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Author's Craft Workshop

Literary Analysis Skills: Deep Dive

Day 59of 180
Week 12of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify and analyze specific author writing techniques

2

Understand how word choice and sentence structure impact reader experience

3

Demonstrate close reading skills by examining text details

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 16:24

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

— Proverbs 16:24 (WEB)

Demonstrates how carefully chosen words can have powerful impact

📦 Materials Needed

  • Short story excerpt
  • Colored pencils
  • Analysis worksheet
  • Highlighters
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Introduce concept of author's craft as intentional writing choices

💭 Review Question: What makes some writing feel more exciting or meaningful than other writing?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explore specific author techniques: sentence variety, descriptive language, dialogue nuance

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Authors make deliberate word choices
  • Sentence structure creates rhythm and emotion
  • Dialogue reveals character personality
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do authors make characters feel real?
  • What makes a sentence memorable?
  • How can word choice change a story's mood?
3Activity: Craft Detective Workshop (10 min)
hands-on analysis

Students analyze short story excerpt, identifying specific writing techniques

📝 Instructions:
  1. Read provided story excerpt
  2. Highlight descriptive language in green
  3. Circle interesting dialogue in blue
  4. Underline unique sentence structures in yellow
  5. Complete analysis worksheet
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Focus on identifying one technique

Challenge: Compare multiple writing styles from different authors

4Closing (5 min)

Share discoveries about author's craft techniques

📝 Review Questions:
  • What technique did you find most interesting?
  • How might you use this technique in your own writing?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for the gift of language and creativity. Help us appreciate the beautiful ways writers can share stories and ideas.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll begin writing our own literary analysis essays

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 16:24

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

— Proverbs 16:24 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Word Sweetness Chart - List words that feel sweet and healing

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Students learning to read texts more deeply and analytically

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage curiosity about writing techniques
  • Model close reading strategies
  • Validate students' unique observations
🤔 Common Struggles:

Students might feel overwhelmed by technical analysis

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Thoughtful observations about writing style and technique

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a writer's technique journal
  • Rewrite a paragraph using different craft techniques
  • Compare writing styles of two different authors

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 60 →Back to Literature