6.10.D.vi
The Standard
subordinating conjunctions to form complex sentences and correlative conjunctions such as either/or and neither/nor
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading · The student uses the writing process recursively to compose multiple texts that are legible and uses appropriate conventions.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students edit drafts by connecting related ideas with words such as because, although, when, and if. They also use matching pairs such as both/and and either/or correctly.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students create complete complex sentences and place commas correctly when the dependent clause comes first. They use matching conjunction pairs and keep the connected words or phrases parallel.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may write a dependent clause as a complete sentence, such as “Because the bus was late.” They may mismatch conjunction pairs or join items that do not have parallel forms. Commas are often added where they are not needed.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Revise “Because Maya practiced. She improved either her speed and her accuracy” into two correct sentences using the given conjunctions.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups sentence strips with clauses and conjunctions, then have them build and punctuate three complete complex sentences.
Ask students to explain how changing because to although changes the relationship between two ideas.
Play a conjunction match game where students pair sentence halves, choose a connector, and check punctuation.
Have students write classroom rules using if, unless, both/and, and either/or, then edit each rule for clarity.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 5.11.D.viii
subordinating conjunctions to form complex sentences;
- 3.11.D.viii
coordinating conjunctions to form compound subjects, predicates, and sentences;
- 4.11.D.viii
coordinating conjunctions to form compound subjects, predicates, and sentences;
- 7.10.D.vi
subordinating conjunctions to form complex sentences and correlative conjunctions such as either/or and neither/nor
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