Pick three things the characters did.
Ponyboy escaped from the collapsing church.
Dallas slapped out the fire on Ponyboy's back.
Dallas ran into the church to rescue Johnny.
Write a simple sentence for each action.
Ponyboy escaped from the collapsing church.
Dallas slapped out the fire on Ponyboy's back.
Dallas ran into the church to rescue Johnny.
Add a subordinating conjunction (AAAWWEUBBIS or WHITE BUS) to the first simple sentence.
After Ponyboy escaped from the collapsing church . . . (This is just a sentence fragment now – a dependent clause.)
Join it to the second simple sentence with a comma.
After Ponyboy escaped from the collapsing church, Dallas slapped out the fire on Ponyboy's back.
Add the third simple sentence using a comma and a coordinating (FAN BOYS) conjunction.
After Ponyboy escaped from the collapsing church, Dallas slapped out the fire on Ponyboy's back, and Dallas ran into the church to rescue Johnny.
DO NOT FORGET END PUNCTUATION ON YOUR SENTENCE
NOTE: You could also write it this way –
Dallas slapped out the fire on Ponyboy's back after Ponyboy escaped from the collapsing church, and Dallas ran into the church to rescue Johnny.
