why is writing voice important?

This is a Connect module - which means we'll be focusing on developing a targeted skill. Our skill focus this week is adapting voice for a specific audience and purpose, which we will do by writing letters!

Module summary:

• be exposed: discuss audience, word choice, and purpose
• practice: read Dragon Post and practice writing letters
• create: re-write a fairytale to include letters from varying voices
• reflect: conference and revise story as needed

Yes, we're using a children's book again. To write letters.

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essential questions

1. How do we adapt our communication skills to fulfill an intended purpose?
2. How does creative writing translate to other areas of our lives?​

goals

1. Students will understand that we adapt our communication based on purpose or context through our word choice, voice, and sentence and paragraph structure.
2. Students will understand that creative writing gives us the opportunity to develop key skills we use in every aspect of life - such as patience, trying new approaches to solve a problem, and revision - in fresh ways.

activities

INTRODUCE

• Complete warm up: Write according to the prompt you are given. Then compare writing and match to the intended characters
  • Miss class for this? Discuss how to make it up with Christine
• Review syllabus and module expectations

EXPOSE

• Discuss modes of writing voice: purpose, audience, tone, word choice
  • Take notes on definitions and examples
• Review ten levels of writing tone. In what settings are each tone appropriate?
• Read and discuss samples of voice. How can you tell what's appropriate when?

PRACTICE

• As a group, re-write words in writing sample to change tone
• Read Dragon Post
  • Write letters to fit the story (this will make sense once you have read the story)

CREATE

• Choose a fairytale you are familiar with. Review the plot as needed and complete a basic plot arc.
• Re-write the story to keep the general outline but to incorporate three letters from three different characters
  • Each of the three letters must illustrate a different voice to match the purpose and tone of the character
• Type up your story and give each letter a different font/color/formatting from the story text
• Submit draft

REFLECT

• Conference with Christine about story and letters
• Revise story and letters as needed
  • Review with Christine

c-tachs

Writing

• Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
• Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach

Reading​

• Interpret meaning of words and phrases in context and how the use shape meaning and tone 

Language

• Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar when speaking and writing
• Demonstrate command of standard capitalization and punctuation
• Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meaning ​

resources

Module syllabus
​DOK rubric