Craft a Narrator's Voice

Use the revising sheet to teach focus, then the voice sheet before any first person writing. The Thanksgiving sheet works as a short revision task.

Compare two narrators' voices telling a kitchen fire scare, then retell it as the family dog. A narrator's voice is the personality readers hear in the telling, built from word choice, sentence style, and attitude. The directions on the page read: Read how two narrators tell the same event. On the lines after each narrator, write a word or phrase that shows the voice, how the sentences sound, and the narrator's feeling. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 7th grade narrative writing, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

It is the personality readers hear in the telling, built from word choice, sentence style and attitude. Craft a Narrator's Voice compares Priya, age 13, with her grandfather.

Ask whether each sentence helps the main events. Cut Irrelevant Details From a Narrative has students cross out five sentences that have nothing to do with getting lost and explain two of them.

Add a detail for each sense and replace plain words with precise ones. Thanksgiving Table Scene With Sensory Details starts from Mateo's draft and asks for a six sentence rewrite.