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 isdone by you

My cat is Your papers areloved 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?

JournalistsScientists

Who else?

When should you use passive voiceIf 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., 22 2010. Web. 18 Oct 2012.