Les. 41: Third Person

Read the mentor text. Is this article written in first, second, or third person? What proof can you give?

Answer explanation

third-person

impersonal, talks to audience with authority

Complete the chart identifying what to include and what to avoid in third-person writing (p. 136).

Groups:

(a) Include

,

(b) Avoid

• first-person pronouns

• facts and evidence

• second-person pronouns

• third-person pronouns

• slang, idioms, and fragments

• writes to a general audience

• write using an impersonal, authoritative tone

• write about something by name

Rewrite the following sentence in third person, removing or replacing all first-person references:

My friends and I love to sing in the church choir.

Rewrite the following sentence in third person, removing or replacing all first-person references: We are preparing to sing in the Christmas cantata.

Rewrite the following sentence in third person, removing or replacing all first-person references:

The conductor chose my friend and me to sing a duet.

Rewrite the following sentence in third person, removing or replacing all first-person references:

He gave me a special recording to familiarize me with the song.

Rewrite the following sentence in third person, removing or replacing all first-person references:

Our song was the very first song on the program.

Extra Credit: Write an entry for an encyclopedia on a current event.