Writing Instruction Using Contrastive Analysis by Nakpangi McClam

Purpose This is exercise is designed to teach students how to “codeswitch” between African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and Standard English (SE)

Purpose Codeswitching is “the practice of moving back and forth between two languages or between two dialects of the same language” (Nordquist 2013).

Instructions Explain to students that many of us speak formal English and informal English. Formal English - Used at school, work, or other formal settings Informal English - Used at home, with friends, or while hanging out with friends

Instructions Review the sample sentences with students. Using their own sentences, have students contrast the differences between the SE (formal) sentence and the AAVE (informal) sentence. After practicing contrastive analysis on their sentences, ask students to create new sentences using techniques of formal English. The sample sentences are based on Fogel and Ehri’s Syntactic Features of African American English and Standard American English Translations. They are based on the grammatical patterns commonly found in AAVE.

Omission of the Possessive ‘s’ Kayla mother visited our class yesterday. (AAVE) Kayla’s mother visited our class yesterday (SE)

Omission of the Past Tense ‘ed’ Robert play video games for three hours yesterday. (AAVE) Robert played video games for three hours yesterday (SE)

Omission of Third Person Singular ‘s’ Present Tense Tracy drive to school everyday. (AAVE) Tracy drives to school everyday. (SE)

Omission of Plural ‘s’ I gave Gina ten dollar for the book. (AAVE) I gave Gina ten dollars for the book. (SE)

Omission of Linking Verbs Erica going shopping at the mall this afternoon. (AAVE) Erica is going shopping at the mall this afternoon. (SE)

Subject Expression Taylor she make good grades in school. (AAVE) Taylor makes good grades in school. (SE)

Indefinite Articles T.J parents gave him a iPad for his birthday. (AAVE) T.J.’s parents gave him an iPad for his birthday. (SE)

Use of Slang Keisha put lotion on her ashy hands. (AAVE) Keisha put lotion on her dry hands. (SE)

Conclusion This exercise will help students learn to “codeswitch.” Inform students that the informal language they speak with family and friends is not bad. Teach student that we choose the style of English (formal or informal) we speak based on our situation or context.

Works Cited Fogel, Howard, and Linnea C. Ehri. “Teaching African American English Forms To Standard American English-Speaking Teachers.” Journal Of Teacher Education 57.5 (2006): 464-480. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Rickford, John. “Using the Vernacular to Teach the Standard.” In Ebonics in the Urban Education Debate. Center for Language Minority Education and Research. California State University, Long Beach. 1999 (Revised 2005). Address.

Works Cited Nordquist, Richard. “Code Switching." About.com Grammar & Composition. N.p.. Web. 21 Sep 2013. <http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/codeswitchingterm.htm>.