Standard: 9-10.W.1d – Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
Grade level: Grade 9-10
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of formal writing and maintaining an objective tone. It is crucial for students to understand how to adapt their writing style to meet the expectations of various disciplines, which is a vital skill for academic and professional success. Students should be familiar with basic writing conventions, including grammar, punctuation, and the differences between formal and informal writing styles.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to write persuasively and cohesively in various formats, adhering to specific disciplinary conventions.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that formal writing must be overly complex and verbose. This is incorrect because effective formal writing prioritizes clarity and precision over complexity.
Intervention 1
To remediate this misconception, provide students with examples of clear and precise formal writing and engage them in exercises that focus on simplifying complex sentences while maintaining formality.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that maintaining an objective tone means eliminating all personal voice and style. This is incorrect because an objective tone can still reflect the writer’s unique style as long as it remains unbiased and professional.
Intervention 2
To address this misconception, show students examples of objective writing that still exhibit a distinct voice and engage them in writing activities that balance objectivity with personal style.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should understand basic grammar, sentence structure, and the difference between formal and informal writing styles.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop the ability to write persuasively and cohesively in various formats, adhering to specific disciplinary conventions.
Instructional Activities
- Analyze examples of formal and informal writing to identify key differences.
- Practice writing paragraphs in a formal style on various topics.
- Peer review writing assignments to critique the use of formal style and objective tone.
- Rewrite informal texts in a formal style.
- Create a checklist for maintaining formal style and objective tone in writing.
