Friday, October 4, 2013

PASSIVE VOICE (first blog)


Hello ladies and gents!

One of the biggest problem I've observed in your writing is passive voice. Some are more heinous offenders than others, but either way, I want to deepen your awareness of it. This way, you will recognize it when you see it and therefore avoid it.

I promise that your college professors will appreciate that you know the difference...my first lit/comp professor MASSACRED me on my first paper for my use of passive voice and my overuse of the verb "to be."

Passive voice is not inherently bad; there are times when you SHOULD use it (creative writing is a nice place for it). However, in analytical writing, active voice is always the best choice.

So, here's your second weekend assignment (other than reading Young Goodman Brown"):

Watch the video here: http://www.flocabulary.com/active-passive-voice/

We're going to circumvent the system: it will ask you to log in...

username: erouleau@saintrays.org
password: englishrocks

If it doesn't come up, just type "passive voice" into the search engine. The full title is "Active and Passive Voice" by the Grammar Detective.

In the comments, either find a place where you've used passive voice and then correct it, or write two sentences--one in passive voice, and then that sentence rewritten to be in active voice.

Any issues, just jot them in the comments. I get email notifications every time one of you posts.

Just post before we meet again! See y'all Monday!

7 comments:

  1. Example of a sentence using passive voice: With her racquet the tennis ball was hit far down to the third court by Gianna.

    Correction using active voice: Gianna hit the tennis ball with her racquet far down to the third court.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Since I'm probably the biggest offender when it comes to using passive voice I'll post first!
    First sentence: The fencing equipment was lost by Holden.
    The sentence rewritten in active voice: Holden lost the fencing equipment.
    Well I hope I did that write if not this will be awkward....
    Have a great Sunday!
    -Kevin O'Neill

    ReplyDelete
  3. Passive voice: The pond was passed by the couple.
    Active voice: The couple passed the pond
    -Lauren Mercer

    ReplyDelete
  4. Passive: The thief was caught by the police.
    Active: The police caught the thief.
    -Cooper

    ReplyDelete
  5. Passive- The coffee was drank by Kristina.
    Active- Kristina drank a coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Passive : Donatello was frightened by the talking pizza.
    Active : The pizza frightened Donatello.

    ReplyDelete
  7. PASSIVE VOICE: In “Small Talk, Sweet Talk,” by Thomas Averill, a monosyllabic style is used to support and heighten the plot of the story.

    ACTIVE VOICE: In “Small Talk, Sweet Talk,” Thomas Averill uses a monosyllabic style to support and heighten the plot of the story.

    ReplyDelete