Standard: 8.W.2e – Establish and maintain a formal style.
Grade level: Grade 8
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on helping students establish and maintain a formal writing style, which is crucial for academic and professional communication. Mastery of this standard will prepare students for high school and beyond, where formal writing is often required. Students should understand the basics of sentence structure, paragraph organization, and have experience with different writing styles such as narrative and expository writing.
After mastering this standard, students will develop advanced writing skills, including the ability to effectively argue a point, use evidence to support their claims, and adapt their writing style to suit different audiences and purposes.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that formal writing must always be complex and verbose. This is incorrect because clarity and conciseness are essential aspects of formal writing. Overly complex writing can obscure meaning and make the text difficult to understand.
Intervention 1
To remediate this misconception, teach students that effective formal writing is clear and to the point. Use examples of well-written formal texts that are straightforward and easy to understand.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that formal writing cannot include any personal voice or style. This is not true; while formal writing should be professional, it can still reflect the writer’s unique voice.
Intervention 2
To address this, show students examples of formal writing that maintain a unique voice. Encourage them to find a balance between formality and personal style in their writing.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should understand the basics of sentence structure, paragraph organization, and have experience with different writing styles such as narrative and expository writing.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop advanced writing skills, including the ability to effectively argue a point, use evidence to support their claims, and adapt their writing style to suit different audiences and purposes.
Instructional Activities
- Analyze examples of formal and informal writing.
- Practice rewriting informal texts in a formal style.
- Peer review exercises focusing on maintaining formality.
- Writing assignments that require a formal style, such as essays and reports.
- Role-playing activities where students must respond to formal scenarios.
