Georgia 8.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 fit a clear audience and purpose. They predict how those choices may affect readers’ feelings, ideas, actions, or questions.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students select specific words that create a clear tone and guide an intended audience toward a response. They can explain how their choices support the purpose and revise weak wording.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think stronger language always means more dramatic language. They may change tone without considering the audience, or choose loaded words that weaken credibility.
How to Assess It
- Give students the sentence “The school changed its phone policy.” Ask them to rewrite it to win student support, then identify two deliberate word choices.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups neutral event cards and word tiles, then have them build versions that create excitement, concern, or trust.
Ask students to compare two headlines about the same event and explain which words shape readers’ reactions.
Play a revision relay where teams replace vague words in a paragraph to persuade a named audience without changing the facts.
Have students rewrite a school announcement for students, families, and staff, adjusting word choice for each audience.
Free download
Printable 8.P.AC.2.b Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 8.P.AC.2.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.