Description
This lesson teaches students the difference between formal and informal language and helps them understand how an author’s style should change depending on audience, purpose, and setting. Designed for middle school and high school ELA classrooms, this resource builds essential skills for both academic writing and real-world communication.
Students learn how word choice, tone, and sentence structure influence meaning and credibility in writing. Through clear instruction, students explore when formal language is required and when informal language is appropriate, strengthening their awareness of how writing expectations shift across contexts.
This resource includes student notes that clearly explain the rules of formal writing, along with guided instruction that supports comprehension and application. Students then practice identifying formal versus informal language and apply their learning by rewriting informal sentences to make them appropriate for academic or professional settings.
Two practice worksheets with answer keys are included to reinforce learning and support assessment. An editable copy is also provided, allowing teachers to modify content, adjust expectations, or tailor instruction to meet classroom needs.
This formal vs informal language lesson is ideal for writing units, grammar instruction, test preparation, or college and career readiness activities focused on style, tone, and audience awareness.