Standard: 9-10.WHST.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: History, Science & Technical Subjects
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on helping students establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone in their writing, which is crucial for academic and professional communication. Mastery of this standard ensures that students can effectively convey their ideas and arguments in a manner that is appropriate to the discipline they are writing in. Students should already understand the basics of formal writing and tone. They should be comfortable with grammar and punctuation rules and have some experience writing structured essays or reports.
Mastering this standard will enable students to apply formal style and objective tone in a variety of writing contexts, preparing them for advanced academic work and professional communication.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that formal writing requires overly complex vocabulary. This is incorrect because the goal of formal writing is clarity and precision, not complexity.
Intervention 1
Use examples of effective formal writing that employ straightforward language. Encourage students to focus on clarity and precision rather than complexity.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that maintaining an objective tone means not expressing any opinion or analysis. This is incorrect because objective tone involves presenting evidence and analysis without personal bias.
Intervention 2
Provide examples of objective writing that include analysis and opinions presented without personal bias. Practice rewriting biased statements to be more objective.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of formal writing structures, such as essays and reports, and be familiar with the concept of tone in writing. They should also have experience with basic grammar and punctuation rules.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to apply a formal style and objective tone across various disciplines, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively in both academic and professional settings.
Instructional Activities
- Analyze examples of formal and informal writing.
- Practice rewriting informal text into formal text.
- Peer review exercises focusing on tone and style.
- Writing assignments in different disciplines (history, science, technical).
- Role-playing activities where students must respond to scenarios in a formal tone.
