September 23 - Voice
English 9/23/13
Voice is the third of our 6+1 Traits of Good Writing. Voice is what makes your writing unique to you. Voice is individual, engaging, honest, committed, responsive, and must interact with your reader. Voice exists when there is a personal tone and flavor to the writing. There is voice when it is obvious that a piece was written by an individual person and not by a machine. Today we will work on establishing everyone's unique voice in their own writing. According to our 6+1 Traits Rubric, to score a 5 in Voice, your writing must include each of the following characteristics: |
- The writer of this paper speaks directly to the reader in a manner that is individual, compelling, engaging, and respects purpose and audience for the writing.
- The reader feels a strong interaction with the writer.
- The writer takes a risk.
- The tone and voice give flavor and texture to the message and are appropriate for the purpose and audience.
- Narrative writing sees honest and personal. Expository (informative) or persuasive writing reflects a strong commitment to this topic.
Let's analyze a couple of different essays and determine how well each author has included their own personal, unique Voice in their writing.
First Example Essay: "One Day I was Riding"
One day I was riding my bike. A guy came up to me.
He chased me into a dark alley. I rode it fast and he stopped to rest. I went home and called the police. They caught the guy. |
Score the essay above for Voice by using your 6+1 Traits Rubric. You must write a three sentence response explaining your choice by using direct quotes from the rubric and/or the essay.
Second Example Essay: "The Bus and the Scissors"
Second Example Essay: "The Bus and the Scissors"
Once, there was a pair of scissors and a bus. I controlled the scissors and the bus driver drove the bus. I hopped on the bus. I wasn't really thinking and so Hund and I cut the seat on the bus with my scissors. The bus driver didn't notice until we got to school.
I remembered it because I saw other seats that were just taped up, but Hund and I had to pay $40.00 each. Tape must be expensive. |
Score the essay above for Voice by using your 6+1 Traits Rubric. You must write a three sentence response explaining your choice by using direct quotes from the rubric and/or the essay.
Third Example Essay: "My Shotty Day"
Third Example Essay: "My Shotty Day"
One day when I was supposed to get my shots at the doctor's office, I kept on pulling my dad back to the car. I definitely didn't want to get my shots, but I kind of knew that I had to get my shots. On my first shot, I yelped and screamed constantly. I think it was my tetanus shot.
After my third shot, they took my weight. So then they gave me another shot. They thought that if I held onto a smaller version of a Garfield stuffed animal that it wouldn't hurt as much when they injected the shot. NOT TRUE! In fact, I think it hurt even more. I think I got eight shots total; seven in my arm and one in my thumb. Boy! Was I screaming! I felt like I had to vomit because it hurt so much! Instead, they gave me some delicious, scrumptious Tylenol. The worst thing about it was, on the very same day I got my shots, I went to my grandparents house. I guess the shots made me very sleepy because when I got to my grandparents' house I was fast asleep. When I woke up, I needed more Tylenol. I needed to rest a little. Whew! That was quite a day. It was one of the worst days in my life. My arm ached like a heavy weight was on it and my thumb couldn't even move. I wish there was a pill that has the same stuff a shot has. We'd just have to eat the pill and wash it down with water. Then I wouldn't have to go through such HORRIBLE PAIN!!! |
Once again, score the essay above for Voice by using your 6+1 Traits Rubric. You must write a three sentence response explaining your choice by using direct quotes from the rubric and/or the essay.
In-Class Assignment: RAFTs Writing Activity
Individually or with a partner, you will be focusing on adding a unique Voice to your writing today. To help you get started, we will be using the RAFTs activity to focus on how a particular Voice should sound in a given situation. You will be assigned one of the writing prompts below, which should be turned in by the end of class. If you do not finish your writing assignment, you must finish it for homework and turn it in at the beginning of class on Tuesday the 24th.
For example, if you have been given prompt #1, you should write as if you are a Shark. You are creating a poem entitled "Dinnertime is Near" and you will be giving the poem to some Stranded Sailors. Try to think about how the shark might feel in this situation. Is he planning on devouring the sailors? Is he a vegetarian shark who only wants some coconuts? Communicate the shark's emotions and thoughts about the situation by including Voice in your assignment. For students who are absent, you may choose any of the above prompts and submit it to Miss Shaffer. Your assignment must be at least 75 words long and should primarily focus on establishing a specific Voice in your writing.
Here are some great student examples:
In-Class Assignment: RAFTs Writing Activity
- R - Role of the Writer
- A - Audience
- F - Format of the Material
- T - Topic of your Writing
Individually or with a partner, you will be focusing on adding a unique Voice to your writing today. To help you get started, we will be using the RAFTs activity to focus on how a particular Voice should sound in a given situation. You will be assigned one of the writing prompts below, which should be turned in by the end of class. If you do not finish your writing assignment, you must finish it for homework and turn it in at the beginning of class on Tuesday the 24th.
- Shark – Stranded Sailors – Poem – Dinnertime is Near
- Fishhook – Fish in the Ocean – Newspaper Advertisement – Best Fish in Town
- Parent – Child – Song – Favorite Family Memory
- Big Bad Wolf – Three Little Pigs – Letter – Listen to my side of the story
- Teacher - Students - Brochure - Welcome to My Classroom
For example, if you have been given prompt #1, you should write as if you are a Shark. You are creating a poem entitled "Dinnertime is Near" and you will be giving the poem to some Stranded Sailors. Try to think about how the shark might feel in this situation. Is he planning on devouring the sailors? Is he a vegetarian shark who only wants some coconuts? Communicate the shark's emotions and thoughts about the situation by including Voice in your assignment. For students who are absent, you may choose any of the above prompts and submit it to Miss Shaffer. Your assignment must be at least 75 words long and should primarily focus on establishing a specific Voice in your writing.
Here are some great student examples: