Journal 10/31 (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!) This journal has multiple parts so make sure you answer all parts! In regards to your Ind. Reading novel: What was your favorite part of the novel? What was your least favorite part? Would you recommend it to a friend? To a teacher? To a class? In regards to this class: Some of you have lower grades than I think you were expecting (and lower than I know you are capable of); reflect and write upon how you think you did this quarter. Why did you do as you did? What do you plan to chance, if anything, for next quarter? In regards to Halloween- had to put it in here somewhere ;-): What are your family traditions, if any, for Halloween? OR what is your fondest memory of Halloween?

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active Voice In an active sentence the subject is doing the action (this is how we normally write). I love my cat.I am going trick or treating tonight

Passive Voice In a passive sentence the target of the action gets promoted to the subject position. The homework is done by you My cat is Your papers are loved by me. graded by me.

Is passive voice “wrong”? No! It just isn’t usually the way you want to present your thoughts.

However… In most formal writings it is best to avoid passive voice when possible for many reasons. It can make sentences awkward or vague. It is also usually wordy. It will also be more assertive and better if you do not use passive sentences.

Why should you avoid passive? What information does it leave out? Emmilee is loved. Amy was driven to the airport.

Who would use passive voice? Politicians “Mistakes were made”—Ronald Reagan (after the Iran-Contra scandal) “Bombs were dropped” “Shots were fired”

Who else would use passive voice? Journalists Scientists Who else?

When should you use passive voice If you don’t know who is taking the action and are unable to name the person. When would this be an issue? If you are trying to create a suspenseful or mysterious effect in fiction writing Passive voice is also recommended in science writing to help create a sense of objectivity (they are, in a sense, taking themselves out of the experiments and making it more universal)

Work Cited Fogarty, Mignon. "Active Voice Versus Passive Voice." Grammar Girl. N.p., Web. 18 Oct 2012.