Analyze IDIOMS — cultural origin, literal vs. figurative meaning, register, audience appropriateness (CCSS L.6.5.a)
Exercise Difficulty 3 ~8 min eng.g6.s.ex_17

Register Decision For Argument

Prompt

For your fall argument: identify any idioms you used. For each: check register (formal/informal). Is your argument's audience formal? If so, propose a Standard-English replacement; if not, justify keeping the idiom.

M-6-S-VOC-EX-17-A Interactive Physical / non-image

Register-decision worksheet with 3 columns: idiom found / register / decision-with-justification. Print-ready 8.5x11.

Answer criteria
type rubric
rubric
All idioms identified + register checked + decision justified = 4; idioms identified only = 3; partial = 2; none = 1
Hints
  1. Formal arguments (school board, op-ed) tend to avoid colloquial idioms.
  2. Informal arguments (peer, blog) can use idioms more freely.
Misconceptions to watch
  • Keeps idioms in formal contexts.
  • Replaces idioms with stiffer language that doesn't match audience.
Used in lessons