Title:  Writing Detectives-Learning Writing Moves from a Text

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Introduction:  Are you ready to become writing detectives?  Today, small moment writers, we are going to do an inquiry.  Together, we are going to look at powerful parts of our mentor text, Owl Moon and investigate, "How did the author write like this?" and "Could I write like this too?" so that we can try this out in our own writing.

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Absorb Activity:  Let's listen to the author, herself, Jane Yolen reread Owl Moon to us.  Listen for powerful parts of the story.  Think about what makes them powerful and why are those parts powerful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do Activity:  We will work together as a class to complete most of this chart.  Then you will finish the chart on your own or with a classmate.  Let's look at this first powerful part from page 1 of Owl Moon.  Follow along with me on your chart as we write about What is powerful, Why is it powerful, and How is it done?

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Why is page 1 of Owl Moon so powerful?  Share your ideas with your buddy next to you.

Yes, it feels like you are there!

Now that we have shared our ideas, let's write them under WHY is it powerful. 

How does the author, Jane Yolen, make this part so powerful?  Share your ideas with your buddy next to you.

Exactly, Jane Yolen names exactly what the character sees, feels, and hears.

Now that we have shared our ideas, let's write them under HOW is it done.

Let's move on to find the next powerful part of Owl Moon.  Any suggestions?

The part where the owl shows up and the Dad call out whooo-whooo-whoo is a great and powerful part of the story!  Please add that to your chart under WHAT is powerful.

Share with your buddy next to you why is it powerful.

I agree that you are wondering what will happen next and you hope the owl will appear.

How did the author do this in the story?

Yes, she used actions and images that show a character hopes for something good to happen.  Please add those two ideas to your chart.

Now your chart should look something like this.

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Finish the chart by finding two more powerful parts in the story Owl Moon and Why they are powerful and how does Jane Yolen make them powerful.  I encourage you to work with others and share your ideas, but you may also work by yourself.  Be ready to share your ideas with the class at a later time.  

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Connect Activity:  Now that we have figured out several of Jane Yolen's writing moves, ask yourself, "Does one of these moves match what I am trying to do in my own writing?"  See if there is a spot in your small moment writing where...

you want readers to feel like they are almost there with you

you want readers to wonder what will happen next, and to hope things turn out a certain way. 

If you add any of these in your small moment writing today, be ready to share how you did it at the end of our writing workshop.  If your writing doesn't need any of the things we have found in Jane's Yolen's work today, you might want to study another part of Owl Moon, and find something else she has done as a writer.  Or you can work on other things your writing needs.  There are many options.  Off to write you go! 

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Resources:

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Rubric:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:  Writers like Jane Yolen use writing techniques called craft moves to enhance their stories by adding powerful descriptions, actions, and comparisons. When you study a text like Owl Moon and link it to your own writing, it's like having another teacher.  When you really pay attention to not only what an author does but how he or she does it, you are learning craft moves that you can use in your own writing to make it powerful!  

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