Words Paint a Thousand Pictures:
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Presented by: Kelly Philbeck
kelly.philbeck@education.ky.gov
Meeting Materials are on
www.kellyphilbeck.com
2
Craft of Artists
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Analyze the following two paintings and
jot down some similarities and some
differences that you see.
What similarities do you notice about the
artists’ techniques?
What differences do you see in
the artists’ style?
Compare and Contrast
Edvard Munch’s The Scream
Grant Wood’s American Gothic
Writer’s Craft…Words Paint a
Thousand Pictures
What is Writer’s Craft?
Craft is the art of writing. It is the writer’s
intentional use of the following to create
an effect on the reader:
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figurative language
snapshots/imagery/details
thought-shots
word choice/word placement
sound/dialogue
sentence structure/stylistic devices
text features
text structure
Writer’s Craft Encompasses:
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Style
Tone
Voice
Audience Awareness
Structure/Organization
Technique
Categories of Craft
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Word Craft—careful, deliberate word
choice
Structural Craft—organizational features
Audible Craft—sound choices
Visual Craft—print features
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Laminack & Ray
Word Craft
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Deliberate, artful choice of words
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Figurative language
Word Choice
Vivid verbs
Imagery
Details
[Ray 1999]
Structural Craft
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Organizational Framework of the Writing
[Ray 1999]
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Text structure
Paragraph types
Transitional devices
Parallel structure
Repetition
Page Layout/White Space
Audible Craft
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Language that Lingers… [Laminack 2007]
Noticed without even seeing the print
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Alliteration
Assonance
Onomatopoeia
Rhythm
Cadence
Hard/Soft Sounds
[[
Laminack 2007
Visual Craft
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Thoughtful, artful placement of text on a
page [Laminack 2007]
Must be seen to be noticed [Laminack 2007]
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Print Features (bold, italics, fonts,
punctuation)
Line breaks
White space
Graphics—pictures, illustrations, charts, maps
Build a Quality Instructional
Ladder
Preparing for the Task
 Reading Processes
 Transition to Writing
 Writing Processes
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Formative Assessment Rungs:
SA, ER, ODW
ELA 8th Grade
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RL.8.4
Determine the meaning of words and
phrases as they are used in a text,
including figurative and connotative
meanings; analyze the impact of specific
word choices on the meaning and tone,
including analogies or allusions to other
texts.
ELA 8th Grade
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L.8.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative
language, word relationships and nuances
in word meanings.
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A. Interpret figures of speech in context.
B. Use the relationship between particular
words to better understand each of the
words.
Task 21—Informational/Analysis
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How does figurative language impact the
meaning and tone of writing? After
reading a variety of poetry, song lyrics,
and narrative texts, write an literary
analysis in which you analyze how the
authors’ use of figurative language
impacts the meaning and tone of the
texts, providing examples to clarify your
analysis.
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8th ELA
Build a Quality Instructional
Ladder
Preparing for the Task
 Reading Processes
 Transition to Writing
 Writing Processes
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Formative Assessment Rungs:
SA, ER, ODW
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
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Let’s analyze for Literary Devices and
Figurative Language.
First, read over your cheat sheet!
Take a moment to refresh your memory of
literary devices & figurative language.
Now…Beyonce’s Halo
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Listen to the song.
As you listen, underline ANY literary
devices or figurative language that you
see.
ONLY underline the devices/language!
Figurative Language Refresher
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Remember figurative language is language
that cannot be taken literally.
For example,
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Line 1: “Remember those walls I built…”
Is Beyoncé known for traveling the United
States with a hard hat, bricks and mortar,
building walls?
NO! As listeners, we have to make
inferences of her intended meaning by
analyzing her use of figurative language.
Beyonce’s Experience with Walls
Halo
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Beyoncé's Halo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyR7y
oDBQSg
Halo x 2
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Now that you’ve underlined examples of
literary devices and figurative language,
we’re going to listen to “Halo” again.
This time, as you’re listening, use your list
of terms to LABEL each item that you
have underlined.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyR7y
oDBQSg
Discussion!
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What evidence of literary devices/figurative
language did you find in the lyrics?
Quote them. (Claim them!)
Label them. (Name them!)
Explain the author’s purpose. (Frame them!)
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Why did Beyoncé and her co-authors choose
to use those literary/figurative language
devices?
What do the devices mean?
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“Remember those
walls I built…”
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“Remember those
walls I built…”
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
walls=metaphor
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“Remember those
walls I built…”
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
walls=metaphor
Now, it’s your
turn!
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
To show that she’s
been hurt before
and is guarding her
emotions/ heart
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“Remember those
walls I built…”
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
walls=metaphor
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
To show that she’s
been hurt before
and is guarding her
emotions/ heart
“…they didn’t even personification
put up a fight…”
To show that she is
really in love now,
not fighting it
“I got my angel
now…”
To show emotional
significance of new
love
metaphor and/or
allusion
Build a Quality Instructional
Ladder
Preparing for the Task
 Reading Processes
 Transition to Writing
 Writing Processes
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Task 19 Informational/Synthesis
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How can consumers make smart financial
decisions? After reading informational
texts on consumer spending, write an
article for our classroom consumerism
magazine in which you explain how to
make smart financial decisions. Support
your discussion with evidence from the
texts.
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6th Life Skills/SS Economics
Big Idea: Consumer Decisions
6th Grade Life Skills
Academic Expectations:
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2.30 Students evaluate consumer products and
services and make effective consumer decisions.
2.33 Students demonstrate the skills to evaluate
and use services and resources available in their
community.
4.4 Students demonstrate the ability to accept
the rights and responsibilities for self and others.
5.4 Students use a decision-making process to
make informed decisions among options.
Big Idea: Economics
Students need to understand how their
economic decisions affect them, others,
the nation and the world.
 The purpose of economic education is to
enable individuals to function effectively
both in their own
Academic Expectations
 2.18 Students understand economic
principles and are able to make economic
decisions that have consequences in daily
living.
6th Economics/Life Skills
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Bridging with Writer’s Craft
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Analyzing Writer’s Craft is essential to
modeling the type of writing product you
want students to create.
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If you want an article, analyze how
professional writers craft articles.
If you want a science lab report, analyze
scientific writers craft science lab reports.
If you want a historical analysis essay,
analyze how professional writers craft
historical essays.
Build a Quality Instructional
Ladder
Preparing for the Task
 Reading Processes
 Transition to Writing
 Writing Processes
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Writer’s Craft: Text Features
3 Papers in front of you:
• Writer’s Craft: Text
Features Sheet
• 3 Column Chart (separate
sheet)
• “How to Keep a Lid on
Holiday Spending” article
Let’s Analyze Text Features in
an Article
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Step 1: Skim over your Writer’s Craft:
Text Features definitions list
Step 2: Look at your article:
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“How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”
Step 3: Underline any text features you
see
Step 4: Label the text features
Step 5: Complete the Writer’s Craft chart
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
Lady carrying lots of
shopping bags
“How to Keep a Lid on
Holiday Spending”
“Savvy tips for giving
great gifts to everyone
on your list--without
breaking the bank.”
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
Lady carrying lots of
shopping bags
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Picture/graphic
“How to Keep a Lid on Main Title
Holiday Spending”
“Savvy tips for giving
Sub Title
great gifts to everyone
on your list--without
breaking the bank.”
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
Lady carrying lots of
shopping bags
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Picture/graphic
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
To illustrate how overshopping/ over-spending
during the holidays can
weigh you down
“How to Keep a Lid on Main Title
Holiday Spending”
To catch/draw in the
reader’s
interest/attention
“Savvy tips for giving
Sub Title
great gifts to everyone
on your list--without
To further explain the
main title and the
purpose of the article
Find 3 More Examples of Text
Features and Work Through
Your Writer’s Craft Chart:
Writer’s Craft: Evidence
Writer’s Craft: Text Features
3 Papers in front of you:
• Writer’s Craft: Evidence
• 3 Column Chart (separate
sheet—flip over to analyze
for evidence)
• “How to Keep a Lid on
Holiday Spending” article
Be More Specific…
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Knowing evidence is important…
Evidence=CSI
With Your Group…
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Step 1: Take a moment to read the list
of the 25 types of evidence writers
commonly use.
Step 2: Highlight/underline evidence in
“How to Keep a Lid on Holiday Spending”
Step 3: Label evidence as the
appropriate type from the list of 25 (some
may serve multiple purposes)
Step 4: Work through your Writer’s Craft
Chart
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“ ‘Tis the season not only
to be joly but to buy, “
explains Esther M.
Berger…
“Nearly 15% of all
Christmas gifts are
returned.”
“The average
American spends
over $700…”
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“ ‘Tis the season not only
to be joly but to buy, “
explains Esther M.
Berger…
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Quote from a Reliable
Source
“Nearly 15% of all Percentages
Christmas gifts are
returned.”
“The average
American spends
over $700…”
References to Money
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
Analyzing Writer’s Craft
Claim It!
Quote from the
Work
“ ‘Tis the season not only
to be joly but to buy, “
explains Esther M.
Berger…
Name It!
Label the
Device/Technique
Quote from a Reliable
Source
“Nearly 15% of all Percentages
Christmas gifts are
returned.”
“The average
American spends
over $700…”
References to Money
Frame It!
Explain/Analyze
Author’s Purpose
The quote from the
financial planner
provides credibility
Find 3 More Examples of
Evidence and Work Through
Your Writer’s Craft Chart:
Tips for Use
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I have students analyze writer’s craft on
most everything we read.
We started small…
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Only looked at literary devices/figurative
language for period of time
Used with Lit Circles
Students created our definition sheet
Then we analyzed for stylistic devices, then
text structure, etc. to build our writers’ eyes.
Tips for Use
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I have students analyze writer’s craft on
most everything we read.
We keep craft sheets in sheet protectors
in the middle of their 3 pronged writing
folders.
We refer back to craft findings for
prewriting AND revision of writing.
Sources
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Ray, Katie Wood. Wondrous Words.
Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1999.
Laminack, Lester. Cracking Open Author’s
Craft. New York: Scholastic, 2007.
Meeting Materials are on
www.kellyphilbeck.com
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