Gradelings

Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Unit 16 of 20

Word Choice & Voice

Choose words and tone for your audience

What your child practises

Children practise choosing precise, descriptive and subject-specific words, and matching tone, sentence style and personal voice to the audience and purpose.

Manitoba Curriculum learning outcome: ELA.7.C2.3, ELA.7.C2.4 · descriptive and discipline-specific words, personal voice, and tone and sentence style that fit purpose and audience

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence has the strongest descriptive words?

    • It was a nice morning.
    • The sun came up over the lake.
    • The morning was good.
    • The golden sunrise spilled across the quiet lake.
    Show answer

    The golden sunrise spilled across the quiet lake.

    Hint: Specific, vivid words paint a clearer picture.

  2. Question 2

    A persuasive speech for a skate park should use…

    • a bored tone
    • a confident tone with strong reasons
    • no reasons
    • a joke in every sentence
    Show answer

    a confident tone with strong reasons

    Hint: Tone should fit the purpose.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence sounds appropriate in a formal letter to the principal?

    • Book fair now!!!
    • OMG book fair
    • Hey, can we do a book fair?
    • I would like to request permission to hold a book fair.
    Show answer

    I would like to request permission to hold a book fair.

    Hint: Formal writing uses a polite, respectful tone.

  4. Question 4

    Voice in writing is…

    • the font
    • the spelling
    • the writer’s own personality that shows in the words
    • the volume when reading aloud
    Show answer

    the writer’s own personality that shows in the words

    Hint: Voice makes writing sound like a real person.

  5. Question 5

    Which choice best fits a story meant to entertain?

    • a table of numbers
    • a bibliography
    • a list of rules
    • lively action and dialogue
    Show answer

    lively action and dialogue

    Hint: Purpose guides the style.

  6. Question 6

    Which is the best way to find a more exact word?

    • Use a thesaurus and check the meaning in a dictionary
    • Choose the first word you see
    • Use a rhyme
    • Pick any long word
    Show answer

    Use a thesaurus and check the meaning in a dictionary

    Hint: Check the shades of meaning before swapping.

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