If you've ever looked at a grade school writing rubric, you've seen all of the different factors by which students are evaluated. Some writing basics like grammar, punctuation and vocabulary are easy to grade objectively and clearly. But in most rubrics there's a requirement that's a little harder to define: voice. Voice is not as much about perfect grammar, sentence structure and syntax as it is about having a unique style and tone. Take a look at how the Common Core handles voice in writing and why the concept is important:
Writer's voice and the Common Core
Voice is not specifically addressed by the CCSS, but it does appear when you read between the lines of the Core's English/language arts Standards. For instance, in sixth grade, students are expected to be able to "vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style." Later in middle school, they should begin to be able to understand how figurative language is used and the different nuances words and phrases can have. Then, as students progress into high school, they must understand how the use of language can affect the meaning or style of a text. The Common Core often mentions teaching students to understand and use language in a way that changes meaning, tone and style, which is a huge part of learning how to write with voice.
Why voice is important
Consider a basic piece of writing, like an instruction manual or business letter. These typically have no voice, and are simply grammatically correct sentences that give the reader information. Now think about your favorite book or an informative blog or editorial you particularly enjoy. What draws you to these pieces of writing? Often, the answer to that question is the writer's voice. Being able to write with a unique style and tone is an important skill for children to learn. It allows them to use language, word choice and sentence structure in interesting ways. Plus, it helps students get excited about what they're writing, whether it's narrative, informative or argumentative.
How can educators teach voice in writing?
Because voice is hard to objectively define, it's also difficult to teach. Often, teachers introduce the concept in reading lessons rather than writing ones. Authors like Roald Dahl and Norton Juster have different and utterly distinguishable voices, so when students read their books, they'll gain an understanding of what "adding your own voice" actually means. They can then use the experience of reading different authors' voices to start crafting their own.
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