The VI-COWS: Voice!

By,Rachel Kail,Ashtyn Pate,

Matt Robertson.

Voice? What’s That?Voice? What’s That?Now hopefully you all know what Now hopefully you all know what voice is right? Hmm, apparently voice is right? Hmm, apparently not. Ok well it’s one of the VI-not. Ok well it’s one of the VI-COWS . . . Still lost huh? K, well COWS . . . Still lost huh? K, well lets see if this will work.lets see if this will work.

The VI-COWSThe VI-COWSHere’s the VI-COWS• Voice• Ideas• Conventions• Organization• Word Choice• Sentence Fluency

Ours of The VIOurs of The VI

Here’s the VI-COWSHere’s the VI-COWS Voice <<<< That’s the Voice <<<< That’s the

one we’re focusing on one we’re focusing on K? GoodK? Good

IdeasIdeas ConventionsConventions OrganizationOrganization Word ChoiceWord Choice Sentence FluencySentence Fluency

Voice’s OutlineVoice’s Outline

Voice is not just one part of the Voice is not just one part of the writing process, it includes ideas and writing process, it includes ideas and word choice too. You’ve got to use word choice too. You’ve got to use almost every part of the VI-COWS to almost every part of the VI-COWS to be able to be able to reallyreally understand how the understand how the best authors use voice to keep their best authors use voice to keep their readers caught in the adventure.readers caught in the adventure.

Here’s your ChecklistHere’s your Checklist

Do you clearly express your thoughts?Do you clearly express your thoughts?

Is your point of view clear?Is your point of view clear?

Does your writing address your audience?Does your writing address your audience?

Have you added an unique, personal Have you added an unique, personal touch to the piece?touch to the piece?

Boundaries And Rules? Forget Boundaries And Rules? Forget Them!Them!

When you’re writing and trying to do voice, When you’re writing and trying to do voice, you have no rules that you have to follow. you have no rules that you have to follow. Try different things and test the limits.Try different things and test the limits.

Student SampleStudent Sample Oh my god I can’t believe that happen to me Oh my god I can’t believe that happen to me

on all days of my life! I was going to school on all days of my life! I was going to school like normal but something was new or wrong like normal but something was new or wrong or missing, but I couldn’t put my finger on or missing, but I couldn’t put my finger on it..... then it hit me! I knew something was it..... then it hit me! I knew something was wrong cause I was in the middle of the school wrong cause I was in the middle of the school yard in front of everyone in my pajamas witch yard in front of everyone in my pajamas witch were boxers and a big shirt! Every one was were boxers and a big shirt! Every one was laughing at me. Everyone knew it was my laughing at me. Everyone knew it was my birthday and everyone still makes fun of me birthday and everyone still makes fun of me to this day 5 years after it happened! Man did to this day 5 years after it happened! Man did I want to drop dead right there! And what I I want to drop dead right there! And what I just found out people took pictures and put just found out people took pictures and put they up on the internet!they up on the internet!

Defining VoiceDefining Voice

Ok so maybe it’s not the same as in the Ok so maybe it’s not the same as in the dictionary but this is the voice your dictionary but this is the voice your readersreaders are looking for:are looking for:

• Sounding like a real person coming Sounding like a real person coming through the writingthrough the writing

Knowing You Did It RightKnowing You Did It Right

My writing engages the reader.My writing engages the reader. My writing builds a relation ship between My writing builds a relation ship between

the reader and the writer.the reader and the writer. My writing is individualistic and expressive.My writing is individualistic and expressive. My narrative writing is honest, appealing, My narrative writing is honest, appealing,

and from the heart.and from the heart. My informative writing shows a strong My informative writing shows a strong

commitment to the topic.commitment to the topic.

Fellow Students Ideas of Books Fellow Students Ideas of Books With Good VoiceWith Good Voice

Stray DogStray Dog, By Kathe Koja, By Kathe Koja TwilightTwilight ((series)), By Stephenie Meyer ((series)), By Stephenie Meyer You Don’t Know MeYou Don’t Know Me, By David Klass, By David Klass The Stinky Cheese Man And Other The Stinky Cheese Man And Other

Fairly Stupid TalesFairly Stupid Tales, By Jon Scieszka, By Jon Scieszka The Teacher From The Black The Teacher From The Black

Lagoon…Lagoon… , By Mike Thaler , By Mike Thaler Dr. Seuss BooksDr. Seuss Books

Bibliography/Credits

• Material in this PowerPoint has been compiled by the teacher and students for instructional use only. Material in this PowerPoint has originated from various educational sources including by not limited to Great Source and Staff Development Resources. Effort as been made to trace ownership of all material and ensure that credit be given to the original author whenever possible. In the event that material is in question, corrections can and will be corrected.

• Student Sample By Ashtyn Pate• Spandel, Vicki, and Jeff Hicks. Writing Traits Student

Handbook. Great Source, 2002