Definition

Voice is the personality of the writer coming through on the page. It is what gives the writing a sense of flavor, a uniqueness, and give the reader the feeling that the writer is talking directly to her. A strong sense of voice demands that the writer make a commitment to the writing and write honestly with conviction. In a paper with strong voice, the reader will get a sense that someone real is there on the page, whether the reader knows the writer or not.

Another Definition

Rubric...Individual Voice

Instructions:

• Read the paper all the way through.
• Read the criteria item and enter Y for Yes, N for No, and S for Sort of.
• Mark your score in the space provided.
• Give 1 point for each Y, 1/2 point for each S and 0 points for each N
  
  ___ ___ The text has personality.
  
  ___ ___ I want the reader to feel what I feel.
  
  ___ ___ It's obvious that I find this topic interesting.
  
  ___ ___ I want you to read and feel something.
  
  ___ ___ You can tell I thinking about the audience.

 

Lesson Plans

Lessons, Grades 1-3

Lessons, Grades 4-5

Literature to Illustrate Voice

Please click on the underlined, linked author's name to pursue an author study.

Book Title	Author
Reach for the Moon	Samantha Abeel
December	Eve Bunting
The Twits	Roald Dahl
Hey World! Here I am!	Jean Little
Earthlets	Jeanne Willis
When We Married Gary	Anna Hines
Alexander Who Is Not Going to Move	Judith Viorst
A Goat in the Rug	Charles Blood
Alexander's Bad Day	Judith Viorst
Cinderella's Rat	Susan Meddaugh

 

Teaching Voice through Music

1. Play a minute of classical and then a minute of Rock and Rock. Discuss the differences you can hear. Then play a third selection and ask the students to identify the voice. (Classical or Rock and Roll.) Talk about how different styles of music employ different voices.
2. Play a bit of each singer, like Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston or Rod Stewart and George Straight. Discuss the differences in their voice and style of singing. Then play a third selection and have students explain how they can tell which singer it is. Talk about how singers have their own individual styles or voices. They all don't sound alike.
3. Play a selection of each instrument, a flute and a harp or a piano and a violin. Discuss the differences in the voice of the instrument. Then play a third selection and have students explain how they can tell which instrument it is. Talk about how each musical instrument has its own individual voice.
   

Teaching Voice through Art

Preparation	Exercise	Discussion
Find pictures of paintings done by two distinctly different artists, like Picasso and Van Gogh or Rivera and Renoir.	Show students a painting or two by each artist. Discuss the differences. Then show them another painting and have them explain how they can tell which artist painted it.	Talk about how each artist has a distinct "voice" in his works.

Artist	Painting
Picasso	Enamel Saucepan
	Guernica
	Picasso's Old Guitarist
	Picasso's Three Musicians
Van Gogh	Lanuitetiolee
	Starry Night
	Sunflowers
Renoir	Luncheon of the Boating Party
	Renoir's House at Essoyes
	Garden in the Rue Cortot
Rivera	La Noche de los Pobres
	Flower Carrier
	Flower Seller
	Vendedora De Alcatraces

 

Teaching Voice through Writings

Preparation	With Students	Discussion
Find two different cards - i.e. two Far Side cards and two sympathy cards	Show students one of each and discuss differences. Show them a third card and have them identify which "kind" it is.	Discuss how they can tell the differences in tone. Point out that each kind of card has a voice.
Display a variety of greeting cards.	Have children compare the cards. What makes them different? What different occasions or people fit which cards?	Talk about the need for different voices for different occasions; for a good friend's birthday or great grandmother's, for a holiday or a death.
Find two brief selections from age directed writing - i.e. a young child's book and an adult novel.	Read a bit of each and ask what the difference is and how can you tell which is meant for which.	Point out the need for different voices for different audiences.
Find two brief selections from different types of writing - i.e. an encyclopedia and a mystery story.	Read a paragraph or two from each. Discuss the difference in voice used by the authors. Why is each important? Which is more fun to listen to?	Talk about purposes of different voices.
Find two brief selections from two distinctly different children's authors - i.e. Dr. Seuss and R. L. Stein or Jack Prelutsky and Arnold Lobel.	Read a bit of each author and discuss the differences in voice. Then read a third selection and have the students explain how they can tell which author it is.	Talk about how each author has an individual voice.
Find two student selections from online collections, one without much voice and one high in voice.	Read both selections and ask which one sounds more like someone actually talking to them.	Point how the way voice enhances writing, how it makes it more interesting.

 

Web Resources

Descriptors for Voice
Examples 1
How to Put Voice in Your Writing