Revising For Personal Voice

1. Which version has stronger personal voice?

I was nervous about the game.

I felt nervous.

My stomach did Olympic-level flips as I stepped onto the court.

I went to the game.

(c) uses vivid imagery and humor.

Explanation

(c) uses vivid imagery and humor.

2. Adding random slang always improves personal voice.

True

False

Voice should fit purpose, audience, and tone, not just slang.

Explanation

Voice should fit purpose, audience, and tone, not just slang.

3. The line “The food was good” needs stronger voice. Which revision is BEST?

The food was pretty good.

The food was okay, I guess.

The food tasted like a warm hug from my grandma after a bad day.

The food was food.

(c) uses metaphor and emotion.

Explanation

(c) uses metaphor and emotion.

4. Which paragraph has the clearest personal voice?

The concert was loud. There were many people. The music played.

The concert occurred downtown. It had lights.

The concert was enjoyable.

(c) uses figurative language and emotional reflection.

Explanation

(c) uses figurative language and emotional reflection.

5. Personal voice should always be silly and funny.

True

False

Voice can be serious, sad, hopeful, calm, etc.

Explanation

Voice can be serious, sad, hopeful, calm, etc.

6. A student writes: “I was sad when my friend moved.” Which revision shows a stronger, more personal voice?

I was very sad.

I experienced sadness.

My friend moved.

(c) uses imagery and emotion, not just labels.

Explanation

(c) uses imagery and emotion, not just labels.

7. Which revision makes the narrator’s voice sound more confident?

I guess maybe I sort of did okay.

I did my best, and honestly, I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

It was something that happened.

Whatever.

(b) clearly shows pride and self-awareness.

Explanation

(b) clearly shows pride and self-awareness.

8. A teacher tells you: “You’re telling what happened, but not how it felt. Add more of your voice.” Which revision responds to that advice?

Keep all events the same and shorten them.

Add sentences that describe your feelings and thoughts during the events.

Remove all “I” statements.

Turn it into a list.

Feelings + thoughts = stronger voice in narrative.

Explanation

Feelings + thoughts = stronger voice in narrative.

9. When revising for personal voice, what should a writer AVOID?

Being honest about how they felt

Using specific details

Writing in a way that matches the audience and purpose

Making their writing sound exactly like everyone else’s

Voice is about individuality, not copying.

Explanation

Voice is about individuality, not copying.

10. A strong personal voice in narrative writing helps the reader:

Count how many paragraphs there are

Feel emotionally connected and invested in the narrator’s journey

Ignore the main character

Focus only on the setting

Voice creates emotional connection.

Explanation

Voice creates emotional connection.

11. When revising for voice, writers should look for places to add:

Exact details, feelings, and their own way of saying things

Copy-pasted sentences from sources

Extra unrelated facts

Only longer words

(c) uses metaphor and emotion.

Explanation

(c) uses metaphor and emotion.

12. A flat sentence: “I was late to school.” Which revision adds personal voice?

I was late.

I arrived to school after the bell.

I sprinted into school, hair half-brushed, shoes untied, and absolutely zero dignity left.

School started earlier.

(c) is specific, funny, and full of personality.

Explanation

(c) is specific, funny, and full of personality.

13. The sentence “It was fun” appears five times in a paragraph. To improve voice, the writer should:

Leave it as is

Replace some “fun” with specific descriptions and reactions

Remove all adjectives

Change “fun” to “very fun” every time

Specifics and variety strengthen voice.

Explanation

Specifics and variety strengthen voice.

14. Which sentence has the MOST formal, distant voice?

I could feel my heart beating a rhythm only I could hear.

I was about to freak out, but I did my best to look calm.

The situation was not optimal for the subject.

This was one of the scariest moments of my life.

(c) sounds like a lab report, not a personal narrative.

Explanation

(c) sounds like a lab report, not a personal narrative.

15. Match the revision move to what it does for voice:

Adding inner thoughts

Adding specific sensory details

Changing generic verbs to vivid verbs

Submit

Revising for Personal Voice

1. Which version has stronger personal voice?

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. Adding random slang always improves personal voice.

3. The line “The food was good” needs stronger voice. Which revision is BEST?

4. Which paragraph has the clearest personal voice?

5. Personal voice should always be silly and funny.

6. A student writes: “I was sad when my friend moved.” Which revision shows a stronger, more personal voice?

7. Which revision makes the narrator’s voice sound more confident?

8. A teacher tells you: “You’re telling what happened, but not how it felt. Add more of your voice.” Which revision responds to that advice?

9. When revising for personal voice, what should a writer AVOID?

10. A strong personal voice in narrative writing helps the reader:

11. When revising for voice, writers should look for places to add:

12. A flat sentence: “I was late to school.” Which revision adds personal voice?

13. The sentence “It was fun” appears five times in a paragraph. To improve voice, the writer should:

14. Which sentence has the MOST formal, distant voice?

15. Match the revision move to what it does for voice: