📖

Author's Craft Showcase

Final Novel Study Continued

Day 172of 180
Week 35of 36
35Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify specific literary techniques used by the author

2

Analyze how author's craft impacts reader experience

3

Discuss the intentional choices writers make in storytelling

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 15:23

“A man has joy in an apt answer. How good is a timely word!”

— Proverbs 15:23 (WEB)

Just as authors carefully choose words, God values intentional communication

📦 Materials Needed

  • Novel being studied
  • Colored highlighters
  • Analysis worksheet
  • Notebook
  • Pencil
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Begin with a quick discussion about how writers make deliberate choices in storytelling, comparing it to how we choose our words carefully when speaking to others

💭 Review Question: What makes a story memorable?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explore different literary techniques including descriptive language, dialogue construction, and narrative perspective

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • How word choice creates mood
  • Purpose of different narrative perspectives
  • Ways authors build tension
  • Importance of showing versus telling
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Can you find an example of descriptive language that helped you visualize a scene?
  • How does the author help you understand the characters' feelings?
  • What techniques make this story interesting to read?
3Activity: Author's Craft Detective (15 min)
hands-on

Students will become literary detectives, identifying and marking specific author techniques in their novel

📝 Instructions:
  1. Choose 3-4 different colored highlighters
  2. Create a key for different techniques
  3. Read selected passages carefully
  4. Mark examples of descriptive language, dialogue, perspective shifts
  5. Write brief notes explaining your findings
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Focus on marking just descriptive language

Challenge: Create a detailed chart analyzing multiple craft techniques

4Closing (5 min)

Share discoveries and discuss how understanding an author's craft deepens reading comprehension

📝 Review Questions:
  • What surprised you about the author's writing techniques?
  • How might understanding these techniques help you become a better reader?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the gift of communication and creativity. Help us appreciate the thoughtful way writers share stories.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore symbolism and deeper meanings in our novel

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 15:23

“A man has joy in an apt answer. How good is a timely word!”

— Proverbs 15:23 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Word Choice Charades

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Students are learning to read critically and appreciate intentional writing

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage curiosity about writing techniques
  • Ask open-ended questions about reading experience
  • Validate students' observations
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some students might find abstract literary analysis challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to point to specific textual evidence when discussing writing techniques

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Write a paragraph using the author's identified techniques
  • Compare writing styles of different authors
  • Create a visual presentation of author's craft discoveries

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 173 →Back to Literature