Page 223 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade7_Flipbook

aCTIvITy 3.11
continued
Seeing Is believing
my Notes
WrITING to SOUrCES Expository Writing Prompt: Draft a paragraph about your character’s ability “to see,” based on the details in your graphic organizer.
Be sure to:
• Include a topic sentence about what your character does or does not “see.”
• Provide supporting details, textual evidence, and commentary.
• Use a variety of sentence structures.
Language and Writer’s Craft: Active Versus Passive Voice
Verbs change form to show active voice or passive voice. A verb is in the active voice when the subject of the sentence performs the action. A verb is in the
passive voice when the subject receives the action; that is, has something done to it. Writers — and readers — generally prefer the active voice because it is more lively, concise, and easier to understand.
Active voice: The goalie deflected the ball.
In this example, the subject (the goalie) is performing the action of deflecting.
Passive voice: The ball was deflected by the goalie.
In this example, the subject (the ball) is receiving the action of deflecting.
You can recognize passive voice because the verb phrase includes a form of to be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. Another way to recognize sentences with verbs in the passive voice is that they may include a “by . . .” phrase after the verb.
7. Revise this sentence:
Passive voice: The game was won by the Tangerine War Eagles. Active voice:
8. Check the paragraph you wrote about a character’s ability to “see.” If necessary, revise any passive voice verbs to active voice.
196 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 7
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