Show:
IDENTIFY + JUSTIFY
FIX IT!
EXPLAIN IT!
CHOOSE THE BEST
CHALLENGE ROUND
100

"Because she was late to class."

Task:

  • Error or acceptable stylistic choice?
  • Justify your answer

Answer: Fragment

  • Missing independent clause
  • Acceptable only in informal/stylistic writing, not formal
100

"Running through the hallway."

Task:

  • Turn into a complete sentence
  • Add context (not generic)

Answer (sample):

  • She was running through the hallway.
  • The student was running through the hallway in a panic.
100

Why is this weak or incorrect?
"After the movie ended."

Answer: Fragment

  • Dependent clause only; no complete thought
100

Pick the best sentence:
A. Because she was tired.
B. She was tired.
C. Being tired.

Explain why others fail


Answer: B

  • Only complete sentence
100

"While walking home."

Complete meaningfully (not generic)

Answers:

  • While walking home, she saw an accident.
  • He was listening to music while walking home.
200

"I studied all night, I still failed the test."

Task:

  • Identify the error
  • Why is the comma insufficient?

Answer: Comma splice

  • Two independent clauses joined by only a comma
200

"She was tired, she continued working."

Task:

Rewrite to show:

  1. Contrast
  2. Cause-effect

Answers:

  • Contrast: She was tired, but she continued working.
  • Cause-effect: She was tired, so she continued working. (less logical but acceptable if justified)
200

"She sings well, she dances better."

Task:

  • Why is this a comma splice?
  • What rule is violated? 

Answer: Comma splice

  • Two independent clauses joined by comma only
200

A. I like tea, I drink it daily.
B. I like tea. I drink it daily.
C. I like tea I drink it daily.


Best + why

Answer: B

  • A = comma splice, C = run-on 
200

"She loves music she plays guitar, every day."

What’s wrong? Fix it.

Answer:

  • Run-on + misplaced comma
    Fix:
  • She loves music; she plays guitar every day.
  • She loves music, and she plays guitar every day. 
300

"He loves coffee she prefers tea."

Task:

  • Identify the error
  • Give TWO different correct fixes 

Fixes:

  • He loves coffee. She prefers tea.
  • He loves coffee, while she prefers tea. 
300

"When the bell rang the students left they were excited."

Task:

  • Rewrite into ONE strong sentence
  • Avoid repetitive structure 

Answer (best):

  • When the bell rang, the students left, and they were excited. 
300

"I woke up I went back to sleep."

Task:

  • Why is this NOT a comma splice?
  • What makes it a different error?

Answer: Run-on

  • No punctuation between independent clauses
300

A. When he arrived, we started eating.
B. When he arrived we started eating.
C. When he arrived, we started eating

Identify subtle issue

Answer: A

  • B = missing comma (minor but expected), C = missing period 
300

"im late i forgot my bag ill be there soon sorry"

Rewrite (grammar + tone)

Answer:

  • I’m late. I forgot my bag. I’ll be there soon. Sorry. 
400

"After the meeting ended we went home."

Task:

  • Is this incorrect or just missing something minor?
  • Explain your decision

Answer: Grammatically correct (missing comma only)

  • Introductory clause should be followed by a comma 
400

"The teacher explained the lesson the students were confused."

Task:

  • Provide TWO revisions
  • Which one is better? Why?

Answers:

  • The teacher explained the lesson, but the students were confused.
  • The teacher explained the lesson. The students were confused.
  • Better: First (shows contrast clearly)
400

"Although it was raining, we continued the game."

Task:

  • Why is this correct?
  • What would make it incorrect?

Answer: Correct

  • Dependent clause + independent clause properly connected
  • Incorrect if comma removed
400

A. She studied hard, she passed.
B. She studied hard so she passed.
C. She studied hard, and she passed.

Which is strongest? Why?

Answer: C (best)

  • B acceptable, but C is grammatically stronger with conjunction + comma 
400

"Because the test was difficult many students struggled, they didn’t finish on time some left early."

Fix ALL issues
Keep meaning intact

Answer:

  • Because the test was difficult, many students struggled; they didn’t finish on time, and some left early. 
500

"Although he trained hard he lost, the match was intense."

Task:

  • Identify ALL errors
  • Classify each (fragment, run-on, comma splice, etc.) 

Answer:

  • Error 1: Missing comma after dependent clause
  • Error 2: Comma splice (“he lost, the match was intense”)
500

"Because he forgot his notes, he failed the quiz, it was frustrating."

Task:

  • Rewrite into a cohesive, polished version
  • Justify punctuation choices


Answers:

  • Because he forgot his notes, he failed the quiz, and it was frustrating.
  • He forgot his notes, so he failed the quiz. It was frustrating.
500

"He was late, he missed the bus."

Task:

  • Give TWO fixes
  • Which one is STRONGER? Defend

Answers:

  • He was late, so he missed the bus. (strongest: shows cause-effect)
  • He was late. He missed the bus. 
500

Original:
"Because he was nervous, he forgot his lines, the audience noticed."

A. Because he was nervous, he forgot his lines. The audience noticed.
B. Because he was nervous, he forgot his lines, and the audience noticed.
C. He was nervous he forgot his lines, and the audience noticed.

Choose + defend deeply

Answer: B

  • Because he was nervous, he forgot his lines, and the audience noticed.
  • A is acceptable but weaker separation; C still contains run-on
500


"Although he prepared well he was nervous, he forgot his lines the performance still impressed the judges."

Task:

  • Rewrite into a polished version
  • Be ready to defend structure

Answer:

  • Although he prepared well, he was nervous, and he forgot his lines, but the performance still impressed the judges.