Analyzing Writer’s Craft Presented by: Kelly Philbeck

Analyzing Writer’s CraftAnalyzing Writer’s Craft

Presented by: Kelly PhilbeckPresented by: Kelly Philbeck

Craft of ArtistsCraft of Artists

Look following two paintings and jot Look following two paintings and jot down some similarities and some down some similarities and some differences that you see.differences that you see.

What do you notice about the artists’ What do you notice about the artists’ techniques?techniques?

What differences do you see?What differences do you see?

Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

Edvard Munch’s The Scream

Grant Wood’s American Gothic

Writer’s Craft…Words Paint Writer’s Craft…Words Paint a Thousand Picturesa Thousand Pictures

What is Writer’s Craft?What is Writer’s Craft?Craft is the art of writing. It is the Craft is the art of writing. It is the

writer’s intentional use of the following writer’s intentional use of the following to create an effect on the reader:to create an effect on the reader: figurative languagefigurative language snapshots/imagery/detailssnapshots/imagery/details thoughtshotsthoughtshots word choice/word placementword choice/word placement sound/dialoguesound/dialogue sentence structure/stylistic devicessentence structure/stylistic devices text featurestext features text structuretext structure

Writer’s Craft Encompasses:Writer’s Craft Encompasses:

StyleStyle ToneTone VoiceVoice Audience AwarenessAudience Awareness Structure/OrganizationStructure/Organization TechniqueTechnique

Categories of CraftCategories of Craft

Word CraftWord Craft—careful, deliberate word —careful, deliberate word choicechoice

StructuralStructural CraftCraft—organizational —organizational featuresfeatures

AudibleAudible CraftCraft—sound choices—sound choices VisualVisual CraftCraft—print features—print features

Laminack & RayLaminack & Ray

Word CraftWord Craft

Deliberate, artful choice of words Deliberate, artful choice of words [Ray [Ray 1999]1999]

Figurative languageFigurative language Word ChoiceWord Choice Vivid verbsVivid verbs ImageryImagery DetailsDetails

Structural CraftStructural Craft

Organizational Framework of the Organizational Framework of the Writing Writing [Ray 1999][Ray 1999]

Text structureText structure Paragraph typesParagraph types Transitional devicesTransitional devices Parallel structureParallel structure RepetitionRepetition Page Layout/White SpacePage Layout/White Space

Audible CraftAudible Craft

Language that Lingers… Language that Lingers… [Laminack 2007][Laminack 2007]

Noticed without even seeing the print Noticed without even seeing the print [[[[Laminack 2007Laminack 2007

AlliterationAlliteration AssonanceAssonance OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia RhythmRhythm CadenceCadence Hard/Soft SoundsHard/Soft Sounds

Visual CraftVisual Craft

Thoughtful, artful placement of text on Thoughtful, artful placement of text on a page a page [Laminack 2007][Laminack 2007]

Must be seen to be noticed Must be seen to be noticed [Laminack 2007][Laminack 2007]

Print Features (bold, italics, fonts, Print Features (bold, italics, fonts, punctuation)punctuation)

Line breaksLine breaks White spaceWhite space Graphics—pictures, illustrations, charts, Graphics—pictures, illustrations, charts,

mapsmaps

Bridging with Writer’s CraftBridging with Writer’s Craft Analyzing Writer’s Craft is essential to Analyzing Writer’s Craft is essential to

modeling the type of writing product you modeling the type of writing product you want students to create.want students to create. If you want an article, analyze how If you want an article, analyze how

professional writers craft articles.professional writers craft articles. If you want a science lab report, analyze If you want a science lab report, analyze

scientific writers craft science lab reports.scientific writers craft science lab reports. If you want a historical analysis essay, analyze If you want a historical analysis essay, analyze

how professional writers craft historical how professional writers craft historical essays.essays.

Writer’s Craft: Text Writer’s Craft: Text FeaturesFeatures

3 Papers in front of you:

•Writer’s Craft: Text Features Sheet (p.5)

•3 Column Chart (separate sheet)

•“How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending” article (p.21)

Let’s Analyze Text Features Let’s Analyze Text Features in an Articlein an Article

Step 1: Step 1: Skim over your Writer’s Craft: Skim over your Writer’s Craft: Text Features definitions listText Features definitions list

Step 2: Step 2: Look at your article:Look at your article: ““How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”

Step 3: Step 3: Underline any text features you Underline any text features you seesee

Step 4: Step 4: Label the text features Label the text features Step 5: Step 5: Complete the Writer’s Craft chartComplete the Writer’s Craft chart


Claim It!Quote from the Work

Name It!Label the

Device/Technique

Frame It!Explain/Analyze

Author’s Purpose

Lady carrying lots of shopping bags

“How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”



Name It!Label the

Device/Technique


Author’s Purpose


Picture/graphic


Main Title

Sub Title



Name It!Label the

Device/Technique


Author’s Purpose


Picture/graphic To illustrate how over-shopping/ over-spending during the holidays can weigh you down


Main Title To catch/draw in the reader’s interest/attention

Sub Title To further explain the main title and the purpose of the article

Notice pic is

not Santa or

Money

Find 3 More Examples of Find 3 More Examples of Text Features and Work Text Features and Work

Through Your Writer’s Craft Through Your Writer’s Craft Chart:Chart:

Writer’s Craft: EvidenceWriter’s Craft: Evidence

Writer’s Craft: Text Writer’s Craft: Text FeaturesFeatures

3 Papers in front of you:

•Writer’s Craft: Evidence (p.2)

•3 Column Chart (separate sheet—flip over to analyze for evidence)

•“How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending” article (p.21)

Be More Specific…Be More Specific…

Knowing evidence is important…Knowing evidence is important…

Evidence=CSIEvidence=CSI

With Your Group…With Your Group… Step 1: Step 1: Take a moment to read the list Take a moment to read the list

of the 25 types of evidence writers of the 25 types of evidence writers commonly use.commonly use.

Step 2: Step 2: Highlight/underline evidence in Highlight/underline evidence in “How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”“How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”

Step 3: Step 3: Label evidence as the Label evidence as the appropriate type from the list of 25 appropriate type from the list of 25 (some may serve multiple purposes)(some may serve multiple purposes)

Step 4: Step 4: Work through your Writer’s Work through your Writer’s Craft ChartCraft Chart



Name It!Label the

Device/Technique


Author’s Purpose

“ ‘Tis the season not only to be joly but to buy, “ explains Esther M. Berger…

“Nearly 15% of all Christmas gifts are returned.”

“The average American spends over $700…”



Name It!Label the

Device/Technique


Author’s Purpose


Quote from a Reliable Source


Percentages


References to Money



Name It!Label the

Device/Technique


Author’s Purpose


Quote from a Reliable Source

The quote from the financial planner provides credibility


Percentages


References to Money

Find 3 More Examples of Find 3 More Examples of Evidence and Work Through Evidence and Work Through Your Writer’s Craft Chart:Your Writer’s Craft Chart:

Tips for UseTips for Use

I have students analyze writer’s craft on I have students analyze writer’s craft on most everything we read.most everything we read.

We started small…We started small… Only looked at literary devices/figurative Only looked at literary devices/figurative

language for period of timelanguage for period of time Used with Lit CirclesUsed with Lit Circles Students created our definition sheetStudents created our definition sheet Then we analyzed for stylistic devices, then Then we analyzed for stylistic devices, then

text structure, etc. to build our writers’ eyes.text structure, etc. to build our writers’ eyes.

Tips for UseTips for Use

I have students analyze writer’s craft I have students analyze writer’s craft on most everything we read.on most everything we read.

We keep craft sheets in sheet We keep craft sheets in sheet protectors in the middle of their 3 protectors in the middle of their 3 pronged writing folders.pronged writing folders.

We refer back to craft findings for We refer back to craft findings for prewriting AND revision of writing.prewriting AND revision of writing.

SourcesSources

Ray, Katie Wood. Ray, Katie Wood. Wondrous WordsWondrous Words. . Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1999.Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1999.

Laminack, Lester. Laminack, Lester. Cracking Open Cracking Open Author’s Craft.Author’s Craft. New York: Scholastic, New York: Scholastic, 2007. 2007.

Documents

Analyzing Writer’s Craft Presented by: Kelly Philbeck