How to Write a Literary Essay

Out of the Box Teaching:
Innovative Strategies
for the ELA Classroom
The objective of this workshop is to find some
new strategies that are aligned with Common
Core standards, and will help students enhance
their reading and writing skills.
Innovative Strategies for the ELA
Classroom
Topics
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New classroom expectations
Learning Pyramid
Take back to the classroom activities
Transforming: Environment, Purpose, Go-to Resources,
Classroom Culture (TKES aligned)
Instructional Strategies: Rigorous, Relevant,
Student-Centered (TKES aligned)
Text-Dependent Questions/Evidence Based Answers
Mini-Lesson on Constructed Responses
Common Core: Anchor Standards
Text Types and Purposes*
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and
relevant and sufficient evidence.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and
accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen
details, and well-structured event sequences.
Production and Distribution of Writing
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with
others.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of
each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Range of Writing
10. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time
frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Read like a detective; but,
write like a reporter.”
Annotation is a note
of any form made while
reading text.
“Reading with a pencil.”
•The Literary 3x3 is a simple and
ultra brief writing activity to prompt
students to think outside the plot
•The task: students summarize the
novel/story they have read without
using specific names or events
•The catch: they must create this
summary using only 3 lines of 3 words
each.
LITERARY 3x3
•The 3x3 exercise forces students to
think outside the “main character does
this…then this…the end” type of formula.
•Let it be a game – students should try to
create the most insightful 3x3s
•Use the words generated to prompt
further writing
LITERARY 3x3
3 x 3 Rules
3x3 will use:
3x3 may use:
3x3 will not use:
•Complete
sentences
•Effective word
order
•Strong words,
especially verbs
and adjectives
•Abstract nouns
•Contractions
using “is”
•Proper
nouns/names
•Repeated words
•“to be” verbs
•Pronouns
•Clichés
•a, an, the
Literary 3x3 Examples
The fun comes out in the discussion:
consider these examples of “3x3”s for
these popular Disney movies – can you
guess what they are?
A.
B.
Arrogance transforms handsomeness
Mistake creates captivity
Inner beauty conquers
Curiosity seeks freedom
Silence creates confusion
Love breaks spells
C.
Innocence craves recognition
Guilt prompts desertion
Duty calls home
YOUR TURN!!!
CHOOSE A NOVEL AND
WRITE YOUR 3x3.
Fakebook Project
• http://www.classtools.net/FB/homepage
Six Word Memoir
• The legend says
that the great
American writer,
Ernest Hemingway,
was once challenged
to create a novel
using no more than
six words. His
response: "For
sale. Baby shoes,
never worn."
Transform Your Learning Environment
CSI Lesson
Transform Your Task’s Purpose
Do Something Now! Project
Authentic Situation:
Bonus Opportunities:
You have been selected as the
representative from your nonprofit organization to give a five
minute presentation to a charity
guild. This guild will hear from
several organizations, with each
one being given only five
minutes to speak. The members
of the guild will then donate a
pool of money to the most
persuasive non-profit
representative.
• Include tangible props.
• Include a video clip.
• Give out hand-outs.
• Actually volunteer or mobilize
the class to raise money.
Transform Your Task’s Purpose
Business Plan Project
Authentic Situation:
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Students work in teams or
individually to design a small
business.
• The team creates:
▫
an advertisement using persuasive
strategies
▫ a detailed business plan containing
financial projections and a budget
▫ a two-minute pitch.
• A panel of business men and women
will award $50.00 “seed money” to
the group with the most impressive
pitch.
Transform Your Go-To Resources
Movie Trailers: Scary Mary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic
Transform Your Go-To Resources
Movie Trailers: Sleepless in Seattle and Shining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frUPnZMxr08
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfout_rgPSA
Transform Your Go-To Resources
Comparing Song Covers
“Heartless” by Kanye West
vs.
“Heartless” by Kris Allen
Questions to Consider:
• What is the story behind
Kanye’s breakup?
• How does he communicate that
story through music?
“Hey Ya” by Obadiah Parker
vs.
“Hey Ya” by Outkast
• How does Kanye currently feel?
• What is the story behind Kris’
breakup?
• How does Kris feel now?
• How does he communicate his
feelings through music?
Transform Your Go-To Resources
Song Lyrics
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift
We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes, and the flashback starts,
I'm standing there,
On the balcony in summer air.
I see the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd,
And say, "Hello",
Little did I know,
That you were Romeo,
You were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
And I was crying on the staircase,
Begging you, "Please don't go".
And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run.
You be the prince, and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say, 'yes'."
“Baby” by Justin Bieber
Ohh wooaah (3x)
You know you love me. I know you care
Just shout whenever, and I'll be there.
You want my love, You want my heart
And we will never ever ever be apart
Are we an item? Girl quit playing.
We’re just friends. What are you saying?
Said there’s another. Look right in my eyes.
My first love broke my heart for the first time,
And I was like
Baby, baby, baby ohhh
Transform Your Go-To Resources
Monster Poem
“Monster” by Skillet
The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me, the beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it
It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the
halls
It comes awake and I can't control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from
this, make it end?
I feel it deep within, it's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become, the nightmare's just
begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
Student Example 1
The monster inside me was slowly
destroying me.
He was never my friend, always out to hurt
me.
He would look at me with those glossy eyes
and act as if I was his own,
He was like the devil, always hurting me.
He is as cold as ice.
He looked at me as if I was a punching bag,
his own personal hitting toy.
His words sank into my heart and it was in
pieces like broken glass.
His words were death to me.
The abuse was over but the pain was still
there.
The monster left when I was 6 but the pain
he has caused will never be forgotten.
My monster was my mother’s old boyfriend
Jordan.
Transform Your Go-To Resources
Karaoke “Royals” Character Study
I've never seen ______________ in the flesh
I (PERSONAL EXPERIENCE) (PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE with LOCATION)
And I'm not proud of ___________________________
In a (AJD, LOCATION), no (NOUN ) envy
But every (noun) is like (ADJ, NOUN),(NOUN), (VERB) in the (LOCATION)
(ADJ, NOUN),(NOUN), (VERB) in the (LOCATION)
We don't care, we're (VERB, DIRECT OBJECT) in our dreams.
But everybody's like (NOUN),(NOUN), (NOUN, ADV PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE)
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your _______________________.
And we'll never be ________________.
It don't run in our blood,
That kind of ____________ just ain't for us.
We ______________________(phrase that rhymes with “us”).
Let me be your ________________
You can call me _________________
And (person) I'll __________.
Let me live that fantasy.
COSTA’S LEVELS OF QUESTIONING
Quote of the Book
~This quote should be that one passage
or quote that captures the essence –
the true meaning – of the novel for
you, the reader. In a well-written
paragraph(s) explain exactly HOW
this passage is the one perfect quote
from the book. Give specific
supporting details. This paragraph
should be at least ½ page.
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Other Ideas
Digital Storytelling
Current Event Journal Entries
Life Quotes
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Music Soundtrack
Paper Bag Project
Others: _____________________