Engaging Teen Voices Worksheet

Name:

Date:

🎯 Part 1: Annotation Practice

1. Read this transcript from Ethan's Kangaroo Island episode. The enthusiastic adjectives and curiosity questions have been highlighted for you. Add your own annotations in the margins:

"Guys, this place is absolutely incredible! Kangaroo Island is like Australia's best-kept secret. Did you know that one-third of the island is protected parkland? I couldn't believe it when I saw my first echidna just wandering around like it owned the place! The beaches here are seriously epic – we're talking pristine white sand that stretches for kilometres. Have you ever seen sea lions just chilling on the beach like they're on holiday? It's amazing how close you can get to the wildlife here. This awesome little island is definitely going on my must-visit-again list!"

2. Word Bank - Enthusiastic Adjectives: Use these words to help with your writing later.

awesome • incredible • amazing • epic • brilliant • fantastic • unbelievable • seriously cool • absolutely stunning • mind-blowing

3. Word Bank - Curiosity Questions: Choose from these question starters.

Did you know...? • Have you ever...? • Can you believe...? • Isn't it crazy that...? • How amazing is it that...? • You won't believe this, but...

✏️ Part 2: Writing in Ethan's Voice

4. Choose ONE of these everyday Australian places to describe in Ethan's enthusiastic teen voice:

School canteen

Local park or oval

Shopping centre

Beach or swimming spot

5. Sentence Starters - Choose 2-3 to help you begin:

• "You won't believe what I discovered at..."
• "This place is seriously the best for..."
• "Guys, I have to tell you about..."
• "I couldn't believe it when I saw..."
• "This has to be one of the most awesome..."

6. Write your paragraph (5-7 sentences) describing your chosen place in Ethan's voice. Remember to use enthusiastic adjectives and curiosity questions!

👥 Part 3: Peer Support Activity

7. Partner Work Instructions: Work with a classmate to complete this section.

8. Read your partner's paragraph from Question 6. Tick the features they used successfully:

Enthusiastic adjectives (awesome, amazing, epic, etc.)

Curiosity questions (Did you know...? Have you ever...?)

Friendly, casual language

Sounds like a teen talking to friends

9. Write one suggestion to help your partner make their writing sound even more like Ethan's voice:

10. Extension Challenge: Rewrite the first sentence of your paragraph in a formal, boring guidebook style, then compare it to your Ethan-style version.

Formal style: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Ethan style: ________________________________________________________________________________________