Celebrate Nonfiction

Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing

In the Classroom: Voice in Expository Literature

I’ve discussed voice in finely-crafted nonfiction mentor texts many times before on this blog. But today I’m suggesting an activity to give your students experience
experimenting with voice in their own nonfiction writing.

 

To get started, find an interesting or
surprising photograph of an insect and project it on your classroom interactive
whiteboard. Here are a few possibilities from my personal
photo archives. Feel free to use them:

Invite your student to do the following:

  1. Write one
    sentence about the insect.
  2. Re-write the
    sentence as a boring teacher would say it.
  3. Re-write it as a
    cartoon character would say it.
  4. Re-write it with
    alliteration (repetition of first consonant) or assonance (repetition of
    vowel sounds).
  5. Re-write it as a
    bus driver would say it.
  6. Re-write it as
    poetry.
  7. Re-write it with
    onomatopoeia (a sound effect).
  8. Choose your
    favorite sentence and revise it.
Encourage student
volunteers to share their writing. Then repeat the activity with a different
photograph.

CCSS.ELA—Literacy.CCRA.R.4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text,
including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and
analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

One Response

top 25 nonfiction blog award
Return to Blog Archive

Most Popular Posts

Topics
top 25 nonfiction blog award
Return to Blog Archive

Most Popular Posts

Topics

© 2001–[current-year] Melissa Stewart. All rights reserved. All materials on this site may be copied for classroom or library use but may not be reprinted or resold for commercial purposes. This website is COPPA compliant. If you are a child under age 13 and wish to contact Melissa Stewart, please use the email address of a teacher, librarian, or parent with that adult’s permission. Webhost Privacy Policy.