8/10/2019 Structured Practice

1/4

Structured Practice

Now youll need a visual with implicit and explicit details to demonstrate.Ive

picked Van GoghsPortrait of Dr. Gachet.This has a double benefit ofexposing my students to a classic artist and being in the public domain.

Begin by asking for an implicit detail, what is this mans mood?

Hes sad!

Hes unhappy!

Hes distraught! (encourage high-level vocabulary)Now ask for the explicit details that prove this implicit detail. Remind students

that an explicit detail is on the surface or something that we can point to.

Demand exactness and specificity in these details.

His eyes are sloping down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Dr._Gachethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Dr._Gachethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Dr._Gachethttp://www.byrdseed.com/wp-content/uploads/Portrait_of_Dr._Gachet.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Dr._Gachet

8/10/2019 Structured Practice

2/4

His head is resting on his hand.

The picture is blue.

The man is frowning.

Now youre going to move this information into a paragraph. Explain that the

implicit detail becomes a topic sentence.

Dr. Gachet is a distraught man.

Next the explicit details prove that the topic is true. Use the explicit details

your students generated to write the rest of the paragraph.

Dr. Gachet is a distraught man. Van Gogh shows this through Dr. Gachets frown. The

downward slope of his eyes also demonstrates sadness. Finally, Dr. Gachet is restinghis head in his hand in a way that confirms his unhappiness.

Guided Practice

Pick another visual for students to practice with. Ive selected MonetsWoman

With A Parasol,again exposing students to a classic piece of art and selecting

a work that is in the public domain.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_011.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_011.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_011.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_011.jpghttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_011.jpg

8/10/2019 Structured Practice

3/4

Ask students to write a paragraph answering the question How is the woman

feeling? or What is the mood of this picture? Remind them that their answer

will be an implicit detail but they will need to back this up with three explicit

details. Keep the Dr. Gachet paragraph displayed as a model.

Consider partnering students up at this point. Give them time to create a

paragraph. Walk the room and/or work with a small group that needs

help. Finally, have students share out or collect outstanding examples to

display.

Independent Practice

Now were getting to the meat. In 6th grade, this skill goes withHatchet. Id

ask my students to write a paragraph following the pattern from our previous

examples (that means including three explicit details) to answer:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_011.jpg

8/10/2019 Structured Practice

4/4

How would you describe Brians mood in the beginning of this selection?

Or:

How does the setting contribute to Brians mood?

Now, if you receive a vague answer (the setting makes him afraid because

its so scary), point out that there arent enoughexplicit details.

On the other hand, if you receive a list of attributes about the setting (the

setting is dark and full of animals), point out that theres no topic sentence

with an implicit detail.

Extension

1. Ask for multiple paragraph responses: In two paragraphs, describe Brians

mood from the beginning of the story and then what his mood is in the end.

This will continue the development of a response to literature.

2. Ask students to critique a set of paragraphs using a rubric. This is a great

exercise to use authentic (but anonymous) student writing. Type out a handful

of interesting examples and ask students to analyze them.