What are independent and dependent clauses? How are they different and why are they important?
Words that introduce dependent clauses: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, while
This seems like a picky grammar concept, but knowing these two types of clauses will help your writing skills tremendously. I'm a student myself, and knowing grammar helps most in my ability to edit my writing.
A good link I found about conjunctions and clauses (I don't own the website): http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/dick/tta/wc/conjunctions.htm