Public Voices-Danielewicz

I think one of the most important aspects of writing an essay or anything for that matter is your voice. In this essay, Personal Genres, Public Voices, Jane Danielewicz discusses the importance of having your own voice when writing. Voice is the power behind the entire essay and really shows the reader where you are trying to go. Showing your voice can really change the way a piece of writing feels and I feel that it helps many writers relate to you as an author. Danielewicz reasons that as young people, we have the right to spread our voice through writing and to give insight behind our words. As far as academic writing goes, Danielewicz thinks we should be allowed to show more of our feelings and personal thoughts in our writing. I completely agree with this idea. Some of the best novels I have read have been autobiographies. I relate to novels more when they have real feeling behind them, show personal struggles, and engulf me with the authors true feelings. Without having a voice behind your writing it would not make as much of an impact to the reader.

Later on in the essay, Danielewicz talks about the structure of her classroom and how she teaches to help students bring out their personal voices. The way her classroom was structured really reminded me of my AP Language in high school. We did many peer reading groups and got together to review each others essays. I think this helps a lot when it comes to writing because students can see if their work is making an impact on someone else and where they can improve their writing. These kinds of peer groups can also help a writer define what type of writer they are. Whether it be fiction, autobiography, etc. writers can see their best qualities and choose the path that is right for them.