Developing Personal Voice

1. Match the voice to its tone:

“I’m totally fine. Really. Absolutely fine. (I was definitely not fine.)”

“I approached the door with careful, measured steps, every breath a quiet decision.”

“So there I was, covered in glitter and regret.”

Submit

2. A writer can strengthen personal voice by using:

Vague words like “stuff” and “things”

Exact, vivid words that show how they see and feel

Only sentence fragments

Only questions

(c) uses reflective, careful language.

Explanation

(c) uses reflective, careful language.

3. A student writes: “I walked home from school.” Which revision adds personal voice?

I walked home.

I went home from school.

I dragged myself home from school, my backpack hanging off me like it was as tired as I was.

I was home.

(c) uses figurative language and attitude.

Explanation

(c) uses figurative language and attitude.

4. Which sentence BEST shows a playful voice?

I completed my homework in a timely manner.

I did my homework.

My homework and I stared each other down until I finally surrendered and did it.

Homework is given by teachers.

The playful exaggeration makes the voice fun.

Explanation

The playful exaggeration makes the voice fun.

5. Changing word choice can change the writer’s voice.

True

False

Word choice is a major part of voice.

Explanation

Word choice is a major part of voice.

6. Which narrator sounds most serious and thoughtful?

Whatever. Who cares?

I don’t know. It was just a thing that happened.

That day carved itself into my memory, not because it was loud, but because it was quietly life-changing.

It was okay, I guess.

(c) uses reflective, careful language.

Explanation

(c) uses reflective, careful language.

7. Which change would MOST improve personal voice in a narrative?

Replace all “I” with “one.”

Add inner thoughts and specific details about how the narrator feels.

Remove all adjectives

Make every sentence five words long.

Thoughts + specific detail = stronger voice.

Explanation

Thoughts + specific detail = stronger voice.

8. Which revision adds personal voice to this sentence: “The room was quiet”?

The room was quiet.

The room was quiet and silent.

The room was so quiet it felt like even my thoughts were echoing.

The room had no sound.

(c) uses figurative language and narrator perspective.

Explanation

(c) uses figurative language and narrator perspective.

9. Personal voice should always sound exactly the same in every piece you write.

True

False

Only in 6th grade

Only in tests

Voice can shift with purpose, audience, and mood.

Explanation

Voice can shift with purpose, audience, and mood.

10. A teacher comments, “Your narrative is clear but feels flat. Add more of your voice.” Which change would help MOST?

Add more random adjectives

Add your reactions, thoughts, and feelings about events

Remove all dialogue

Make the sentences shorter

Reactions and thoughts bring the writer’s personality in.

Explanation

Reactions and thoughts bring the writer’s personality in.

11. Which beginning uses personal voice to hook the reader?

One time, I went to camp.

Camp is a place with cabins.

If you’ve never had a spider crawl across your face at 3 a.m., you’ve never been to my summer camp.

Camp has many activities.

It’s vivid, surprising, and clearly a unique narrator speaking.

Explanation

It’s vivid, surprising, and clearly a unique narrator speaking.

12. The line “Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing, but I smiled like I did” shows voice through:

Setting

Dialogue

Confession and humor

Facts and statistics

The honest, joking tone is very personal.

Explanation

The honest, joking tone is very personal.

13. When revising for personal voice, a writer should ask:

Does this sound like anyone or does it sound like me?

Is this the longest sentence possible?

Did I use big words?

Did I copy a famous author?

Authentic voice should feel like the writer.

Explanation

Authentic voice should feel like the writer.

14. Which sentence shows a calm, reflective voice?

This is the worst thing ever!

I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe.

I sat there quietly, realizing that nothing outside me had changed, but somehow, I had.

Whatever. I don’t care.

It’s thoughtful and inward-looking.

Explanation

It’s thoughtful and inward-looking.

15. A strong personal voice in narrative writing helps readers:

Memorize dates

Feel like they are living the experience with the narrator

Skip the story

Focus only on grammar

Voice pulls readers into the narrator’s world.

Explanation

Voice pulls readers into the narrator’s world.