Page 145 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade8_Flipbook

aCTIvITy 2.3
continued
Utopian Ideals
and dystopian reality
my Notes
Language and Writer’s Craft: Active and Passive Voice
Writers use active and passive voice to convey certain effects. Be sure you understand and use these voices correctly and deliberately.
• You should generally use active voice because it puts the emphasis on who or what is performing the action of the verb rather than on the verb itself.
• The passive voice contains some form of be (is, was, were, was being, has been, etc.), plus a past participle of the verb. It is particularly useful (even recommended) in two situations:
1. When it is more important to draw attention to the person or thing being acted upon: The unidentified victim was struck near her home.
2. When the actor in the situation is not important: The eaglet’s birth was witnessed in the early morning hours.
Active voice: Harrison removed his handicaps.
Passive voice: The handicaps were removed by Harrison.
Notice that in the active voice version, the emphasis is on Harrison as the one who takes action. Passive voice is not inherently wrong. However, if you can say the same thing in active voice, you can make your sentences more vibrant and direct. Later in this unit you will learn more about appropriate use of passive voice.
• Most importantly, do not mix active and passive constructions in the same sentence:
“The Handicapper General approved the new handicaps, and a new amendment was added.”
should be recast as
“The Handicapper General approved the new handicaps and added the new amendment.”
Check Your Understanding
WRITING to SOURCES Expository Writing Prompt
How does “Harrison Bergeron” convey the conflict between the needs or ideals of society and the realities of individuals? Be sure to:
• Provide examples from the text and use at least one direct quotation to support your ideas.
• Include a reference to utopia and dystopia.
• Use active voice unless you choose passive voice for a certain effect.
118 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 8
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