1. Defining Voice The distinctive use of language that conveys the authors and narrators personality and perspective to the reader. The use of voice will directly influence how the audience perceives the writing/narrator/author

2. Identifying Voice – Who do you think wrote this? (author) – Who is talking here (narrator)? Is it a male orfemale? How old is the person? – What is the purpose of the writing? – What style of language is used? What wordchoice and vocabulary is used? Does thewriting sound like a real person talking(writing)? – Is it emotional (mood)? Is the author ornarrator emotional (tone/theme)?

3. Just be yourself. Otherwise the voice won't be your own. Think of your audience. Your voice changes as your audience changes. Think of your topic. How do you feel about it? Put those feelings into your writing. Get emotional, but don't tell your reader how you feel, show him/her how you feel by describing thoughts and actions. Do not just throw out multiple synonyms for the feeling. What is your opinion? Don't be afraid to share it. Opinions give us our voice. Support your opinions with specific details and reasons. Look at your topic from different angles and choose the one you are most comfortable with presenting. If you get stuck, try using an unexpected angle. How to add voice in your writing:

4. Successful Voice… Shows the writer's personality Sounds different from everyone else's Contains feelings and emotions Brings the words to life Comes from the heart

5. Which speaker wrote it?

6. Example Voice My hands were so sweaty I could barely holdthe microphone in my hand. Butterflies werebouncing off the walls of my stomach, and myknees were shaking. As the announcer calledmy name, I watched the curtain slowly rise toreveal the hundreds of people in theaudience. I was blinded by the brightness ofa spotlight shining down on me. "You can dothis," I whispered to myself.