Let’s Talk Voice

What the heck is “voice”?

• Voice is “the expression of personality…the fingerprint of creativity.” -Nancy Dean

• Voice is the author's style, the quality that makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author's attitude, personality, and character.

• It is created by conscious choices through the use of words (writer), music (musician), and lines/colors (artist).

Self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh (1889)

When you examine this portrait, consider this:(Base your answers on the portrait, not your own feelings)

• What is Van Gogh saying about himself?

• Complete these two statements in the persona of Van Gogh in this portrait:

I am….

I feel…

• How do you know what Van Gogh is saying about himself?

• What evidence can you find in the portrait to support your statements?

How would YOU paint a self-portrait?

What colors would you use?

What expression would you have on your face?

How would you be dressed?

What kind of background would you have?

What else would be in the picture?

What would these choices say about you?

Self-Portrait of Marc Chagall (1912-

13)

When you examine this portrait to find the artist’s “voice,” consider this:

• What is Chagall saying about himself?

• Complete these two statements in the persona of Chagall in this portrait:

I am….

I feel…

• How do you know what Chagal is saying about himself?

• What evidence can you find in the portrait to support your statements?

Consider: How does Chagall CONTROL voice in his painting?

Respond: In a paragraph, compare and contrast both paintings based on the choices the artists

made:

Your assignment

• On the paper provided, sketch a self-portrait– You can be as simplistic or as detailed

as you want to be

• On the back of your sketch, write one paragraph describing what you would like your self-portrait to look like, using the questions from the previous slide as a guide. Determine the tone of your portrait. Are you more “Van Gogh” or “Chagall”? Explain.

Journal Entry

• What is one of your favorite songs and why? How would you describe the tone of the song? Is there a particular purpose that this song serves in your life? Explain in a Perfect Paragraph.

Voice in Music

• Musicians have voice, too

•Like artists, musicians make conscious choices for effect.• Types of instruments• Pace• High or low• Loud or soft

Example

• Listen to the following piece called Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber

When you examine this music, consider this:(Base your answers on the music, not your own feelings)

• What is Barber saying about himself?

• Complete these two statements as if you were the composer:

I am….

I feel…

• How do you know what Barber is saying about himself?

• What evidence can you find in the piece to support your statements?

Now examine this piece of music:

Spring by Vivaldi

When you examine this piece to find the composer’s “voice,” consider this:

• What is Vivaldi saying about himself?

• Complete these two statements as if you were the Vivaldi of this portrait:

I am….

I feel…

• How do you know what Vivaldi is saying about himself?

• What evidence can you find in the music to support your statements?

Consider: How does Vivaldi CONTROL voice in this piece of

music?

Voice in Writing

• Artists and musicians demonstrate voice through color, texture, instruments, rhythm, volume, etc.

• Writers use voice, also.• It’s a conscious choice!• Good readers learn to recognize and understand the effects of these choices.

The writer’s “voice” toolbox

• Diction• Detail• Figurative Language• Imagery• Syntax• Tone• Punctuation

Example

• The little pink fish swam upstream and died.

• Is this sentence sad? - Don’t think about the fish dying—just look at the sentence itself and the effect it produces. - Does the sentence make you feel like

crying when you read it?- Why or why not?

Example

• The little pink fish swam upstream and died.

- Most people agree it’s not that sad.

- What characteristics in the sentence keep it from being

sad?

Your turn:

• Write a sad version of the sentence:

The little pink fish swam upstream and died.

• What did you do to make it sad?

Now make the sentence sound triumphant.

Your assignment:

• In a journal entry, write a paragraph describing a time in your life when you faced a challenge. Perhaps you succeeded; perhaps you failed. Ensure your voice reflects the struggle and is appropriate based on the outcome of your struggle.