Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Common Core State Standards, Grade 6, Language · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026
What L.6.2 Means in Plain English
Sixth graders set off extra information, the kind a sentence could lose without changing who it’s about, with a pair of commas, parentheses or dashes. “Mr. Ortiz, who coaches debate, smiled” gets commas, but “the student who spoke last won” gets none. And they spell words like received correctly.
Fifth graders (L.5.2) used commas after introductory elements, in series and for direct address, and marked titles of works. Sixth grade adds parentheses and dashes and the harder call of when a clause is extra and when the sentence needs it. Seventh grade (L.7.2) puts commas between coordinate adjectives.
L.6.2 I Can Statements
I can set off extra information with commas, parentheses or dashes.
I can tell an extra detail from one the sentence needs.
I can spell grade-level words correctly and check the ones I miss.
L.6.2 Worked Example
Two sentences about a debate tournament. One needs marks added, one needs marks taken out, and one word needs its spelling fixed.
Prompt
Add the punctuation that sets off extra information, remove any that doesn’t belong, and fix the misspelled word.
Not YetMr. Ortiz who coaches the debate team recieved the trophy a silver cup almost two feet tall on Saturday. The student, who spoke last, won best speaker.The facts about Mr. Ortiz and the trophy run straight into the sentence, received has its i and e swapped, and the commas in the second sentence wrap a clause the sentence needs, because it tells us which student.
Meets the StandardMr. Ortiz, who coaches the debate team, received the trophy (a silver cup almost two feet tall) on Saturday. The student who spoke last won best speaker.Commas fence off who Mr. Ortiz is, parentheses tuck the description of the trophy out of the main line, and the second sentence loses its commas. Take out “who spoke last” and no one knows who won.
Moves to Use
Cover the extra part: if the sentence still points to the same person or thing, set it off.Use commas for a smooth aside, parentheses for a quiet one and dashes for one that should stand out.Mark both ends of the aside, unless it runs to the end of the sentence.Leave out commas when the clause tells which one, as in “the student who spoke last.”Keep a list of words you misspell, like receive and separate, and check it last.
Common Mistakes with L.6.2
Half a pair
“Mr. Ortiz, who coaches debate smiled at us.”
Try this: Have students point to both ends of the extra part and check for a mark at each, unless the aside closes the sentence.
Commas around a clause the sentence needs
“The student, who spoke last, won best speaker.”
Try this: Cover the clause and ask whether readers still know which student. If they don’t, the clause is essential and takes no commas.
Dashes everywhere
Three pairs of dashes in one paragraph, so nothing stands out anymore
Try this: Limit dashes to one aside per paragraph and use commas or parentheses for the rest, so the dash still signals emphasis.
Spelling Worksheet GeneratorFree ToolTurn the words your 6th graders keep missing in drafts, like received, separate and definitely, into a week of practice sheets.Words from draftsGrade 6
Sentence Scramble GeneratorFree ToolMixed-up sentences with an aside inside, so students rebuild each one and then decide where the commas or parentheses go.AsidesCommas and parentheses