I use the TED video by Chimamanda Adichie: “ The Danger of a Single Story” to teach students how to better write narrative essays and to develop voice.

Objective: Students will enhance their narrative writing skills by learning how to develop voice.

CCSS WRITING STANDARDS: Applies to grades 9-10 and 11-12

W.9-10.3

W.11-12.3

CCSS SPEAKING AND LISTENING STANDARDS: Applies to grades 9-10 and 11-12

SL.9-10.5

SL 9-10.1

SL 11-12.1

SL11-12.5

Step 1

Step 2

Students will collaborate in groups using Google Docs to discuss the video

( Here you may want to ask the students how Adichie was able to find her voice)

Step 3

Using a projector, the instructor displays the answers the groups produced

Step 4

Practice by having the students develop a brief paragraph using voice

Step 5

The instructor shows what the students came up with and discusses their results.

Step 6

Using Google Docs students edit their classmates paragraphs. By now they should have a better idea about voice

Step 7

If students are still having difficulty with voice, I have them read and discuss in groups the short story “ My Name” from Sandra Cisneros’s

Step 7

Have students write a narrative essay using as key component voice

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