Georgia 10.T.SS.2.c
The Standard
Use formal style when speaking or writing to establish credibility and tone. (C)
Georgia's K-12 English Language Arts Standards · Texts (T) · Structure & Style
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students adjust word choice, sentence structure, and delivery for academic and professional audiences. They remove slang, vague wording, and casual asides while keeping the message clear and natural.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can turn a casual comment into a polished paragraph or brief speech without changing its meaning. The result uses precise words, complete sentences, a steady tone, and appropriate evidence or explanation.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think formal language means using long words, sounding stiff, or writing only in passive voice. They may also assume every contraction is wrong or overlook casual phrases, jokes, and unsupported claims that weaken credibility.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Rewrite “I think the school rule is kinda pointless because nobody likes it” for a school board statement, then label two changes.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed sentence strips to sort by tone, then have them revise two casual examples for a principal’s speech.
Ask students which version of a claim sounds more credible, then write three sentences explaining how specific word choices shape tone.
Run a tone-switch relay where teams rewrite text messages as scholarship responses and earn points for clarity, precision, and appropriate tone.
Have students draft the subject line and opening paragraph of an email to an employer requesting a schedule change.
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Related Standards
- 8.T.SS.2.c
Use formal or informal style characteristics as indicated by a text’s purpose, audience, and disciplinary context. (C)
- 12.T.SS.2.c
Build credibility through a consistent formal, authoritative tone indicative of a confident and knowledgeable expert. (C)
- 11.T.SS.2.c
Build credibility through a consistent formal, authoritative tone indicative of a confident and knowledgeable expert. (C)
- 9.T.SS.2.c
Use formal or informal style, as appropriate to audience, purpose, and context. (C)
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