The Five Parts to Reading Like a Writer

1. Notice something about the craft of the text.

2. Talk about it and make a theory about why a writer might use this craft.
3. Give the craft a name.
4. Think of other texts you know. Have you seen this craft before?
5. Try and envision using this crafting in your own writing.

What is the Why is the What can I call Have I ever seen another Examples of
author doing? author doing this crafting author craft this way? this
(example) this? technique? technique in
my writing.
See those Moving Getting to the (possibly??) If You Give a Short, to the
bags? I smell through the point Mouse a Cookie by Laura point
BREAKFAST. point the Joffe Numeroff sentences
Crew? Get me character is Building off each sentence with some
to get through the story and
to the curb! trying to the character’s questions
Lights? Blink! make by and answers
Brakes? answering intertwined.
SQUEAL! simple A trip to
questions. Disney:
Bags?
Packed.
Car? Gased.
Feeling?
Excited.
Woah those The word Yes! Bed Head By Margie
bags are way “compacted” Visualizing Palatini Writing on
COMpactED! is written in a verbs “AAAaaaaaahhhhh” one of my art
way that “EEEEEeeeeOOOOwwww” projects a
parallels with few years
how the bags ago- I moved
would look if the words
they were around and
compacted. around to
symbolize
water.
“Who am I?” Asking a Practicing Yes. This Is Not My Hat By When
….. question, making & Jon Klassen. Begins the journaling,
“ Who am I? describing the confirming story with a statement sometimes I
The garbage answer predictions and continues through will begin
truck, that’s throughout the story, then follows up with a
who!” the story, with a resolution at the question I am
ending with a end. wondering,
question and write about
the answer- it, and then
lets the attempt to
reader think answer it by
while reading. the end.

“Go on, hold Telling the Personification Yes. Click, Clack, Moo: I can’t think
your nose, story from with Cows That Type by of anything
but think the inanimate perspectives Doreen Cronin. The cows at the
about it- object’s are able to write to their moment, but
without me? perspective owner about how they it would be
You’re on so we can feel about the barn they interesting to
Mount Trash- understand it live in, and their feelings. try this with a
O – Rama, better. familiar
baby!” place- like
the beach my
family goes
to each
summer.