• 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. An email applying for a summer job. Which closing is most appropriate? (That's all. Bye. / Get back to me ASAP, yeah? / Cheers, hope I get it lol. / Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.) → Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.Prompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose?
2. The two twins look exactly identical to each other. Which revision is the most concise? (The two twins look identical to each other. / The twins look exactly identical. / The twins look identical. / The two twins look exactly the same identical.) → The twins look identical.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. / Honestly, the shade plants were kind of rubbish. / The plants in sunlight grew an average of 4 cm more than those in shade. / OMG the plants in the sun grew so much!!) → 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. / The results suggest the drug may benefit some patients. / Perhaps, maybe, the drug could possibly help. / 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 was helpful to families in lots of ways and stuff. / The charity provided food and housing support to 340 families. / The charity helped many families with things. / The charity helped heaps of families with various stuff.) → 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. 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 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 methodology? Solid. The conclusions? Legit.) → The study's methodology was rigorous, so its conclusions are credible.Prompt: Who is the audience and what is the purpose?
2. 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? (There were many people and also some food items. / Crowds jostled between stalls where skewers hissed over glowing coals. / The market had people in it, plus food. / People were there. Food was there too.) → Crowds jostled between stalls where skewers hissed over glowing coals.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.