CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.2e
The Standard
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
What This Standard Means
Students need to write informational or explanatory pieces that sound appropriate for school, science, history, or technical subjects. They should avoid slang, personal rants, unsupported opinions, and casual phrasing. They also need to use the habits of the subject, such as precise terms, evidence, citations, labels, or passive voice when it fits.
Mastery looks like a clear, steady voice that stays focused on facts and evidence. Students often get stuck by sounding too conversational, using “I think,” adding emotional language, or switching tone halfway through. They may also miss subject-specific expectations, like using dates in history or exact measurements in science.
Ways to Teach It
- Give students a casual lab explanation and have them revise it into a formal science report paragraph with precise verbs and measurements.
- Ask students to rewrite the same claim for a text message, a news article, and a history essay, then compare tone choices.
- Use a three-sentence exit ticket where students replace informal words with formal alternatives and remove personal opinion language.
- Show a workplace incident report and have students identify objective wording, specific details, and phrases that avoid blame.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.1d
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.2e
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.1d
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1d
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
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