English Language Arts · 7th Grade · The Art of Persuasion: Argument and Rhetoric · Weeks 10-18

Maintaining Formal Style and Tone

Practice writing in a formal, objective style appropriate for academic and persuasive essays.

• Common Core State Standards
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.1.d

About This Topic

Academic and persuasive writing require a formal register that is distinct from everyday speech or social media communication. In 7th grade, students learn that 'formal style' is not about using complicated words but about making deliberate choices: avoiding contractions, using precise vocabulary, maintaining an objective voice, and eliminating slang. These choices signal credibility and respect for the reader.

This topic addresses CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.1.d, which requires students to establish and maintain a formal style in their argumentative writing. Students learn to recognize informal language patterns in their own drafts and to replace them with more precise, appropriately distanced alternatives. The key insight is that formality is not about pretension but about communicating that you take the topic, the reader, and the argument seriously.

Active learning accelerates this skill because students need to see and hear the contrast between formal and informal language in context, not just read about it. Comparative exercises in pairs and groups make the distinctions immediate and memorable.

Key Questions

1. How does the choice of vocabulary contribute to a formal or informal tone?
2. Differentiate between appropriate language for a persuasive essay and a personal narrative.
3. Critique how an overly informal tone might undermine the credibility of an argument.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze student-written sentences to identify instances of informal language, such as slang or contractions.
• Compare and contrast the tone of a persuasive essay excerpt with a personal narrative excerpt, citing specific word choices.
• Evaluate the impact of informal language on the credibility of an argument in a provided text.
• Revise sentences from informal to formal style, replacing slang with precise vocabulary and eliminating contractions.
• Create a short paragraph for a persuasive essay that maintains a consistent formal tone.

Before You Start

Identifying Main Idea and Supporting Details

Why: Students need to understand how to extract the core message of a text to effectively choose vocabulary that supports a formal, objective presentation of that message.

Sentence Structure and Parts of Speech

Why: Understanding sentence construction and the function of different word types is crucial for identifying and replacing informal elements like contractions and slang with appropriate formal language.

Key Vocabulary

Formal Tone	A style of writing that is objective, serious, and avoids slang, contractions, and personal anecdotes. It is appropriate for academic or professional contexts.
Informal Tone	A style of writing that is casual, conversational, and may include slang, contractions, and personal language. It is typical of everyday speech or personal writing.
Contractions	Words formed by combining two words and replacing some letters with an apostrophe, such as 'don't' for 'do not' or 'it's' for 'it is'. These are generally avoided in formal writing.
Slang	Very informal words and phrases, often specific to a particular group or context, that are not suitable for formal writing.
Objective Voice	Writing that focuses on facts and evidence rather than personal opinions or feelings. It uses third-person perspective and avoids 'I' or 'you'.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Formal writing means using the longest, most complicated words available.

What to Teach Instead

Students often confuse formality with obscurity. 'Utilize' is not better than 'use'; 'commence' is not better than 'begin.' Formal writing means precise and appropriate language, not inflated vocabulary. Use peer editing to find examples where simpler, more precise word choice is actually stronger than the student's attempt at sounding sophisticated.

Common Misconception

Using 'I' in a persuasive essay makes it informal.

What to Teach Instead

First-person perspective is appropriate in some formal argumentative contexts, though it is generally avoided in academic essays. The real issue is not 'I' itself but unsupported personal assertion ('I think this is important'). Teach students the difference between a grounded personal stake and an unsubstantiated opinion, and when each is appropriate.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: Translation Studio

Students receive three sentences written in very informal language (text message style). Working in pairs, they translate each into formal academic prose, then share both versions with another pair who votes on which formal translation best preserves the original meaning.

25 min·Pairs

Inquiry Circle: Style Audit

Groups receive a student essay draft (anonymous and generic) and use a highlighter to mark every informal element: contractions, slang, second-person address ('you'), and vague language. They rewrite the three most problematic sentences and explain their revision choices.

35 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Vocabulary Upgrade

Students are given a list of 10 vague, informal words ('good,' 'bad,' 'stuff,' 'thing,' 'a lot'). In pairs, they brainstorm three formal, precise alternatives for each word and share their strongest substitutions with the class.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Journalists writing for major newspapers like The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal must maintain a formal, objective tone to present news accurately and build reader trust.
• Lawyers drafting legal briefs or arguments for court proceedings use precise, formal language to present their case logically and persuasively to judges and juries.
• Scientists preparing research papers for academic journals must adhere to strict formal writing conventions to clearly communicate their findings and ensure their work is taken seriously by peers.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with three sentences: one formal, one informal, and one mixed. Ask them to identify which is which and explain their reasoning by pointing to specific word choices or sentence structures.

Quick Check

Present students with a short paragraph containing several informal elements (e.g., contractions, slang). Ask them to rewrite the paragraph in a formal style, making necessary changes to vocabulary and sentence structure.

Peer Assessment

Students exchange their drafts of a persuasive essay introduction. They use a checklist to identify any contractions, slang, or overly personal language, and provide one suggestion for improvement to their partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does vocabulary choice contribute to a formal or informal tone?

Word choice signals the register of the writing immediately. 'Kids don't get enough sleep' is informal; 'Adolescents are chronically sleep-deprived' is formal. The difference is not complexity but precision and distance from casual speech. Teach students to read their sentences aloud and ask: 'Would I say this in a presentation to the principal?' That test is usually more reliable than any rule.

How is formal style in a persuasive essay different from a personal narrative?

Personal narratives invite the writer's voice, emotions, and informal observations because the self is the subject. Persuasive essays are making a claim about the external world, so the writer's role is to present and evaluate evidence, not to share feelings. The tone shifts from 'here is my experience' to 'here is what the evidence shows.'

How can active learning help students maintain formal style and tone?

The 'Translation Studio' exercise creates immediate contrast between registers, making formality tangible rather than abstract. When students have to translate their own informal thinking into academic prose, they practice the actual cognitive move required in drafting and revising. Peer feedback on style is also more immediate and memorable than teacher comments on a returned essay.

Does an overly formal tone actually hurt a persuasive argument?

Yes. Writing that is stiff, overly impersonal, or stuffed with jargon can distance the reader and obscure the argument. Effective formal style is clear and appropriately distanced, not robotic. The goal is to sound like a knowledgeable professional, not a legal contract. Guide students to read their writing aloud: if it sounds strange to say, it will sound strange to read.