Author’s Craft

1. Author’s Craft Annotation 2012

2. What is the “author’s craft”? • Language and techniques the author purposely uses to craft (or create) and enhance a story • Includes LITERARY DEVICES, STYLE, and NARRATIVE ELEMENTS

3. Literary Devices • Figures of speech • Writing techniques • Help the reader visualize

4. Literary Devices (6th grade term) • Simile – a comparison of two different things using “like” or “as” • “…Duncan stumbled to a dusty corner of the bathroom and slid to the floor like a rag doll.”

5. Literary Devices (6th grade term) • Metaphor – a direct comparison of two different things; conveys meaning by this comparison • Mr. Bernhart was a raging firestorm the other day. • Luckily, Mr. Bernhart is a cool refreshing breeze today. • Schwa example

6. Literary Devices (6th grade term) • Personification • When a non-living object or animal is spoken of as though it is a person • My Town

7. Literary Devices (6th grade term) • Hyperbole • an exaggeration for purposeful effect, it is not to be taken literally • Appetite

8. Literary Term (NEW term) • Allusion • the writer or speaker refers either directly or indirectly to a person, event, or thing in history or to a work of art or literature • "Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities". Who/what is being alluded to? • Allusion Link

9. Literary Term (NEW term) • Parallel Structure • repetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance or are connected thematically • also called “parallelism” • Parallel Structure Link

10. Literary Devices (NEW term) • Irony – when the outcome is the opposite of what is expected • One would expect a billboard on a crowded road to be seen by many people. When Calvin Schwa rents one in an attempt to finally be noticed, the road upon which it is located is, ironically, closed for construction so no one sees it and he remains “unseen.”

11. Literary Devices (NEW term) • Imagery • descriptive language that appeals to the reader’s senses • touch, smell, sound, taste, and sight • Example: "These Little Ones“

12. Style (NEW term) • Syntax • the way words are purposefully put together; sentence structure and meaning • A Poem of Syntax • This poem changes syntax playfully to highlight what syntax is.

13. Style (NEW term) • Word Choice and Voice • how the author intentionally uses words to convey personality • Are the woods bright and inviting or are they dark and foreboding? What words make it one or the other? • How do I make the right word choice?

14. Style (6th grade terms) • Style is used to create the MOOD of a piece of writing and hints at the author’s TONE. • Mood • The feeling the author creates for the audience. • Tone • The author’s attitude about the subject

15. Narrative Elements • Aspects of storytelling • Follow story arc or story structure • Common and identifiable

16. Narrative Elements (6th grade term) • Flashback – the interruption of present-tense action to reveal a scene that took place at an earlier time

17. Narrative Elements(6th grade term) • Foreshadowing – hints that suggest future events in a story • Example: a weapon found in a drawer early in a story might foreshadow a future crime in the story • Example: the definition of the term “schwa” on the page before chapter 1 in The Schwa Was Here foreshadows Calvin being “overlooked” and “forgettable”

18. Narrative Elements(6th grade term) • Characterization – the way in which an author reveals characters’ personalities through • their words • their thoughts • their actions • their physical description

19. Narrative Elements(6th grade term) • Theme – the message about life and human nature that can be inferred from the events and outcomes of a story • Example from The Schwa Was Here: Theme = Often, the truth is not pretty, but people learn to live with it.Schwa

20. Narrative Elements(6th grade terms) • Conflict – a major or important problem in a story. Can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters). Character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. uncontrollable force, character vs. self • Point of View - the way in which the author chooses to tell the story • First person, third person limited, third person omniscient

21. Narrative Elements(6th grade terms) • Dialogue – the words spoken by and between characters • Plot – the sequence of events that make up a story. • The plot consists of the exposition (characters, setting, conflicts), rising action (events leading to the height of suspense), climax (turning point of the story), falling action (reveals how the main conflict is being resolved), denouement (how the main conflict is resolved)

22. Narrative Elements (NEW term) • Interior Monologue • A passage of writing presenting a character's inner thoughts and emotions in a direct, sometimes disjointed or fragmentary manner • often used to show characterization • EX: Duncan knew how he must have looked, crumpled there in the corner of the bathroom, wet from his shirt pocket up. Pathetic. But I’m not pathetic! his inner voice screamed. They make me look this way! They make me feel this way!

23. Narrative Elements (NEW term) • Blocking • refers to the precise movement and positioning of characters in a scene • worthy of note when reveals character motivation or crucial plot point • EX: She sat on the molding couch in the dark shadow of the door. Suddenly and violently, she jumped up, shattering the wine glass in her hand and screamed, “I hate you!”

24. Annotation 2012 • Students will annotate focusing on the elements of Author’s Craft • The purpose of this annotation will be to: • Build awareness of the purposeful choices authors make • Use this awareness to accurately identify and understand mood, characterization, and theme of a piece of literature.