The Power of Mentor Texts North Carolina Department of Public Instruction ELA Section

Nobody but a reader ever became a writer. - Richard Peck

What are Mentor Texts?  A mentor text is any piece of writing that can be used to teach a writer about some aspect of writer’s craft.  The best mentor texts are those that can be used numerous times throughout the school year to demonstrate many different characteristics of a text. (ideas, structure, written craft)

“The simple rhythm of copying someone else’s words gets us into the rhythm of writing, then you begin to feel your own words.” -William Forrester, Finding Forrester

Ways to use mentor texts: Idea: the text inspires the writer to create an original idea based on one from the text. Structure: the text presents on organizational structure that the writer tries to emulate using original ideas. Written Craft: the author’s writing style, ways with words, or sentence structure inspires the writer to try out these techniques.

Steal Like an Artist “Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don’t come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes. We learn by copying. We’re talking about practice here, not plagiarism – plagiarism is trying to pass someone else’s work off as your own. Copying is about reverse- engineering. It’s like a mechanic taking apart a car to see how it works.” -Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

Steps to Using Mentor Texts Select a text to emulate and reread – one that inspires an idea, models a structure, or demonstrates an author’s craft worth trying.  Read it (Read like a reader)  Analyze it (Read like a writer)  Emulate it (Write like the writer) - adapted from Kelly Gallagher

Read Like a Writer What does it mean? Read to identify the choices the author made so you can better understand how these choices might arise in your own writing. Reading to learn about writing

When you read like a writer you notice:  Word choice  Sentence structure  Organization  And…… What questions would you ask as a writer?

When you read like a writer: Annotate and Read Closely Read with a pen or highlighter in hand Make comments in the margins Write yourself notes and summaries Look for patterns Underline and highlight the passage in the text itself and ask yourself: What is the technique the author is using here? Is this technique effective? What would be the advantages and disadvantages if I tried this same technique in my own writing? When you read like a writer: Annotate and Read Closely Read with a pen or highlighter in hand Make comments in the margins Write yourself notes and summaries Look for patterns When you read like a writer: Annotate and Read Closely Read with a pen or highlighter in hand Make comments in the margins Write yourself notes and summaries Look for patterns

There, enormous in the ocean, were the whales. They leapt and jumped and spun across the moon. Example: There, tiny in the nest, were the baby robins. They screeched and squirmed and opened their beaks wide for their dinner. Try it out: Walk Around in the Author’s Syntax From The Whales’ Song by Dyan Sheldon: Structure Example using a mentor text:

Choosing a Mentor Text Quality vs. Quantity No longer a mile wide and an inch deep Having the end in mind You have to love it Worthy of rereading!

Questions to Consider… 1.Does the book provide examples of the kind of writing you want from your students? 2.Can it be revisited multiple times for a number of purposes? 3.Do you have a variety of genres do they address diversity?

What Now? Look through your favorite texts. Separate them out as idea, craft or structure mentor texts. Make sure you have mentor texts that cover all three categories. Begin creating and exploring lessons using mentor texts.

Mentor Text Resources Creating Successful Writers with Mentor Texts df df Mentor Text for the Traits of Writing texts-traits-writinghttp:// texts-traits-writing Teacher 2 Teacher – What are mentor texts? How to Use Mentor Text to Teach Writing mentor-texts-teach-writing.htmlhttp:// mentor-texts-teach-writing.html Teach Mentor Texts Corbitt Harrison Teaching with Mentor Texts

Julie Joslin, Ed.D. Section Chief English Language Arts Anna Lea Frost, M.Ed. 6-8 English Language Arts Consultant Lisa McIntosh, MSA K-5 English Language Arts Consultant Angie Stephenson 9-12 English Language Arts Kristi Day, M.Ed. K-5 English Language Arts Contact Information: