VOICE

6

The writer has chosen a voice appropriate for the topic, purpose and audience. The writer seems deeply committed to the topic, and there is an exceptional sense of "writing to be read." The writing is expressive, engaging, or sincere. The writing is characterized by

an effective level of closeness to or distance from the audience (e.g., a narrative should have a strong personal voice, while an expository piece may require extensive use of outside resources and a more academic voice; nevertheless, both should be engaging, lively, or interesting. Technical writing may require greater distance.)
a exceptionally strong sense of audience; the writer seems to be aware of the reader and of how to communicate the message most effectively. The reader may discern the writer behind the words and feel a sense of interaction.
a sense that the topic has come to life; when appropriate, the writing may show originality, liveliness, honesty, conviction, excitment, humor or suspense.

5

The writer has chosen a voice appropriate for the topic, purpose, and audience. The writer seems committed to the topic, and there is a sense of "writing to be read." The writing is expressive, engaging or sincere. The writing is characterized by

an appropriate level of closeness to or distance from the audience (e.g., a narrative should have a strong personal voice while an expository piece may require extensive use of outside resources and a more academic voice; nevertheless, both should be engaging, lively or interesting. Technical writing may require greater distance.)
a strong sense of audience; the writer seems to be aware of the reader and of how to communicate the message most effectively. The reader may discern the writer behind the words and feel a sense of interaction.
a sense that the topic has come to life; when appropriate, the writing may show originality, liveliness, honesty, conviction, excitement, humor, or suspense.

4

A voice is present. The writer demonstrates commitment to the topic, and there may be a sense of "writing to be read." In places, the writing is expressive, engageing, or sincere. The writing is characterized by

a questionable or inconsistent level of closeness to or distance from the audience.
a sense of audience; the writer seems to be aware of the reader but has not consistently employed an appropriate voice. The reader may glimpse the writer behind the words and feela sense of interaction in places.
liveliness, sincerity, or humor when appropriate; however, at times the writing may be either inappropriately casual or personnal, or inappropriately formal or stiff.

3

The writer's commitment to the topic seems inconsistent. A sense of the writer may emerge at times ;however, the voice is either inappropriately personal or inappropriately inpersonal. The writing is characterized by

a limited sense of audience; the writer's awareness of the reader is unclear.
an occasional sense of the writer behind the words; however, the voice may shift or disappear a line or two later and the writing become somewhat mechanical.
a limited ability to shift to a more objective voice when necessary.

2

The writing provides little sense of involvement or commitment. There is no evidence that the writer has chosen a suitable voice. The writing is characterized by

little engagement of the writer; the writing tends to be largely flat, lifeless, stiff, or mecanical.
a voice that is likely to be overly informal and personal.
a lack of audence awareness; there is little sense of "writing to be read."
little or no hint of the writer behind the words. There is rearely a sense of interaction between reader and writer.

1

The writing seems to lack a sense of involvement or committment. The writing is characterized by

no engagement of the writer; the writing is flat and lifeless.
a lack of audience awareness; there is no sense of "writing to be read."
no hint of the writer behind the words. There is no sense of interaction between writer and reader; the writing does not involve or engage the reader.