1. Notes on voice in writing, and grammar (finding subjects)
2. Voice: Putting myself in my writing It’s ME! Hear me ROAR!! I LOVE this topic! This is what I think. I’m speaking right to the reader. It might make you laugh or cry. This topic matters to me! This topic is OK. I hear a bit of me in my writing. I’m trying to speak to the reader. I’m hiding my feelings and ideas a little. I’m starting to have fun in a few places. I’m not speaking to the reader yet. I don’t hear myself in this paper. This topic is boring. SNORE! I wish I didn’t have to do this. 5 4 3 2 1
3. Voice in writing… Write honestly and from the heart Share personal feelings about the topic Speak directly to the reader Use language that can bring the topic to life for the reader Care about what is written Write to be read Use more expression than that found in an encyclopedia article Give the reader a sense of the person behind the words Connect with the reader
4. Example of voice!!! It’s Spencer again. What a bad day! I have a cell phone that I use fairly often. After seeing the bill, though, I realized that I had used my phone a bit too often. $150 over! My heart sank when my mom handed me the bill. I spent lots of time making that kind of money, and it goes down the drain to the bill. AAAAH! I have never been so royally ticked off. I ran around the house 50 times because of the fury inside of me.
5. Grammar: subjects in unusual order Commands: subject is understood (implied, assumed) Take your shoes off! (subject is you) Be respectful. (you) Give me a break! (you) Questions: Do they want to go to sleep? Are you happy now? Will Miss Holly give me a new paper? Prepositions in the beginning: After the party, we watched a movie. Over the rivers they came. Above the door hung a sign.