Kentucky Reading and Writing L.11-12.1.a

ELAGrades 11–12Language

The Standard

Demonstrate the understanding that usage is a matter of convention, can change over time and may be contested.

Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing (2025) · Conventions of General American English

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare how people use words and phrases across times and settings. They explain why a choice may become more common while people still disagree about it.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why someone might write either 'Who did you invite?' or 'Whom did you invite?' They can choose wording for a specific audience and describe how expectations have changed.
Common Misconceptions: Some students mark 'Who did you invite?' wrong in every setting because they learned a rule for 'whom.' Others assume that because 'who' is common in conversation, audience no longer matters.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Compare 'Who did you invite?' and 'Whom did you invite?' Name a setting for each, describe how usage has changed, and explain why writers might disagree.

Lesson moves

Give pairs printed visitor notices using 'his or her' and 'their'; have them underline the difference and choose which they would post today.
Ask students why a 1990 office memo might use 'his or her,' while a current one might use 'their,' and why readers might disagree.
Play an audience-match game with 'Who did you invite?' and 'Whom did you invite?'; students defend which fits a group text or formal letter.
Show two job inquiry emails asking 'Who should I contact?' and 'Whom should I contact?'; students choose one to send and explain why.

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