GENRE STUDY
Explain that understanding the conventions and elements of a genre can help students
- know what to expect and better understand a story
- recognize a genre when the genre is not identified
- gain insight into the author's purpose or author's thoughts
- recognize when a work is well-crafted
- create and organize their own writing
MODEL If I'm reading a story that I know is a fable, I know to look for a moral. If I don't know the genre but am reading a short tale with talking animals and a moral, I know it's a fable. Based on what the moral is, I will know something about the author's beliefs. Comparing fables and recognizing the best ones could help me create my own fable.Realistic Fiction
Point out the definition of realistic fiction on p. 406. Add that selections in this genre have realistic characters facing realistic problems. Have students look at the chart for My Rows and Piles of Coins and The Gardener. Ask students how knowing the elements of this genre might help them decide if a selection is a good example of this genre.
Other Genres/Other Features
As opportunities arise, use the chart at the right to guide students in other genre studies. Help students recognize the characteristics of the genre and to make comparisons among genres.
AUTHOR STUDY
Explain to students that an author study is a great opportunity to learn more about favorite authors and their writing. Reading other works by the same author can help students
- identify an author's craft
- make connections to similar genres of writing
- experience good writing models
Author's Craft
Author's make choices about the elements, the language, and the style of their works. By studying an author's work, students will begin to see the writing traits of their favorite authors. Are their characters funny? Are their books easy to read? Do they have great illustrations? Identifying choices an author makes helps students understand their own interests.
Genre
An author study can also help students understand genres. Are all the books by their favorite author science fiction? Does the author write only biographies of famous sports legends? Connecting with a genre can encourage students to read similar works of the same genre by other authors.
Writing
What inspires your favorite author to write? How does he or she come up with ideas? These are the kinds of discoveries students will make by doing an author study. When students experience good writing models, they learn to understand the writing process. Imitating the style of their favorite authors is a great springboard for writing.
