Section 2.6 Homework: Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar
Part A: Analysis.
Question 1. Identify two prescriptive rules you were explicitly taught in school or by family members. For each rule:
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State the rule as you learned it
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Describe how closely you follow this rule. When do you follow it, and when do you not?
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Evaluate: Does following this rule improve clarity, or does it primarily signal formality/education?
Question 2. The chapter presents a "quick test": if violating a rule still produces comprehensible English, it’s probably prescriptive; if it produces gibberish, it’s descriptive. Test this with three examples from your own speech or writing. Which category does each fall into?
Part B: Application.
Question 3. Think back to feedback you’ve received on your writing—from teachers, professors, tutors, peers, or others. Identify two specific pieces of advice or corrections you’ve received. For each one:
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Describe the feedback (what were you told to change or avoid?)
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Classify it: Was this feedback about a descriptive rule (a pattern of how English works) or a prescriptive rule (a convention about how English "should" be used)?
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Evaluate the impact: If you consistently followed this advice, how would it affect your writing? Would it improve clarity? Change your voice or tone? Limit your options? Help you in certain contexts but not others?
Question 4. The chapter argues that prescriptive rules often function as "social markers" that benefit people who already speak prestige varieties. In 1–2 paragraphs, respond: Do you find this argument convincing? What are the implications for how we should think about "correct" English in schools and workplaces?
