1. Point of View in Writing and the Active/Passive Voice Adopted from College Writing Skills by John Langan, Purdue OWL, and The Bedford Handbook for Writers by Diana Hacker Point of View When you write, you can take any of three approaches, or points of view: first-person, second-person, or third person.

2. First-Person Approach This is a strongly individualized point of view—you draw on your own experience and speak to your audience in your own voice, using pronouns like I, me, mine, we, our, and us. This approach emphasizes you, the writer and is a good choice for informal letters and writing based primarily on personal experience.

3. Example: First –Person Point of View Paragraph on Camping First of all, I like comfort when I’m camping. My GMC motor home, with its completely equipped kitchen, shower stall, toilet, double bed, and color television, resembles a mobile motel room. I can sleep on a real mattress, clean sheets, and fluffy pillows. Next to my bed are devices that make me feel at home: a radio, an alarm clock, and a TV remote-control unit. Unlike the poor campers huddled in tents, I don’t have to worry about cold, rain, heat, or annoying insects. After a hot shower, I can slide into my pajamas, sit comfortably on my down-filled quilt, and read the latest best-seller while a thunderstorm booms outside.

4. Second-Person Approach In this approach, the writer speaks directly to the reader, using the pronoun you. This approach emphasizes the reader and works well for giving advice, instructions, or explaining how to do something. Otherwise, as a general rule, never use the word you in writing.

5. Third-Person Approach This approach is the most common point of view in academic writing. In the third-person, the writer includes no direct references to the reader (you) or the self (I, me). It derives its name from its stance—that of an outsider or third-person observing and reporting on matters of public rather than private importance. This approach emphasizes the subject and draws on information that the writer has acquired through observation, thinking, or reading. It is appropriate in formal academic and professional writing.

6. Example: Third-Person Point of View Paragraph on Camping First of all, modern campers bring complete bedrooms with them. Winnebagoes, GMC motor homes, and Airstream trailers lumber into America’s campgrounds every summer like mobile motel rooms. All the comforts of home are provided inside. Campers sleep on real mattresses with clean sheets and fluffy pillows. Next to their beds are the same gadgets that litter their night tables at home—radios, alarm clocks, and TV remote –control units. It’s not necessary for them to worry about annoyances like cold, heat, rain, or buzzing insects. They can sit comfortably in bed and read the latest best-sellers while a thunderstorm booms outside.