Comments on: Teaching Formal Language and Voice in Report Writing | Elementary & Middle School http://patternbasedwriting.com/elementary_writing_success/teaching-formal-language-and-voice-in-report-writing-elementary-middle-school/ Pattern Based Writing: Quick and Easy Essay Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:15:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Pennington http://patternbasedwriting.com/elementary_writing_success/teaching-formal-language-and-voice-in-report-writing-elementary-middle-school/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Mark Pennington Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:13:39 +0000 http://patternbasedwriting.com/elementary_writing_success/?p=392#comment-214 I love your direct instruction in teaching formal voice. Some tend to adopt a narrow definition that voice is what makes one’s writing unique and personal; the intangibles that demonstrate an honest commitment to its writing. They would argue that the only clues provided to developing writers should be widespread reading and unencumbered writing practice. After a journey of self-discovery, the squishy concept of voice may emerge some day for some writers. I take a different view. I define voice a bit more globally, encompassing what old-time Strunkers called style, as well as point of view, tone, and diction (word choice). I think that discovering voice should be the result of a guided journey. It is something that can be taught, as you have demonstrated. http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-develop-voice-in-student-writing/ I love your direct instruction in teaching formal voice. Some tend to adopt a narrow definition that voice is what makes one’s writing unique and personal; the intangibles that demonstrate an honest commitment to its writing. They would argue that the only clues provided to developing writers should be widespread reading and unencumbered writing practice. After a journey of self-discovery, the squishy concept of voice may emerge some day for some writers.

I take a different view. I define voice a bit more globally, encompassing what old-time Strunkers called style, as well as point of view, tone, and diction (word choice). I think that discovering voice should be the result of a guided journey. It is something that can be taught, as you have demonstrated.
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/writing/how-to-develop-voice-in-student-writing/

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