Active Voices I, II, III, and IV are collections of writings by students, all based on the assignment sequences in James Moffett's Active Voice: A Writing Program Across the Curriculum. The books provide a powerful composing/literature program built on these writings and arranged in divisions that reflect Moffett's universe of discourse -- the multiplicity of forms within which nearly all real-world writing is carried out.
The student writings in Active Voices are not the result of contests nor are they models produced by particularly talented young writers. They come from ordinary students; and as pieces to be read and considered, they reflect well the tentativeness and mistakes that occur (and are overcome) as writers develop their skills. By reading the work of their peers, students see how the problems they encounter are dealt with and, moreover, see that good, serious literature is not just the work of recognized authors.
These books offer numerous suggestions for a literature/writing program that goes far beyond that found in traditional texts. There are accompanying Teaching Guides available upon adoption of ten or more copies of the texts. |
