6th Grade Writing Flashcards: Establish Maintain A Formal Explanatory Style

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Establish Maintain A Formal Explanatory Style, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for 6th Grade Writing.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Find and correct the informal closing: "That is pretty much it."

Answer: Correct: "In conclusion, the main points are summarized above.". "Pretty much it" is extremely casual; formal closings are structured.

Flashcard 2: Which option is the most formal replacement for "get" in the sentence "Plants get energy"?

Answer: obtain. "Obtain" is more academic than the casual verb "get."

Flashcard 3: Find and correct the informal word: "The experiment was kinda successful."

Answer: Correct: "The experiment was somewhat successful.". "Kinda" is slang; "somewhat" is the formal equivalent.

Flashcard 4: Which transition is more formal for adding information: "also" or "in addition"?

Answer: In addition. Multi-word transitions sound more sophisticated than single words.

Flashcard 5: Identify the best replacement for the informal phrase "a lot of" in formal writing.

Answer: many. "Many" is precise and formal; "a lot of" is conversational.

Flashcard 6: Which word choice is most formal: "a lot of" or "many"?

Answer: Many. "A lot of" is conversational; "many" is precise and formal.

Flashcard 7: Which revision is more formal? A) "I think pollution is bad." B) "Pollution harms ecosystems."

Answer: B) "Pollution harms ecosystems.". B removes personal opinion and states fact objectively.

Flashcard 8: Identify the best formal revision for "In my opinion, the book is awesome."

Answer: The book is highly effective. Removes "In my opinion" and "awesome" for objective, formal tone.

Flashcard 9: Find and correct the informal phrase: "The results were a big deal."

Answer: Correct: "The results were significant.". "A big deal" is idiomatic; "significant" is academic.

Flashcard 10: Find and correct the informal phrase: "The plan did not work out."

Answer: Correct: "The plan was unsuccessful.". "Work out" is informal; "unsuccessful" is direct and formal.

Flashcard 11: Which option best describes the purpose of formal style in an explanatory text?

Answer: To inform clearly and credibly using precise, respectful language. Formal style establishes credibility and clarity in explanatory writing.

Flashcard 12: Find and correct the contraction to maintain formal style: "The solution does not work because it isn't stable."

Answer: Correct: "...because it is not stable.". Contractions like "isn't" are too informal for academic writing.

Flashcard 13: Identify the most formal replacement for "big" when describing an increase in data.

Answer: Significant. "Big" is simple and vague; "significant" is precise and academic.

Flashcard 14: Which phrase is most formal: "get rid of" or "eliminate"?

Answer: Eliminate. Phrasal verbs like "get rid of" are informal compared to single verbs.

Flashcard 15: Which transition is more formal for showing contrast: "but" or "however"?

Answer: However. "But" starts sentences informally; "however" is academic.

Flashcard 16: Which sentence best maintains a formal style: "We are going to explain photosynthesis" or "This essay explains photosynthesis"?

Answer: This essay explains photosynthesis. "We" is personal; formal writing uses impersonal constructions.

Flashcard 17: Which option is the most formal replacement for "stuff" in an explanatory paragraph?

Answer: materials. "Materials" is specific and professional; "stuff" is vague and informal.

Flashcard 18: Which option is most formal: "It is kind of important" or "It is important"?

Answer: It is important. "Kind of" is a hedge phrase that weakens formal statements.

Flashcard 19: What does it mean to establish and maintain a formal style in informative writing?

Answer: Use objective, academic language; avoid casual words and slang. Formal style requires professional vocabulary and tone.

Flashcard 20: What is one clear sign that a sentence is too informal for an explanatory essay?

Answer: It uses slang, texting language, or casual expressions. Formal writing avoids conversational language patterns.

Flashcard 21: Which word choice is most formal: "kids," "children," or "little guys"?

Answer: Children. Academic writing avoids colloquial terms like "kids" or "little guys."

Flashcard 22: Which sentence is more formal: "I think the results are clear" or "The results are clear"?

Answer: The results are clear. Personal opinions ("I think") weaken formal objectivity.

Flashcard 23: What is the best definition of objective tone as it relates to maintaining formal style?

Answer: A neutral tone focused on facts rather than personal feelings. Objective tone presents information without bias or emotion.

Flashcard 24: What is the most formal way to avoid addressing the reader as "you" in an essay?

Answer: Use third-person or passive voice instead of second person. Direct address ("you") is too conversational for formal essays.

Flashcard 25: What is the most formal way to refer to a reader in an explanatory essay: "you" or "the reader"?

Answer: the reader. Third-person reference avoids the informal direct address "you."

Flashcard 26: Identify the best replacement for the informal word "kids" in formal writing.

Answer: children. "Children" is the formal term; "kids" is too casual for academic writing.

Flashcard 27: Which option best avoids slang in a formal essay: "That movie was awesome" or "The film was impressive"?

Answer: The film was impressive. "Awesome" is slang; formal writing uses precise descriptors.

Flashcard 28: What is a formal style in writing, in one clear definition for an informational essay?

Answer: An objective, academic tone that avoids slang and overly casual language. Formal style requires professional language appropriate for academic contexts.

Flashcard 29: Which option is the most formal replacement for "show" in the sentence "The data show"?

Answer: demonstrate. "Demonstrate" is more precise and formal than "show."

Flashcard 30: Which option best maintains a formal tone: "The author is trying to" or "The author aims to"?

Answer: The author aims to. "Trying to" suggests effort; "aims to" indicates purpose formally.

Flashcard 31: Choose the most formal transition to show contrast: A) "But" B) "However"

Answer: B) "However". "However" is formal; "but" is acceptable but less academic.

Flashcard 32: Which sentence is more formal? A) "We found out the cause." B) "The cause was determined."

Answer: B) "The cause was determined.". Passive voice and formal vocabulary create academic tone.

Flashcard 33: Choose the sentence that maintains a formal style: A) "This is super important." B) "This is significant."

Answer: B) "This is significant.". "Significant" is formal; "super" is casual intensifier.

Flashcard 34: Which word is more formal in an essay: "help" or "assist"?

Answer: Assist. Latin-derived words like "assist" sound more formal than Germanic ones.

Flashcard 35: Choose the most formal transition to add emphasis: A) "Plus" B) "Furthermore"

Answer: B) "Furthermore". "Furthermore" is an academic transition; "plus" is conversational.

Flashcard 36: Identify the best formal replacement for "stuff" in an informative essay.

Answer: Materials. "Stuff" is vague and casual; formal writing requires specific terms.

Flashcard 37: Identify the best formal replacement for "really" in "The test was really difficult."

Answer: extremely. "Extremely" is more precise and formal than the vague "really."

Flashcard 38: Which type of language should you avoid to maintain a formal style: slang, precise terms, or academic transitions?

Answer: slang. Slang is informal language inappropriate for academic writing.

Flashcard 39: Find and correct the informal intensifier: "The evidence is super convincing."

Answer: Correct: "The evidence is highly convincing.". "Super" is slang; formal writing uses standard intensifiers.

Flashcard 40: Find and correct the informal word: "The scientist looked into the problem."

Answer: Correct: "The scientist investigated the problem.". "Looked into" is casual; "investigated" is precise and academic.