What is a Writing Guide?
By: Lanette Judy
Writing is a fundamental skill, yet it presents a significant challenge for many students and educators alike. The vast array of writing styles, from persuasive essays to narrative fiction, informative reports to creative poetry, demands a diverse set of proficiencies. This complexity can make the act of writing daunting for some learners. However, consistent practice and exposure to exemplary authors are key to demystifying the process and fostering greater ease and confidence. The more opportunities students have to hone their writing skills and engage with masterfully crafted texts, the more intuitive and less formidable writing will become.
What are Total Language Plus’s Writing Guides?
Think of Total Language Plus (TLP) Writing Guides as an indispensable navigational tool, a "helpful map" that charts the course toward effective writing. These guides are meticulously designed to provide students with clear, step-by-step instructions and rich examples drawn from expert authors. Through the careful study of "mentor texts," students gain practical insights into the artistry of writing.
The practice gained through TLP’s Writing Guides is instrumental in building students' confidence in their writing abilities. The overarching goal is to transform writing from a frustrating chore into a more manageable and even enjoyable endeavor. Beyond the immediate benefit to writing, the skills cultivated through these guides are transferable and reinforce success in other crucial areas such as reading comprehension and effective speaking.
For instance, a TLP Writing Guide might delve into the intricacies of composing a formal letter, as exemplified in the From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Writing Guide. The Island of the Blue Dolphins Writing Guide takes a look at the author’s use of metaphors and similes, then students give it a try. In the Writing Guide for Karen Hesse's novel Out of the Dust, students analyze consonance, and assonance. In Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, the Writing Guide emphasizes humor in the novel, focusing on wordplay, exaggeration, irony, homonyms, and homographs. It’s a fun one!
C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, the Writing Guide is designed to help students understand and defend their Christian beliefs through apologetics. In this context, the student is guided through how to write a thesis statement, and construct an essay outlining their ideas.
Our guides are crafted to create a supportive and "safe environment" where students can experiment with various writing styles without fear of immediate judgment. They are encouraged to produce rough drafts, which then become canvases for applying sophisticated strategies to refine and enhance their work.
Why Is It Important to Read Great Authors When Learning to Write?
Reading the works of great authors is akin to receiving personalized instruction from the world's most distinguished teachers, even if direct interaction is impossible. Their prose serves as a powerful "mentor text," a living demonstration of how exceptional writing functions. This isn't an invitation to mere imitation, but rather an opportunity for profound learning and dedicated practice that ultimately empowers students to discover and cultivate their own unique voice.
As students immerse themselves in these rich literary "meteor texts" (a slight typo here, likely intended as "mentor text"), they begin to adopt the mindset of a writer. Their reading transforms from passive consumption to active inquiry. They start to ask probing questions: "Why did the author choose that specific word?" "How did they effectively build suspense or evoke such strong emotion?" "What elements made this particular passage so impactful?" This analytical approach to reading is a cornerstone of developing strong writing skills.
How do Discovery Guides differ from Writing Guides?
Total Language Plus offers both Discovery Guides and Writing Guides, each serving distinct yet complementary purposes within a comprehensive language arts curriculum. Our Discovery Guides provide a holistic language arts experience, encompassing skills in reading comprehension, spelling, writing, and vocabulary. They are also enriched with numerous extension activities and ideas for enriching field trips.
Given the breadth of the Discovery Guides, one might reasonably ask, "Why do I need a separate Writing Guide?" The answer lies in the specialized focus and depth of the Writing Guides. While Discovery Guides incorporate writing instruction as part of a larger curriculum, Writing Guides take a deep dive into the craft of writing. They offer an intensive and focused exploration of specific writing techniques, styles, and strategies, providing a refreshing "change of pace" and an opportunity for targeted skill development that complements the broader scope of the Discovery Guides.
In conclusion, Total Language Plus Writing Guides are invaluable tools that equip students with the necessary techniques to improve their writing skills, enabling them to discover their individual style and mature into more confident and proficient readers and writers.