714bfef7__clichés___Oxford_Dictionaries__Rewritten_sentence
[Original sentence] The 1970s were a time when detention without trial was par for the course. [Meaning or key words] what is normal or expected in a certain situation [Suggestions for action] reword along the lines of the meaning, use the key word, or look up synonyms for it [Rewritten sentence] 
The 1970s were a time when detention without trial was a normal occurrence.
Avoiding clichés - Oxford Dictionaries