VOICE IN WRITING

Authors

  • Nicholas J. Aversa Columbia University
  • Michael Tritt Marianopolis College, Montreal

Abstract

There is a need to clarify the concept of "voice in writing". Theorists, who advocate writing as a "process", (Romantics) see "Voice" as an all important but nebulous quality of good writing. Rhetoricians (Classicists), on the other hand, can specify those features of language which constitute "voice." Teachers who attend to such rhetorical features will be better able to comment on "voice" in student papers, because they will have a more concrete body of information to draw upon. The writer chooses a mask and invents an audience. By manipulating language, he can control the "voice" he wishes to present to the reader. RÉSUMÉ Il est nécessaire d'expliciter le concept de "voix dans l'écriture". Les théoriciens de "l'optique processus" (romantiques) considèrent que la "voix" est une qualité essentielle mais nébuleuse de la bonne écriture. Les rhétoriciens (classicistes) d'autre part, sont capables de préciser les caractéristiques du langage qui constituent la "voix". Les enseignants qui s'occupent de ces caratéristiques rhétoriques seront mieux en mesure de faire des observations sur la "voix" dans les devoirs de leurs élèves, car ils disposent d'une plus grande masse de données à ce sujet. L'écrivain choisit un masque et s'invente un public. De par sa manipulation du langage, il arrive à contrôler la "voix" qu'il souhaite présenter à son lecteur.

Author Biographies

Nicholas J. Aversa, Columbia University

Nicholas J. Aversa is English Department Chairman, at Great Neck Middle School South, adjunct professor at Columbia University, Teachers College, and Rutgers University, and conducts summer Writing Institutes in various parts of the United States. Nicholas J. Aversa est directeur du département d'anglais à la Great Neck Middle School South, professeur adjoint au Teachers College de l'université Columbia et à l'université Rutger, et il dirige des ateliers d'écriture d'été dans diverses parties des États-Unis.

Michael Tritt, Marianopolis College, Montreal

Michael Tritt teaches in the English Department of Marianopolis College. He has published in the areas of 19th century American fiction, science fiction, the teaching of writing, and the teaching of literature. He is completing a dissertation on Edgar Allan Poe at Columbia University Teachers College. Michael Tritt enseigne au département d'anglais du Collège Marianopolis. Il a publié des ouvrages sur le roman américain du 19e ciecle, la science fiction, l'enseignement de l'écriture et l'enseignement de la littérature. Il achève actuellement sa thèse sur Edgar Allan Poe au Teachers College de l'université Columbia.

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Published

1985-09-01

How to Cite

Aversa, N. J., & Tritt, M. (1985). VOICE IN WRITING. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill, 20(003). Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/7637

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 003 (1985)

Section

Articles

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