WRITING FLUENTLY

From character statements to author/reader

statements
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:

EXAMPLE A:

 Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy

 Elizabeth doesn’t like Darcy at the start of the novel

EXAMPLE B:

 Fitzgerald explores Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy

 The reader is positioned to explore Gatsby’s initial
obsession with Daisy
KEY DIFFERENCES
EXAMPLE A – Character EXAMPLE B –Author/reader
statements statements
Focus on the characters’ worlds Focus on the author’s construction of
meaning or the reader’s
interpretations
Simplistic Complex
Treats the characters like they are real Treats the characters like they are
people – one-dimensional view of the vehicles through which authors
text convey messages and readers interpret
meaning
Descriptive/summary Analytical/evaluative
Lower-order thinking Higher-order thinking
HOW DO I TRANSFORM MY
SENTENCES INTO AUTHOR/READER
STATEMENTS:
 Author statements usually start with the author’s name,
followed by a verb/s describing what the author is doing:

Eg: ‘Harwood’s use of pseudonyms, masks and disguises

highlights the nature of perspective in interpretation’

 To transform your sentences, simply begin your sentence

with the author’s name, followed by a verb, followed by
what the author is attempting to do/achieve with their
writing
READER STATEMENTS
 Reader statements typically start with the words
‘Readers’ or ‘The audience’, followed by a verb/s
describing the effects on readers:

Eg: ‘Audiences are positioned to immerse themselves in the

unfamiliar world of each character, reinforcing the chaotic
sense of displacement they experience throughout the play.’

To transform your sentences, simply begin your sentence

with the words ‘Readers’ or ‘The audience’ followed by a
verb, followed by what specific effect the writing has on
readers
MIXING IT UP: USING PREPOSITIONS
 Alternatively, each of these statements can start with a preposition
(eg: A word indicating place or a relationship between two words,
such as “in”, “throughout”, “by”, “through”) followed by a phrase
about the author/readers:

Eg: ‘Through representing Daisy as self-serving and superficial,

Fitzgerald critiques the materialism and destructive tendencies of
affluence in 1920s US society’

‘By imbuing the poem ‘Iris’ with religious symbolism such as “the
ark” which “sail[s]” across the seas “wave after wave”, Harwood’s
imagery is reminiscent of Noah’s Ark, leaving readers with a sense of
moral salvation’

Feel free to mix it up!

SOME USEFUL ‘AUTHOR STATEMENT’
VERBS:
Author verbs
Conveys Underscores Engulfs
Imbues Exemplifies Portrays
Suggests Illustrates Foreshadows
Connotes Elucidates by way of… Dissects
Illustrates Establishes Symbolises
Captures Condemns Perpetuates
Reinforces Endorses Reveals
Evinces Explores Engenders
Creates Celebrates Challenges
Serves Laments Confirms
 SOME USEFUL ‘READER STATEMENT’ VERBS
Reader verbs
Manoeuvred Observe Succumb to Interpret
Positioned …are confronted Positioned to Discover
with…
Encouraged Form connections Come to the dawning …are invited to …
between realisation

Solidify Dislocate Feel Condemn…

Connect Disassociate Ponder …are led to…
Reconsider Prompting a visceral Strikes a sense of… Differentiate
response between…
Discern Revisit Draw parallels between Re-evaluate

…are left with Empathise with …reminiscent of Question

Witness Peer through Builds hope/tension Admire

Obtain a sense of… Transfer Revile Esteem

SOME SENTENCE STARTERS…
 Through the character of....the author/director...challenges the
idea/notion/ belief that....

 By portraying [character/setting] as ….., [author] creates the

sense that…

 *In the world of the text....the author/director represents a society

that believes/accepts/values....

 Through the portrayal of … as…, readers are encouraged to draw

parallels between…

 During [scene], the audience comes to the dawning realisation

that…through…