• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Style, tone and word choice (ACT English); Formal register and tone). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. A eulogy for a beloved teacher: "Mr Osei was okay and stuff and people kind of liked him." Which revision best suits the occasion? (Mr Osei? Yeah, decent guy. / Mr Osei's patience and humour shaped the lives of countless students. / Mr Osei was okay and people liked him, mostly. / Mr Osei was a teacher who taught.) → Mr Osei's patience and humour shaped the lives of countless students.Prompt: Who is the audience and what is the purpose?
2. An email applying for a summer job. Which closing is most appropriate? (Get back to me ASAP, yeah? / Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you. / That's all. Bye. / Cheers, hope I get it lol.) → Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.Prompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose?
3. 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 rigorous, so its conclusions are credible. / The methodology? Solid. The conclusions? Legit. / The study's methodology was totally awesome, so its conclusions rock. / 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?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Adapting register and tone to audience and purpose. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Purpose: an email to a company complaining that a product broke after one week. Which sentence suits the audience and purpose best?
• Step 1: Effective writers adapt register — formality, vocabulary and tone — to their audience and purpose.
• Step 2: Firm, polite and specific is most effective for a complaint.
• Step 3: So the answer is: I am writing to report that the headphones I bought on 3 May stopped working after one week, and I would like a replacement or refund.
• Answer: I am writing to report that the headphones I bought on 3 May stopped working after one week, and I would like a replacement or refund.
• 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. Is the proposed answer correct? Purpose: the opening of a formal report to the council about traffic outside your school. Which opening suits the audience and purpose best? → This report sets out the results of a two-week traffic survey outside Hillside School and recommends three safety measures. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose (request, inform, persuade, entertain)?
2. Purpose: ask your head teacher for permission to start a climate club. Which opening suits the audience and purpose best? (Hey Miss! Can we do a climate club pls? / Climate club. Yes or no? / To whom it may concern, I demand that the school immediately creates a club. / Dear Ms Rahman, I am writing to ask whether a group of Year 12 students could start a lunchtime climate club.) → Dear Ms Rahman, I am writing to ask whether a group of Year 12 students could start a lunchtime climate club.Prompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose (request, inform, persuade, entertain)?

• 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 8 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. Purpose: an email to a company complaining that a product broke after one week. Which sentence suits the audience and purpose best? (I am writing to report that the headphones I bought on 3 May stopped working after one week, and I would like a replacement or refund. / I am absolutely devastated beyond words by this tragedy. / hi, headphones broke, sort it / Your headphones are rubbish and so is your company.) → I am writing to report that the headphones I bought on 3 May stopped working after one week, and I would like a replacement or refund.Prompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose (request, inform, persuade, entertain)?
2. Is the proposed answer correct? Purpose: a speech to Year 7 pupils encouraging them to join the reading club. Which line suits the audience and purpose best? → The reading club operates in accordance with library regulations. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Who is the audience, and what is the purpose (request, inform, persuade, entertain)?

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