 Use Method 1: Comma + FANBOYS to combine the choppy but related
sentences below:

  Michael set his alarm clock for 7:30. He had an early class this morning.

Adrian set his alarm clock for 7:30, for he had an early class this morning.

  Veronica forgot to return the library book. She received a fine.

Veronica forgot to return the library book, so she received a fine.

 Use Method 2: semicolon +non-FANBOYS transition word + comma to
combine the choppy but related sentences below:

  This semester I’ve been working the graveyard shift at the food mart. I can
barely stay awake in my 8:00 a.m. class.

This semester I’ve been working the graveyard shift at the food mart; as a result, I can
barely stay awake in my 8:00 a.m. class.

  Landscape artists are more than just gardeners. They are both scientists and
artists.

Landscape artists are more than just gardeners; in fact, they are both scientists and artists.