1. CRAFT Craft and Structure Digging Deeper into Close and Critical Reading for Narrative and Informational Text

2. Referring back to the four questions of Close and Critical Reading… What does it say? = summary How does it say it? = craft What does it mean? = theme What does it matter? = connections

3. How does it say it? This is the most challenging. This is where the teacher determines if students dissected the selection to see how the parts functioned. Student task: detect craft and structure

4. Ingredients + recipe… How did crust, sauce, cheese, meat and vegetables make this!

5. How do Craft and Structure work? Craft What are the ingredients? What are the elements in use? What literary devices? How do the choices support purpose and audience? Structure What is the recipe? How is the text put together? What format was chosen? How do parts work together and apart?

6. Basic Elements of Craft Essential Question: How did the author’s choices produce this work? We look to a seemingly endless supply of literary devices to dissect what goes into a selection.

7. Where do we start? What was the author’s purpose? What was the author’s tone and perspective? Who was his intended audience? What is the point of view (1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd person)?

8. Ready to go to the next level? What genre of text does the selection represent? 1. Fiction: narrative selections such as fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, historical fiction, adventure, romance, drama, poetry… 2. Nonfiction: memoir, biography, journals… Informational Text: periodicals, articles, textbooks, scientific journals, reference material and any information on the natural and social world

9. If the selection is NARRATIVE… There should be some discussion of: Plot – How did major events unfold? Setting – How does the “where and when” impact the story? Theme – What is the “universal truth” in the story? Characterization – How do details make characters life-like? Conflict – What kind of conflict is used? (man versus self, other characters, society, or nature)

10. If the selection is INFORMATIONAL… There should be some discussion of: Organization – cause & effect; comparison & contrast; problem/solution; sequence; fact & opinion; theory/evidence Appearance – numbered items, bulleted points, subheadings, captions, footnotes Use of Visual Aids – charts, graphs, tables, inserts, figures, maps, diagrams, pictures… Use of Font – changes in style, size or color

11. In either genre these elements are common: Imagery – pictures created by words Style – accessible, technical, action-packed… Symbolism – concept represented Irony – unexpected twist Foreshadowing – hints at future Flashback – reflections on past

12. Common elements continued… Language and Word Choice – slang, formal, dialect, foreign or tech. terms Simile – compares using “like” “as” Metaphor – compares using “is/are” Mood – reader’s feeling afterwards Tone – author’s attitude

13. In either genre these devices are possible: Allusion - reference to other literature Analogy - relating concepts based on similarity Aphorism – “old saying” Euphemism – milder terms used for the unpleasant Paradox – contradictions used for effect Parallelism – repeating word patterns for effect Satire – mocking a serious subject Note: there are dozens of literary devices not listed

14. Basic Types of Structure Cause and Effect - “B” is the result of “A” with a causal chain possible Comparison and Contrast – point by point or subject by subject views are shared (effect size of 1.61) Problem and Solution – the problem is explained and at least one possible solution offered Sequential – events are told in order of occurrence Fact versus opinion – weighed side by side Theory versus evidence – deeper than opinion and tested with results

15. Consider Cause and Effect… “For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a nail the shoe was lost. And all because of a horseshoe nail…” Carefully selected the structure plays a major role in impact.

16. Types of Appeal Rational – appeals to the thinking, logical side of the reader. It makes sense to me. (head) Emotional – appeals to the empathetic side of the reader. It makes me feel… (heart) Ethical – appeals to the right & wrong/values of the reader. It makes me want to act. (gut)

17. Activity: Let’s practice. Read the passage. The first time she sang in public was in the church. The pastor said she had a voice as big as Carnegie Hall. A local talent show brought her to the attention of a record label at age 15. Her first recording went gold in just a few days. By the time she was 20, she was branching out to do movies. If others were stars, she was the moon, making memories from melodies. Critics compared her to Judy Garland and Whitney Houston. When her career started to fade by age 30, she was finding comfort in pills and alcohol.

18. What did you decide for: Genre nonfiction and biography Purpose to inform ( to entertain due to celebrity) Audience music fans Point of View (POV) 3 rd person observer

19. What other decisions… Tone Author seems positive and understanding Literary Devices Simile: as big as Carnegie hall Metaphor: she was the moon Alliteration: moon making memories…melodies Foreshadowing: tragic endings of Garland & Houston Structure Passage is organized sequentially.

20. What are the benefits of mastering craft & structure as a reader? The Common Core State Standards will have their own computer-adaptive test by 2015. Any student exposed to digital curriculum (NWEA, Apex Learning, online instruction) will be expected to respond to questions about how the structure of the passage had an impact on the reader. Good writers know this. Direct, Explicit Comprehension Instruction – Reading Next, 2006

21. What are the benefits of mastering craft & structure as a writer? Students develop an appreciation for the writing process. They analyze the assignment, decide their purpose, acknowledge audience, and choose a point of view. Once they determine their attitude towards the subject, all the other choices are made as support. Writers invert the skills used as a reader. Specific Product Goals; Inquiry Activities - Writing Next, 2007

22. What is the take-away? Craft is about selecting elements in the composing of a passage Structure is the frame and space to interact for those elements Together they form a unique representation to support author and reader

23. Crafted and Presented by Beverly Dawn Whatley, Literacy Specialist November 2012 Pictures: Bing Images All Rights Reserved