HW6

Active and Passive Voice Directed Learning Activity—Style 11

Essential Question What is the difference between active and passive voice and what impact does voice have on a piece of

writing?

Purpose Upon completion of this activity, students will be able to define the terms “active voice” and “passive

voice” and know when to employ each in their writing.

This DLA should take approximately 1 hour to complete.

Before You Begin To complete this DLA, you will need to view the video “Active versus Passive Voice” from the University

of Guelph’s library. Then respond to these questions:

1) What is voice?

2) What is active voice? Define the term and give an original example.

3) What is passive voice? Define the term and give an original example.

4) Why is active voice preferred?

Exercise This exercise comes from eslmaterialsdeveloper.wordpress.com. Read the newspaper article and

answer the questions that follow:

The Tamworth Herald

Woman’s plea after dogs are attacked.

By Nicola Robinson – News Editor

Thursday, January 1, 2015

A Tamworth woman is appealing for information after her two rescue dogs were viciously

attacked by another animal – leaving one needing surgery.

The incident happened as Lorraine Jones took her Yorkshire terrier-poodle cross Pepper and

Westie Bertie for a late-night walk, on December 21 near her home in Field Farm Road,

Belgrave.

“The dog launched at Pepper and clamped on her trying to drag her away and pulled me over at

the same time,” Ms. Jones explained. “I just screamed for help to get it off us.”

Fortunately Ms. Jones’ cries were heard by her neighbors who rushed to her aid. But as soon as

Pepper was freed, the dog then “clamped down” on Bertie’s neck.

She said: “It was shaking him violently and it bit me in the process. The owner just stood there

and said, “What do you expect me to do about it?”

Ms. Jones needed stitches in her left hand. Bertie suffered deep wounds to the neck and had to

have eight stitches and undergo an operation, while Pepper suffered cuts to her leg.

Both dogs have been prescribed antibiotics and pain killers and the drama meant Ms. Jones was

forced to cancel her plans to spend Christmas Day in Yorkshire.

Kind friends and generous members of the “Free to Collect Tamworth” Facebook page all

donated food so Ms. Jones could enjoy a festive meal, and old blankets to keep the shaven dogs

warm.

Ms. Jones added: “We’re so lucky my neighbors were there to help us or I don’t know what

would have happened.”

Anyone with information about the dog – described as tan colored and possibly a staffie-

American bulldog cross – or its owner, who was also walking a smaller black dog, is urged to

contact Staffordshire Police by calling 101, quoting the incident number 817 of December 21.

1) The article has six sentences that use passive voice. Write those six sentences in the spaces

provided below.

2) Next, determine the reason you think passive voice was used in each of the sentences. Write the

letter of the choices (listed below) in the boxes next to each sentence.

a. It is obvious who is responsible for the action.

b. To emphasize the action and not the agent

c. To add dramatic effect

d. It is referring to something in general rather than something/someone specific

e. To reduce redundancy

3) Now rewrite the five sentence above using active voice.

4) Finally, reread the newspaper article inserting your sentences written in active voice for the

sentences that were originally written in passive voice. What are the differences you see? Does

the article have the same effect? What generalization can you make about active and passive

voice and the impact each has on writing? Write or type 1-2 paragraphs responding to these

questions about voice. Do this on a separate sheet.

Review your answers with an instructor or tutor in the Virtual Writing & Reading Center. Be sure you can

answer the essential questions above.