1. After Reading KEY TRAITS Writing Workshop Interpretive Essay...continued 1.IDEAS Includes a thesis statement that gives the key points of the discussion Uses evidence from the source to support each key point Interpretive Essay

2. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay...continued Interpretive Essay KEY TRAITS 2. ORGANIZATION Compelling introduction includes the title and author of the work being interpreted Organizational pattern is consistent and includes transitions Provides background information about the work so the readers can understand the interpretation Summarizes ideas and draws broader conclusions about the work

3. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay...continued 5. SENTENCE FLUENCY 6. CONVENTIONS Includes a variety of sentence structures to keep the essay from becoming too choppy or bland Employs correct grammar and usage Interpretive Essay KEY TRAITS 4. WORD CHOICE Uses precise language to interpret the work 3. VOICE Tone is appropriate for purpose and audience

4. After ReadingWriting Workshop Apply the Writing Process: Prewriting...continued Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 1. Revisit the work you will interpret. What Does It Look Like? A second or third reading (or viewing) of the work will likely reveal important details you may have missed. Record thoughts and questions in a reading log or a viewing log.

5. After ReadingWriting Workshop...continued Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 2. Try freewriting to find the big idea. What Does It Look Like? Can’t figure out what to write about? Freewriting can help. Ask yourself: What makes a certain character so interesting? Which line of dialogue means more than what it seems to say at first glance? Apply the Writing Process: Prewriting

6. After ReadingWriting Workshop...continued Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 3. Zero in on your focus and write a thesis. What Does It Look Like? Ask yourself: What is the author’s message, and how did I figure that out? Write a working thesis that explains your main idea. Then list key points from the story that prove your thesis. Apply the Writing Process: Prewriting

7. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 4. Gather evidence to support each key point. What Does It Look Like? Use details and quotations to lend support to your interpretation. TIP: If you’re having trouble finding supporting evidence for a key point, you might have to revise your thesis statement. Apply the Writing Process: Prewriting...continued

8. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 1. Get organized. What Does It Look Like? You might organize your essay by telling the reader what the story seems to be about at first glance and then explaining what deeper meanings can be understood after several more readings or viewings. This writer chose to state her opinion of the story’s significance in a thesis statement and then offer supporting evidence for her key ideas. TIP: Which of your key ideas is strongest? You can emphasize that point by discussing it either first or last. Apply the Writing Process: Drafting...continued

9. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 2. Support key ideas with strong evidence from the text. What Does It Look Like? Solid supporting evidence from the story will make your interpretation much more compelling. As you draft, think about how well each detail supports each key idea. Apply the Writing Process: Drafting...continued

10. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 3. Close with more than just a summary. What Does It Look Like? A well-crafted conclusion not only summarizes your key points but also includes a statement about their overall meaning. TIP: Before revising, study the key traits on page 142 and the rubric and peer-reader questions on page 148. Apply the Writing Process: Drafting...continued

11. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 1. Start smartly. What Does It Look Like? Apply the Writing Process: Revising & Editing Draw a box around your thesis statement. If your thesis seems boring or obvious, consider ways to make it more specific....continued

12. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 2. Check transitions. What Does It Look Like? Underline transitional words and phrases. If your essay lacks underlines, add words and phrases that signal to the reader how your essay is organized. Apply the Writing Process: Revising & Editing...continued

13. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 3. Consider your tone. What Does It Look Like? Ask a peer reader to place [brackets] around parts of your essay that seem casual or slangy. Rewrite the bracketed parts so that their tone is appropriate for the topic. Apply the Writing Process: Revising & Editing...continued

14. After ReadingWriting Workshop Interpretive Essay What Should I Do? 4. Use strong, precise verbs. What Does It Look Like? Apply the Writing Process: Revising & Editing Circle the verbs in your essay. Think about replacing overused verbs such as is, was, has, does, and goes with more vivid verb choices. You don’t have to replace every verb in your essay, but consider replacing any verb that appears several times within a few paragraphs.