Discovering Voice: Voice Lessons for Middle and High School

Lessons on diction, detail, figurative language, imagery, syntax, and tone help middle and early high school students understand the concept of voice in what they read and develop a strong, personal voice in their own writing. Each voice lesson takes only 10-20 minutes to complete and includes a quotation selected from a wide range of literature, two discussion questions, and an exercise that encourages students to practice what they have learned about the elements of voice. Discovering Voice also offers a collection of quotations students can use to create their own voice lessons. Discussion suggestions for each voice lesson and additional activities for teaching voice further promote critical analysis. Each of the seven packs on the elements of voice—diction, detail, figurative language 1 (metaphors, similes, and personification), figurative language 2 (hyperboles, symbols, and irony), imagery, syntax, and tone—include an introduction, lessons with discussion questions and an exercise, “write-your-own” voice lessons, a list of additional activities for teaching voice, and discussion suggestions.