How to use Commas
What punctuation mark must separate two independent clauses when joined by a coordinating conjunction like and, but, or so?
What is a comma?
What does it mean when discussing someone's point of view?
Perspective
Young argues that students should not automatically have to abandon the language variety they use in their communities in order to be considered good writers. This concept challenges what assumption about “correct” English?
What is the idea that there is only one legitimate/correct form of English?
What are the two words where one can mean a school leader or a sum of money, while the other means a rule or belief?
Principal/ Principle
Is this sentence correct? If not, what should replace the incorrect pronoun?
Whose backpack is this?
Correct
What name is given to the optional comma placed immediately before the conjunction in a series of three or more items?
What is the Oxford comma (or serial comma)?
When the weather becomes extremely cold, some animals grow thicker fur, change their behavior, or migrate to warmer places so they can survive. What word describes an animal's ability to adjust to changes in its environment?
Adapt
Young uses the phrase “code meshing” to describe what writers can do with different varieties of language. What does code meshing mean?
What is combining different language varieties or codes within the same piece of communication rather than completely switching from one to another?
What are the two words where one means to praise, and the other means something that completes or goes well with something else?
Compliment/ Complement
Is this sentence correct? If not, what should replace the incorrect pronoun?
Jodie bought John’s wife his very own armchair.
Her
What type of clause or phrase opens a sentence—such as "After the storm passed"—and requires a comma before the main clause?
What is an introductory element (or introductory phrase/clause)?
To expect something to happen
Anticipate
A professor tells a student, “Your use of African American English makes this essay sound uneducated. Rewrite it entirely in Standard English.” According to Young’s argument, what is the major problem with this instruction?
What is that it treats one language variety as inherently superior and requires the student to erase a legitimate part of their linguistic identity?
What are the two words where one is a recommendation and the other means to recommend?
Advice/ Advise
Is this sentence correct? If not, what should replace the incorrect pronoun?
Marco caught me pass and ran into the end zone.
My
What relative pronoun introduces a restrictive clause that essential to the sentence's meaning and should not be set off by commas?
What is "that"?
To influence or control a person, situation, or outcome, sometimes in an unfair or deceptive way.
Manipulate
Young’s argument is not simply “grammar rules do not matter.” Instead, his argument complicates the relationship between language and power. What does he suggest students should be able to do?
What is learn academic/standard conventions while also retaining and strategically using their own language varieties?
What are the two words where one usually means to influence and the other usually means the result?
Affect/ Effect
Is this sentence correct? If not, what should replace the incorrect pronoun?
Danny asked their neighbor if he still needed the sink fixed.
Correct
What error occurs when a writer joins two independent clauses using only a comma without a coordinating conjunction?
What is a comma splice?
After failing an important exam, Maya studies what she did wrong, changes her study habits, and keeps working toward her goal instead of giving up. What word that starts with the letter “R” that best describes Maya?
Resilient
A college student writes an essay that intentionally combines Standard Academic English with African American English. Her professor says, “You need to pick one. Mixing the two is bad grammar.” Based on Young’s concept of code meshing, what is the strongest response to the professor?
What is that mixing language varieties can be a deliberate rhetorical choice, and using multiple varieties does not automatically make writing grammatically or intellectually inferior?
What are two words where one means to draw out a response and the other means illegal or forbidden?
Elicit/ Illicit
Is this sentence correct? If not, what should replace the incorrect pronoun?
Arnold’s grades are better than I.
Mine