Lesson Plan: Voice

Grade: 8th Standard Subject: English Language Arts

Introduction: - Begin the lesson by asking students if they know what the term “voice” means in the context of writing. - Explain that voice refers to the unique style and tone of a writer that makes their writing distinct and individual. - Share examples of different voices in literature, such as the humorous voice of Mark Twain or the poetic voice of Maya Angelou. - Emphasize the importance of developing their own voice as writers.

Lesson Outline:

1. Understanding Voice (10 minutes) - Show a short video on the concept of voice in writing, such as:
   • “Finding Your Writing Voice” by TED-Ed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ResTHKVxf4) - Discuss the main points from the video and ask students to share their thoughts on what they learned.

2. Elements of Voice (15 minutes) - Introduce the key elements that contribute to a writer’s voice, such as word choice, sentence structure, tone, and perspective. - Provide examples of different voices by sharing excerpts from various texts and ask students to identify the elements that contribute to the voice in each example. - Distribute a worksheet (link: [insert link to worksheet resource]) for students to practice identifying elements of voice in different passages.

3. Analyzing Voice in Literature (20 minutes) - Read aloud a short passage from a literary work that exhibits a strong voice. - Engage students in a discussion about the voice used in the passage, asking questions like:
   • How would you describe the tone of the writer?
   • What words or phrases contribute to the voice?
   • How does the voice make you feel as a reader? - Show a video clip of an author discussing their writing voice, such as:
   • “Author’s Voice: What is it?” by Teaching Without Frills (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv6jwzv6Z0) - Ask students to reflect on the author’s insights and how they can apply them to their own writing.
4. Developing Your Voice (15 minutes) - Provide students with a writing prompt or topic and ask them to write a short paragraph or poem using their own voice. - Encourage them to experiment with word choice, sentence structure, and tone to develop a unique voice. - Allow students to share their writing with a partner or in small groups, providing feedback on the voice used.

Questioning: - What does the term “voice” mean in writing? - How does voice contribute to the overall impact of a piece of writing? - Can you identify any elements of voice in this passage? - How does the author’s voice make you feel as a reader? - How can you develop your own voice as a writer?

Assessment: - Assess students’ understanding of voice through their participation in class discussions and their ability to identify elements of voice in the provided worksheet. - Evaluate students’ writing pieces based on their ability to demonstrate a unique voice and effectively use elements of voice.

Differentiation: - Provide additional support to struggling students by offering simplified examples and providing extra practice opportunities. - Challenge advanced students by asking them to analyze more complex texts and encouraging them to experiment with different voices in their writing.

Plenary: - Summarize the main points discussed during the lesson on voice. - Ask students to reflect on how they can apply the concept of voice to their future writing assignments. - Encourage students to continue exploring different voices in literature and to develop their own unique voice as writers.

Worksheet Resource: [Insert link to worksheet resource] Video Resource 1: “Finding Your Writing Voice” by TED-Ed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ResTHKVxf4) Video Resource 2: “Author’s Voice: What is it?” by Teaching Without Frills (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv6jwzv6Z0)