• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Formal register and tone; Concision: cutting wordiness and redundancy). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. A complaint letter to a company about a broken product. Which sentence is most appropriate? (Lol the lamp broke already. / The lamp's dead. Rubbish. / Your lamp is junk and I want my money back now. / Unfortunately, the lamp I purchased stopped working after two days.) → Unfortunately, the lamp I purchased stopped working after two days.Prompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose?
2. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the morning. Which revision is the most concise? (The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. / The meeting, at 9 a.m. in the morning, will begin. / In the morning at 9 a.m. the meeting will begin then. / The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the morning time.) → The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.Prompt: Look for words that repeat an idea already expressed.
3. A science report on plant growth. Which sentence is most appropriate? (The sunny plants totally smashed it, growing loads more. / OMG the plants in the sun grew so much!! / Honestly, the shade plants were kind of rubbish. / The plants in sunlight grew an average of 4 cm more than those in shade.) → The plants in sunlight grew an average of 4 cm more than those in shade.Prompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Style, tone and word choice (ACT English). Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: A scientific abstract: "We think maybe the drug might possibly help some patients a bit, perhaps." Which revision is appropriately cautious but not wordy?
• Step 1: Effective style matches tone to purpose and uses precise, economical language.
• Step 2: So the answer is: The results suggest the drug may benefit some patients.
• Answer: The results suggest the drug may benefit some patients.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. A scientific abstract: "We think maybe the drug might possibly help some patients a bit, perhaps." Which revision is appropriately cautious but not wordy? (The drug definitely cures all patients. / Perhaps, maybe, the drug could possibly help. / The results suggest the drug may benefit some patients. / We think maybe the drug might possibly help some patients.) → The results suggest the drug may benefit some patients.Prompt: Who is the audience and what is the purpose?
2. A report on a charity's work: "The charity helped a whole bunch of families with stuff." Which revision is most precise? (The charity provided food and housing support to 340 families. / The charity was helpful to families in lots of ways and stuff. / The charity helped heaps of families with various stuff. / The charity helped many families with things.) → The charity provided food and housing support to 340 families.Prompt: Who is the audience and what is the purpose?

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 5 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. A travel article aims to evoke the atmosphere of a night market: "There were a lot of people and some food." Which revision best achieves the writer's goal? (The market had people in it, plus food. / There were many people and also some food items. / People were there. Food was there too. / Crowds jostled between stalls where skewers hissed over glowing coals.) → Crowds jostled between stalls where skewers hissed over glowing coals.Prompt: Who is the audience and what is the purpose?
2. An academic essay reads: "The study's methodology was, like, super solid, so its conclusions are pretty legit." Which revision best matches the essay's formal tone? (The methodology? Solid. The conclusions? Legit. / The study's methodology was totally awesome, so its conclusions rock. / The study's methodology was rigorous, so its conclusions are credible. / The study's methodology was solid-ish, so its conclusions are kind of fine.) → The study's methodology was rigorous, so its conclusions are credible.Prompt: Who is the audience and what is the purpose?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.