26 Other Forms of Writing About Literature

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Fantasy Future Government

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Book Review

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Reading

Page 237 from Write on Course 20-20

Writing Guidelines: Book Review

Have students select a school-appropriate book they have recently read and feel strongly about. Then have them list key details and examples from the book. Encourage them to return to the book to refresh their memories.

Once students have gathered enough details, lead them through the tips for creating an effective beginning, middle, and ending. Also, use the "Helpful Hint" to remind students about avoiding spoilers.

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Writing Process Prewriting Writing

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Book Review

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Page 238 from Write on Course 20-20

Revising and Editing

Use the two "A Closer Look" features as minilessons to underscore how to revise and edit. Point out that revising involves bigger changes, and editing involves smaller changes. The purpose of revising is to make major improvements to the ideas, organization, voice, words, and sentences. The purpose of editing is to correct any remaining conventions errors.

Provide the revising and editing checklist to help students improve their writing.

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Revising and Editing Checklist

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Writing Process Revising Editing Traits of Writing Strong Ideas Logical Organization Effective Voice Precise Words Fluid Sentences Correct Conventions

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Book Review

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Page 239 from Write on Course 20-20

Responding with a Letter

If you would like your students to write a letter (or an email) to an author, make sure they understand that they are communicating with a real person. They need to be polite and friendly. Use the side notes on this letter to show the necessary "niceties," such as greeting the author, introducing oneself, giving the reason for writing, and thanking the person afterward.

After your students write their letters, have them share their work with a peer, who can role-play the part of the author. This activity will help students imagine a real person receiving and reading the letter, and the peer partners can help them craft their messages accordingly.

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Friendly Letter

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Reading Writing

Page 240 from Write on Course 20-20

Responding to a Literary Prompt

Have students cover page 241 with a piece of paper. Then have them read the prompt at the top of page 240 and analyze it by writing down the Purpose, Audience, Subject, and Type. Then allow them to uncover page 241 to check their answers.

With the PAST questions in mind, have the students then read "Chicago Poet." Afterward, they can jot down a quick list of how they would answer the prompt.

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Writing for Assessment Response to Literature

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Literary Analysis

English Language Arts:

Reading Writing

Page 241 from Write on Course 20-20

Responding to a Literary Prompt (Continued)

After students check their PAST responses with those on the page, have them read the "Planning Quick List." Then ask student volunteers to read each paragraph and any side notes with it. Have students find evidence in the model to support the features mentioned in the side notes.

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Writing for Assessment Response to Literature

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Literary Analysis

English Language Arts:

Reading Writing

Page 243 from Write on Course 20-20

Writing Guidelines: Literary Prompt

Review the PAST strategy with your students, and then present them with the following prompt to read and analyze:

Read "A Noiseless, Patient Spider" by American poet Walt Whitman. What comparison is he drawing? What points of comparison does he make? Write a literary analysis of this poem, reflecting on the comparison, poetic techniques used by Whitman, and the overall theme of the poem. Make the poem come alive for other readers.

A Noiseless Patient Spider

Walt Whitman

A noiseless, patient spider,
I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them—ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,—seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

Purpose: To analyze and reflect
Audience: Other readers
Subject: The comparison, poetic techniques, and theme of "A Noiseless, Patient Spider"
Type: Literary analysis

Present the material on the rest of the page. Then let your students practice responding to this literary prompt. Give them a time limit and have them write responses.

Afterward, distribute the revising and editing checklist, which students can use for a self-assessment of their responses.

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