Georgia 6.T.SS.2.c
The Standard
Compare and contrast characteristics of formal style (e.g., jargon, complete sentences) with those of informal style (e.g., contractions, slang, sentence fragments) and apply understandings to writing and speaking. (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 compare how word choice, sentence structure, slang, contractions, and specialized terms create different levels of formality. They use those features when writing or speaking for a specific audience and purpose.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can identify specific language features that make a sample formal or informal. They can adjust vocabulary, sentence structure, contractions, and tone to fit a clear audience and purpose.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think formal language means using long words or sounding stiff. They may also assume slang and fragments are always wrong, rather than choices suited to certain audiences and settings.
How to Assess It
- Give students a text message and ask them to rewrite it as an email to the principal. Have them label two changes and explain why each fits the audience.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs sentence strips from texts, emails, and speeches to sort by style, then have them underline evidence for each choice.
Ask students to write the same request to a close friend and the principal, then explain three language choices they changed.
Play Style Switch, where teams draw an audience card and revise a sentence to match that audience within one minute.
Compare a coach's group chat message with a school announcement, then identify how purpose and audience shape each writer's language.
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Printable 6.T.SS.2.c Worksheet
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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)
- 10.T.SS.2.c
Use formal style when speaking or writing to establish credibility and tone. (C)
- 7.T.SS.2.c
Determine situational use for formal or informal style and apply that determination to choices when writing or speaking. (C)
- 9.T.SS.2.c
Use formal or informal style, as appropriate to audience, purpose, and context. (C)
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