Evidence? The evidence you mention pertains to the CRAFT of the painting a technique to convey a message What message is the painter sending?

Today I am going to teach you that... When writing a literary essay you have choices. One way to write is about the theme the story puts forth. Another way to write a literary essay is to focus on craft moves an author tends to use.

Teaching Good news! You all know how to do the first step of this work; you just need to reread a bit of your texts and see what kind of craft moves you notice. This time, we are going to focus on a different part of the text--a scene or character that I didn’t spend much time on before. With “All Summer in a Day” I am going to focus on the sun because I spent last time focusing on the rain.

Teaching Let’s read using the chart from the last slide. The chart move should help us focus on some craft moves we might otherwise miss. Let’s try it!

Teaching

Teaching What craft moves do I notice? Similes and metaphors Descriptive language (how warm, “blushing”, “body tremble”) NOW WHY???? WHY is he making these choices? Let’s look at another chart to figure out WHY

Teaching Why did Bradbury use metaphors, that descriptive language? What fits from the chart?

Teaching Now I am going to skim through the rest of the text, lingering on places where I think I might find examples of these craft moves. I’m going to focus on how the narrator describes the sun. All those parts that refer to the sun.

Teaching Bradbury uses metaphor throughout “All Summer in a Day.” He describes the sun “like a lemon,” and “like a flower,” and when the children are playing in the sun, he describes them “like animals escaped from their caves” (1). One effect of this device is to create a vivid setting in the readers’ mind. When he says the sun is like a lemon, I know exactly what that looks like, just how bright and yellow it shines. Another effect is to raise the stakes by showing the sun as something so good, and maybe even a little wild. For example, when the children get into the sun they at like freed animals--this simile conveys how the sun frees the children from their own caves. This raises the stakes because it show the sun as something so desirable that the children might do anything to get it.

This work can be easier with a partner. Work with a partner to skim and discover what craft moves you see the author using. A scene at the beginning that has a lot of description? Or a scene you really love?

Ask yourself: What moves do you find? Why might the author make this choice? Refer to the charts on to help guide your analysis.

Now it’s your turn. Challenge: Write long!!! Now it’s your turn. Challenge: Write one page single spaced (Ariel 11 or Times New Roman 12) and discuss the craft moves the author uses over and over. And answer why the author uses them over

How to write a Writer's Craft essay • Collect entries on the author’s craft. • Choose a spot in the text to study and name a few craft moves you see the author using. • Look for patterns of craft across the text in similar scenes. • Focus on powerful craft moves, like symbolism. • Write a claim for author’s craft, either focusing on one or many craft moves. • Plan how your essay will go and begin drafting. • Write introductions that summarize the story, explain the essay’s relevance, state the claim,and write strong conclusions.

“I’m having trouble writing long.”

“Help!” I’m lost and confused

Organize your thinking thinking 1. Organize your thinking thinking Start with what you know

Ask yourself Where is there a place in the story that you like. Is there a quote from the story that illustrates a craft move? What is the craft move? (Figurative language? Dialogue? Description?) Use the “Narrative Writers Use Techniques Such as…” Chart to help you figure it out. Why do you think the author used that craft move? Use the “Narrative Writers Aim Toward Goals Such as…” chart to help you. Is this craft move part of a pattern you notice in another part of the story?

I’m stuck. I don’t know what to write. “Help!” I’m stuck. I don’t know what to write.

Organize your thinking thinking 2. Organize your thinking thinking Use your resources.

Resources Use multiple sentence starters from the chart “Prompts to push writers.” Ask your partner.