It’s not just what you say but how you say it... Readers do not want to work harder than they have to. Make it easy for them.

“ Don ’ t confuse legibility with communication. ” --David Carson

Revise for clarity You are taking part in a written conversation. Your essay may be your reader’s only contact with you. Make a good impression.

Persuasive writing should be clear, accessible, and inviting.

Voice is a form of a verb that shows either the subject performing the action or the action being performed upon the subject.

Passive Voice A verb is in the passive voice when it expresses something that happens to the subject. Example: All over the road was where she was swerving.

Active Voice A verb is in the active voice when it expresses an action taken by the subject, or actor. Example: The driver swerved all over the road.

Active Voice I wrote the essay. I made a mistake. The chef is preparing lunch. The essay is due on Friday. Passive Voice The essay was written by me. Mistakes were made. Lunch is being prepared by the chef. Friday is the day on which the essay is due.

Passive Voice can obscure meaning. is wordy. is sometimes awkward. is sometimes vague. is boring.

Passive voice avoids responsibility.

Advertising in the passive voice: It is what you should do. What will do ya is a little dab. A break is what you should give me, a break is what you should give me, a break is what you should give me off of that Kit Kat bar! My MTV is wanted. The Energizer is outlasted by nothing. Going and going and going is what it keeps on doing. It can be done by you. Help is what we can do. Like steakburgers are how hamburgers will taste because of A- 1. It is what I’m lovin’. Sara Lee is what nobody doesn’t like. Great is how it tastes; filling it is less of. Forever is what diamonds are.

Active Voice Someone or something does something Sentences move your reader along Sentences are simple Sentences are usually short Sentences are usually the easiest to read (Simplicity and brevity make ideas stand out)

Clarity and ease-of- comprehension are two of the most important requisites to effective communication. Active voice can facilitate effective communication.

The class was addressed by Mr. Wheeler, at which point words of advice regarding active verbs were spoken by him. It was decided by the rebellious class that the final paper of the semester would be written entirely in passive voice. Remarks were made by a distraught Wheeler; protests were made by the students. A seat was gotten out of by one student. His desk was stood upon by him, and a vow was made by him that another active sentence would never be written by him. He was challenged to a duel. Blood was shed. Butts were kicked. Lives were lost. Shrieks could be heard. The halls of Henderson were run down by people who were concerned. When the room was entered by them, carnage was seen by them. When Wheeler was found standing over the bodies, only these words were spoken by him: "Mistakes were made."

Mr. Wheeler addressed the class, giving advice about active verbs. The rebellious class decided to write the final paper entirely in passive voice. Wheeler made distraught remarks; students protested. One student got out of his seat. He stood upon his desk and vowed to never write another active sentence. Wheeler challenged him to a duel. Students bled, kicked butt, and died. Concerned people heard shrieks and ran down the halls of Henderson. When they entered the room, they saw carnage. When they found Wheeler, he said he had made a mistake.

The active voice is straightforward and direct, creating graceful, clear writing that emphasizes actors.

Your task... Circle any “ be ” verbs Change sentence construction from passive to active If a sentence lacks action or fails to emphasize what’s most important, rewrite it. is am are was were be being been

Rubric: Criteria for Evaluation Chooses highly effective words; focuses clearly on persuasive task Uses clear, consistent organizational strategy Contains specific, well- elaborated reasons that provide convincing support for your position Contains no empty or hedging words; is straightforward and direct; makes no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation

Rubric: Criteria for Evaluation Chooses highly effective words; focuses clearly on persuasive task Uses clear, consistent organizational strategy Contains specific, well- elaborated reasons that provide convincing support for your position Contains no empty or hedging words; is straightforward and direct; makes no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation

According to The Elements of Style, “The habitual use of the active voice… makes for forcible writing. This is true not only in narrative concerned principally with action but in writing of any kind.”