Things we look for when we read Touchstone (Mentor) Texts
Leads
 Begins with a
question?
 Quote from
an expert
used?
 Opinion
given?
 Start with a
story?
 Description?
Organizational
structure
 Are numbers
used to make
points?
 How are
paragraphs
started?
 Are sub-topic
headings used?
Writing
strategies
 Descriptions
using five
physical
senses
 Quotes from
experts
 Stories told
about similar
topic
 Statistics
given
 Key words
with
definitions
Other
endings
(what you choose
to notice)
 Does the
writer end the
article with a
connection,
question, or
invitation to
get more
information, or
recommends
something?
 Is the article
written with a
circular
ending?
 Is text color,
font size or
symbols
used to
organize?
 Are pictures
with
captions
mainly used
for the
information?