1. Read 2 books from the selection for Voice. For each book you read, make 2 comments about the personality of the writer or main character in this book. This may be on specific words used, or on the general vocabulary of the book. What makes this book special, when it comes to the way the author has revealed her own thoughts, ideas and/or way of expressing herself? How could you use this information in your own writing?
2. Compare the two samples that follow. In one there is voice, flavour, life! The other is flat and dull. Why are they so different? After reading both, choose one of the dull paragraphs that follow and rewrite it to make it sparkle with voice.
Draft Some people just do not know how to drive well. Roy is one of them.
Revised for Voice You do not want to be a passenger when Roy is at the wheel. He either cannot recognize the colour red or else he does not know what red lights are for. He never stops. I pity drivers who get in his way. He zooms right up behind them and hits the horn full blast. What's worse, he passes everything on wheels, even if he has to go into the ditch to do it!
Drafts to Choose From:
Ted stares at TV all night. He watches anything that is on. He must like TV a lot.
Mary Ellen is fearless. It is amazing. She is just not afraid of anything.
I have this one thing that I love to do with my friends after school. It is so cool. It is just really, really great.
3. Read Diary of a Worm. As you read, study it for the words that show the thoughts, experiences and expressions that are so...wormy! Now choose your own animal (other than a worm, spider or fly) and write your own short diary. Date each entry, and write your entry below it. You need at least 10 entries, each at least 2 sentences long. BE that animal...what do they fear? What do they enjoy? How does where they live, what they eat, what their physical body is like impact their life? Which animals are their enemies? Write in first person (I) and include at least one appropriate illustration.
For this trait, your assignment is:
1. Read 2 books from the selection for Voice. For each book you read, make 2 comments about the personality of the writer or main character in this book. This may be on specific words used, or on the general vocabulary of the book. What makes this book special, when it comes to the way the author has revealed her own thoughts, ideas and/or way of expressing herself? How could you use this information in your own writing?
2. Compare the two samples that follow. In one there is voice, flavour, life! The other is flat and dull. Why are they so different? After reading both, choose one of the dull paragraphs that follow and rewrite it to make it sparkle with voice.
Draft
Some people just do not know how to drive well. Roy is one of them.
Revised for Voice
You do not want to be a passenger when Roy is at the wheel. He either cannot recognize the colour red or else he does not know what red lights are for. He never stops. I pity drivers who get in his way. He zooms right up behind them and hits the horn full blast. What's worse, he passes everything on wheels, even if he has to go into the ditch to do it!
Drafts to Choose From:
Ted stares at TV all night. He watches anything that is on. He must like TV a lot.
Mary Ellen is fearless. It is amazing. She is just not afraid of anything.
I have this one thing that I love to do with my friends after school. It is so cool. It is just really, really great.
3. Read Diary of a Worm. As you read, study it for the words that show the thoughts, experiences and expressions that are so...wormy! Now choose your own animal (other than a worm, spider or fly) and write your own short diary. Date each entry, and write your entry below it. You need at least 10 entries, each at least 2 sentences long. BE that animal...what do they fear? What do they enjoy? How does where they live, what they eat, what their physical body is like impact their life? Which animals are their enemies? Write in first person (I) and include at least one appropriate illustration.