Georgia 12.P.AC.2.b
The Standard
Craft words and phrases in order to influence the responses, thoughts, decisions, and questions of the target audience and achieve a specific purpose. (I/C)
Georgia's K-12 English Language Arts Standards · Practices (P) · Author’s Craft
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose words and phrases that guide a specific audience toward an intended response. They adjust diction, tone, and emphasis to match the purpose, then explain the likely effect.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student selects precise words that fit the audience, purpose, and tone. The student can explain how a phrase may shape readers’ feelings, questions, or actions, then revise it when needed.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may treat strong vocabulary as automatically effective, even when it sounds forced or misses the audience. They may change tone without explaining how specific wording shapes a reader’s reaction or choice.
How to Assess It
- Give students a neutral school announcement. Ask them to rewrite two sentences to persuade seniors to attend, then annotate one wording choice and its intended effect.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups a neutral event notice and audience cards, then have them rewrite the notice for parents, seniors, or local business owners.
Ask students to compare two charity appeals and write which phrases build trust, create urgency, or invite questions.
Play Diction Swap, where teams replace weak phrases in sample arguments and earn points for matching a stated audience and purpose.
Have students rewrite a real school policy reminder to increase compliance without sounding threatening or disrespectful.
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Printable 12.P.AC.2.b Worksheet
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