Having Second Thoughts Interpretation book clubs

Writing Growth Take with your group on how your writing is getting better

Teaching point Today I want to remind you that when aiming to write well about reading it’s important to remember that revision is the most important way to ratchet up the level of your writing. And to revise any text, it helps to have an image of good work in mind. In this instance, it helps to have a sense for what constitutes potent, vital, writing about reading.

Study others writing Flag places where the writer does something you might be able to do.

Revision Keep looking at others examples to help you grow as a writer.

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Homework When you finish reading, go back to the revision you began in class today about your club book. Refer to the feedback your partner gave you in class. Use this feedback to continue revising your work. Then read over your revised writing with a critical eye. Act as your own partner, your own critic. You may be asking yourself questions like these: • Is this idea supported by evidence from the text? • Am I thinking and writing analytically? Am I comparing or pointing out cause and effect? • I have new insights from my reading. Did I weave them into the ideas in my writing? If you prefer to work on a different piece of writing, go through a few recent writing about reading entries in your notebook. Choose one that you feel has some interesting ideas, but needs more work. Then apply your partner’s feedback, as well as your own critical thinking, and start revising.