Grade 9 · English Language Arts and Reading

Give a presentation using informal, formal, and technical language effectively to meet the needs of audience, purpose, and occasion, employing eye contact, speaking rate such as

Quarter 1 · Week 3 · TEKS

Standards Alignment

TEKS.110.36.01C primary
give a presentation using informal, formal, and technical language effectively to meet the needs of audience, purpose, and occasion, employing eye contact, speaking rate such as pauses for effect, volume, enunciation, purposeful gestures, and conventions of language to communicate ideas effectively; and
TEKS.110.36.01D primary
participate collaboratively, building on the ideas of others, contributing relevant information, developing a plan for consensus building, and setting ground rules for decision making.

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Lesson Overview

This Grade 9 English Language Arts lesson focuses on developing students' oral communication skills by teaching them how to give presentations using informal, formal, and technical language appropriately. Students will learn to adjust their language and delivery techniques—including eye contact, speaking rate, pauses, volume, enunciation, and purposeful gestures—to suit different audiences, purposes, and occasions. Additionally, students will practice collaborative skills by building on others' ideas, contributing relevant information, and developing consensus and decision-making plans.

Learning Objectives

Demonstrate the ability to give a presentation using informal, formal, and technical language effectively to meet the needs of audience, purpose, and occasion.
Employ eye contact, speaking rate (including pauses for effect), volume, enunciation, purposeful gestures, and conventions of language to communicate ideas clearly during presentations.
Participate collaboratively in group discussions by building on the ideas of others, contributing relevant information, developing a plan for consensus building, and setting ground rules for decision making.

Success Criteria

Students can identify and use informal, formal, and technical language appropriately in presentations.
Students maintain effective eye contact and use speaking rate, volume, and gestures to enhance communication.
Students actively contribute to group discussions, showing respect for others' ideas and helping the group reach consensus.
Students can explain how their language and delivery choices meet the needs of different audiences and purposes.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should be familiar with basic oral communication skills such as speaking clearly, listening attentively, and participating in discussions. They should understand the concept of audience and purpose in communication.

Key Vocabulary

Informal language
Formal language
Technical language
Eye contact
Speaking rate
Pauses for effect
Volume
Enunciation
Purposeful gestures
Conventions of language
Consensus building
Ground rules
Decision making

Materials and Resources

Whiteboard or chart paper
Markers
Sample presentation scripts or videos demonstrating informal, formal, and technical language
Presentation rubric or checklist
Note cards for student presentations

Teacher Preparation

Prepare examples of informal, formal, and technical language in presentations.
Develop a short mentor presentation modeling effective use of language and delivery techniques.
Create guiding questions to prompt student reflection on language choices and delivery.
Prepare a collaborative group activity plan for consensus building and decision making.
Arrange seating to facilitate group discussions and presentations.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding Language Styles in Presentations

Informal language is casual and conversational, often used with friends or in relaxed settings. Formal language is more structured and polite, suitable for professional or academic audiences. Technical language includes specialized vocabulary related to a particular field or subject. Effective presenters choose the appropriate style based on their audience, purpose, and occasion to communicate clearly and respectfully.

Delivery Techniques to Enhance Presentations

Eye contact helps engage the audience and shows confidence. Speaking rate involves how fast or slow a speaker talks; using pauses for effect can emphasize important points. Volume should be loud enough for everyone to hear but not overwhelming. Enunciation means pronouncing words clearly. Purposeful gestures support and clarify spoken words. Conventions of language include grammar and sentence structure that make communication clear and professional.

Collaborative Participation in Discussions

Participating collaboratively means listening to others, building on their ideas, and contributing relevant information. Developing a plan for consensus building involves working together to reach agreement. Setting ground rules for decision making helps the group stay organized and respectful. These skills support effective teamwork and communication.

Common Misconceptions

Students may think that formal language is always better, but the best style depends on the audience and purpose. Some may believe speaking quickly shows confidence, but speaking too fast can confuse listeners. Others might overlook the importance of nonverbal cues like eye contact and gestures, which are essential for engaging presentations.

Worked Examples

Worked Example 1

Scenario

A student is preparing a presentation for a science class about climate change. Should they use informal, formal, or technical language? How should they use eye contact and speaking rate?

Explanation

Since the audience is a science class, the student should use formal and technical language to convey information accurately and professionally. Eye contact should be steady to engage the audience, and speaking rate should be moderate with pauses to emphasize key points.

Answer Guide

The student should use formal and technical language appropriate for the science audience. They should maintain eye contact to connect with listeners and speak at a moderate pace, pausing for effect to highlight important information.

Worked Example 2

Scenario

During a group discussion, one student suggests an idea, and another builds on it by adding relevant information. How does this demonstrate collaborative participation?

Explanation

Building on others' ideas shows active listening and respect. It contributes to developing a richer understanding and helps the group move toward consensus.

Answer Guide

It shows that students are listening to each other and contributing relevant information, which helps the group work together effectively and make decisions.

Engage

Teacher Activity

Begin by asking students to share times when they spoke differently depending on who they were talking to (e.g., friends vs. teachers). Show short video clips or read excerpts demonstrating informal, formal, and technical language.

Student Activity

Students discuss with a partner examples of informal, formal, and technical language they have heard or used. They share their ideas with the class.

Explanation

This activity activates prior knowledge about language styles and prepares students to recognize and use these styles in presentations.

Examples

Students identify different language styles and contexts where they are appropriate.
Students recognize that language changes based on audience and purpose.

Explore

Teacher Activity

Provide students with sample presentation excerpts or scripts using informal, formal, and technical language. Guide them to identify language style, delivery techniques, and effectiveness.

Student Activity

In small groups, students analyze the samples, noting language style, use of eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, and gestures. They discuss how these elements suit the audience and purpose.

Explanation

Analyzing examples helps students understand how language and delivery techniques work together to communicate effectively.

Examples

Students correctly classify language styles.
Students observe delivery techniques and explain their effects.
Students connect language and delivery choices to audience needs.

Explain

Teacher Activity

Model a short presentation using formal language and effective delivery techniques. Highlight how eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, and gestures enhance communication. Discuss how to choose language style based on audience and purpose.

Student Activity

Students listen and take notes on the modeled presentation. They ask questions and discuss how the presenter’s choices affect the message.

Explanation

Modeling demonstrates the skill in action and provides a clear example for students to emulate.

Examples

Students identify delivery techniques used.
Students understand the rationale behind language and delivery choices.

Elaborate

Teacher Activity

Organize students into groups to plan and give short presentations on assigned topics. Each group decides on the appropriate language style and delivery techniques. Groups also practice collaborative skills by setting ground rules and planning consensus for their presentation.

Student Activity

Groups collaborate to prepare and deliver presentations, applying language styles and delivery techniques. They practice building on each other's ideas and making group decisions.

Explanation

This phase allows students to apply what they have learned in a real context, reinforcing both presentation and collaboration skills.

Examples

Students use appropriate language and delivery techniques.
Groups demonstrate effective collaboration and consensus building.

Evaluate

Teacher Activity

Observe presentations and group discussions. Use a rubric to assess language style appropriateness, delivery techniques, and collaborative participation. Conduct a brief reflection discussion or written exit ticket asking students to explain their language and delivery choices and how they contributed to group decisions.

Student Activity

Students present their work and participate in reflection. They explain how their choices met audience and purpose needs and describe their role in group collaboration.

Explanation

Assessment confirms student understanding and skill development in presentation and collaboration.

Examples

Students demonstrate effective presentations.
Students articulate their communication and collaboration strategies.

Classroom Activity

Guided Practice

Guided Practice 1

Prompt

What language style is appropriate for a professional presentation?

Teacher Answer Guide

Formal language is appropriate for a professional presentation.

Guided Practice 2

Prompt

Why is eye contact important during a presentation?

Teacher Answer Guide

Eye contact helps engage the audience and shows confidence.

Guided Practice 3

Prompt

How can pauses be used effectively in speaking?

Teacher Answer Guide

Pauses can emphasize important points and give the audience time to understand.

Guided Practice 4

Prompt

What does it mean to build on the ideas of others in a discussion?

Teacher Answer Guide

It means listening to others and adding relevant information to their ideas.

Guided Practice 5

Prompt

Why are ground rules important in group decision making?

Teacher Answer Guide

Ground rules help keep the group organized, respectful, and focused on reaching consensus.

Independent Practice

Foundational: What is one difference between informal and formal language?
Developing: Identify an example of a purposeful gesture you could use during a presentation and explain its effect.
Application: You are giving a presentation to your classmates about a hobby. Which language style would you use and why?
Analysis: Explain how speaking rate and pauses can affect the audience’s understanding during a formal presentation.
Challenge: During a group project, how can setting ground rules for decision making improve collaboration and the quality of the presentation?

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. Informal language is casual and used with friends, while formal language is more structured and polite, used in professional or academic settings.
2. Using hand movements to emphasize a key point helps the audience understand and remember the information better.
3. Informal language would be appropriate because the audience is peers, and a casual tone helps engage them.
4. Speaking too fast can confuse the audience, while well-timed pauses allow listeners to absorb information and emphasize important points.
5. Ground rules ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute, reduce conflicts, and help the group reach consensus efficiently, leading to a more organized and effective presentation.

Guiding Questions

What are the differences between informal, formal, and technical language?
How can delivery techniques like eye contact and pauses improve a presentation?
Why is it important to adjust language for different audiences?
How do you build on others' ideas in a group?
What are effective ground rules for decision making?

Common Misconceptions

Formal language is always better regardless of audience or purpose.
Speaking quickly shows confidence and is always effective.
Nonverbal communication like eye contact and gestures is not important in presentations.
Technical language should be avoided because it is too complicated for audiences.

Differentiation

Support and Intervention

Provide sentence starters for informal, formal, and technical language. Use visual aids to demonstrate eye contact and gestures. Allow practice presentations in small groups before whole-class presentations.

English-Language Learner Support

Teach key vocabulary with visuals and examples. Model pronunciation and enunciation clearly. Use bilingual resources or peer support for language development.

Advanced and Extension

Challenge students to analyze how language style changes affect audience perception. Encourage use of advanced technical vocabulary in presentations. Assign leadership roles in group consensus building and decision making.

Assessment

Observe student participation in discussions and group work.
Use a checklist to monitor use of language styles and delivery techniques during practice presentations.
Ask students to explain their language choices during peer feedback sessions.
Write a brief explanation of how you used language and delivery techniques to meet your audience’s needs.
Describe one way you contributed to your group’s decision making process.
Deliver a formal presentation on a chosen topic using appropriate language and delivery techniques.
Participate in a group project that requires consensus building and present the group’s findings.

Answer Guide

What language style is appropriate for a professional presentation?
Answer: Formal language is appropriate for a professional presentation.
Why is eye contact important during a presentation?
Answer: Eye contact helps engage the audience and shows confidence.
How can pauses be used effectively in speaking?
Answer: Pauses can emphasize important points and give the audience time to understand.
What does it mean to build on the ideas of others in a discussion?
Answer: It means listening to others and adding relevant information to their ideas.
Why are ground rules important in group decision making?
Answer: Ground rules help keep the group organized, respectful, and focused on reaching consensus.

Real-Life Application

Ask students to practice giving a short presentation at home for family members using different language styles and delivery techniques. They can share their experiences and feedback in class.

Homework or Home Connection

Ask students to practice giving a short presentation at home for family members using different language styles and delivery techniques. They can share their experiences and feedback in class.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students learn to give presentations using informal, formal, and technical language tailored to their audience, purpose, and occasion. They practice delivery skills such as eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, and gestures to communicate effectively. Additionally, students develop collaborative skills by participating in group discussions, building on others' ideas, and establishing ground rules for decision making. These skills prepare students to communicate confidently and work effectively with others in academic and real-world settings.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.