letters to authors and illustrators

LETTERS TO AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Chelsea RoweJennifer HensonECED 4300 ADr. Tonja RootSpring 20093rd Grade

GPSELA3W2 The student begins to

write in a variety genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literaturef. May include prewriting

JENNIFER HENSON Prewriting

PLO: After reading a book, students will create a graphic organizer to write a letter to an author

FORM OF WRITING Letters to Authors and Illustrators

letter written to informthe author about the different ways their book has affected the reader

FORM OF WRITING reader will include likes and dislikes about story

tell the author how the book made them feel

tell author what writer learned

STAGE OF WRITINGPrewriting Student will use a graphic organizer to list ideas

Later the graphic organizer will be used to write a draft

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

Henson, J. (2009, April) Graphic Organize for Prewriting, Unpublished Graphic Organizer, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA

Who are you writing the letter to?

What did you like about the book?

My favorite part of the book was…

Do you have any questions for the author

PUBLISHED LETTERDear Ms. Williams:I used to think that I had the worst life in the world. I have to move every three years, leave all my friends each time, and I have a terribly evil brother (at least he’s terribly evil to me). That was before I read your book Titanic Crossing. In the book, the kids have a worse life than I do. They are being forced to move by their kind but strict grandmother. They lost their father, and all I lost were my friends. At least I can still see my friends. They can never see their father again. When their mother and uncle died they hardly had any family left -- only their grandmother. I still have my family.I used to think that having to do things you don’t want to do was worse. The kids in the book are always forced to do things that they don’t want to do. Just as bad, they have been treated terribly because they are in second class. I think mean parents are bad, but having no parents is worse. I know that I feel like my parents are mean sometimes for making me move and leave my friends, even though it’s really the Coast Guard’s fault. Making friends is hard to do, and it is very annoying to be forced to do it again every three years. When I’m angry or frustrated with my parents, sometimes I have to stop and remember that I love them, and the book reminded me again that I have parents that are with me, and Virginia and Albert don’t.

PUBLISHED LETTERYour book really made me think about what life is like for people whose parents died when they were young and they had to live with other relatives. This book made me think about how good my life actually is, and how much better it is to still have a family, even if they make you mad sometimes.Thank you,Addie Tousley

MODEL CITATION

Letters About Literature 2000. In LitSite Alaska.

Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http://litsite.alaska.edu/akwrites/letters/lindsay.html

CITATION

Wheeler, V. (2005). Yes, Please No, Thank You. New York: Sterling

PRACTICE ACTIVITYStudents will listen to the story Yes Please, No Thank You by Valerie Wheeler

As a whole class, students will complete a graphic organizer

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITYStudents will be given graphic organizer

Will complete based upon their likes and dislikes related to the story.

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

Assessment based upon completion

CHELSEA ROWE DRAFTING

GPSELA3W2 The student writes in a vari

ety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.The student produces informational writing (e.g., procedures, report, correspondence) that:

GPS E.  Uses organizational structures for conveying  information (chronological  order,  cause and effect,  similarities and differences, questions and answers).

PLO Students will draft a letter, containing all five parts, to an author using their graphic organizer.

FORM OF WRITINGLetters To Authors and Illustrators

Letters written to inform an author or illustrator how the book affected you, the reader

FORM OF WRITINGLetters to authors and illustrators have five parts:-The Heading (your address and date)-The Salutation (Dear ________,)- The Body (information)

-The Closing (Sincerely, )- Signature (Your name)

STAGE OF WRITINGDrafting Will need graphic organizer from prewriting stage.

Form ideas from the graphic organizer into complete sentences.

STAGE OF WRITINGDo not concentrate on spelling or grammar

Focus on organizing ideas into complete thoughts

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER_____________________________________________

____________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________

Rowe, C. (2009, April) Drafting Graphic Organizer, Unpublished Graphic Organizer, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Your name and addressGreeting

Body

Closing

Signature

PUBLISHED MODEL CITATION

Reyes-Rufelli, L. (n.d.). Letters About Literature 2000. In LitSite Alaska. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http://litsite.alaska.edu/akwrites/letters/lindsay.html

PUBLISHED MODEL Dear Mary Pipher,After reading Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, I felt so much better about myself. I, myself, am an adolescent girl and I’ve already faced many new challenges and I know there are many more to come.Last year I think I went through a stage of depression. I remember feeling useless and unwanted many times. I also remember crying myself to sleep a few times. But because of your book, I’ve felt so much better about myself. It made me know that I’m not the only one in the world with problems. I now know that there are many other people with problems far worse than mine.Since Junior High started this year, I’ve recommended your book to a couple of friends. As a matter of fact, my friend, Sierra, is borrowing the book from me right now! She has been through way more than I have and I just hope that your book helps her as much as it helped me. It’s a long road ahead and all us teenagers have got to learn to make some good choices.Thank you,Lindsay Reyes-Rufelli

PRACTICE ACTIVITY First, discuss the five parts of the letter

On large easel paper, model completion of name and address, and greeting

Introduce possible topics to be used in body of letter

PRACTICE ACTIVITY Using graphic organizer, completed during practice, from prewriting stage

Ask students to create complete sentences about Yes Please, No Thank You

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITYEach student receives a drafting graphic organizer

Remind students NOT to focus on spelling and grammar!

Will refer to prewriting graphic organizer and practice activity to complete

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITYGraphic organizers will be collected

Assessment based onCompletion of name and

address, greeting, body, closing, and signature.