(214) 946-3385
info@JaneSchaffer.com
LOGIN TO PAPERLESS JANE SCHAFFERTM
RegisterLogin
Jane Schaffer Writing Program®Jane Schaffer Writing Program®
  • Professional Learning
    • Teachers’ Resources
    • Training Opportunities
    • Private Workshops
    • Self-Paced Professional Development
    • Train-the-Trainer
    • Standards and Testing
    • Request a Training
  • Digital Curricula
    • Login to Jane Schaffer Software
    • About Jane Schaffer® Software
    • Schedule of Live Webinars
    • Self-Paced Professional Development – JSWP only
    • Self-Paced Professional Development – HS English, Math, Science, Social Studies
    • Google Doc Templates
  • Shop
    • Composition Guides
    • Curriculum Guides
    • Digital Products
    • Specialty Items
    • Testing Resources
    • Videos and Video Series
  • The Company
    • About JSWP
    • Our Services
    • White Papers
    • Testimonials
    • Request a Training
    • Become an OnSite Trainer
    • Team Members
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Support
  • Dr. Louis’ Blog
    • Cart

      0
  • Professional Learning
    • Teachers’ Resources
    • Training Opportunities
    • Private Workshops
    • Self-Paced Professional Development
    • Train-the-Trainer
    • Standards and Testing
    • Request a Training
  • Digital Curricula
    • Login to Jane Schaffer Software
    • About Jane Schaffer® Software
    • Schedule of Live Webinars
    • Self-Paced Professional Development – JSWP only
    • Self-Paced Professional Development – HS English, Math, Science, Social Studies
    • Google Doc Templates
  • Shop
    • Composition Guides
    • Curriculum Guides
    • Digital Products
    • Specialty Items
    • Testing Resources
    • Videos and Video Series
  • The Company
    • About JSWP
    • Our Services
    • White Papers
    • Testimonials
    • Request a Training
    • Become an OnSite Trainer
    • Team Members
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Support
  • Dr. Louis’ Blog
    • Cart

      0

Blog

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Blog
  • The Best Laid Plans: Literary Analysis vs. Expository

The Best Laid Plans: Literary Analysis vs. Expository

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, Expository, Literary Analysis, Modes, Planning and Preparation, Testing
  • Date August 20, 2015
  • Comments 0 comment
  • Tags

Dear Dr. D’

I am a high school English teacher, and because the Writing section of Common Core does not list Literature, I am expected to teach non-fiction for writing purposes. Students need to learn and write about the classics! How do I keep my job and my conscience in tact?

Yours truly,

Distraught

 

Dear Distraught, 

While some states, like Texas, have a separate category in their composition standards for Literary Analysis, Common Core does not. However, that does not mean that literary analysis is not important, and if you study the literature section of the Common Core State Standards, it clearly states that students must perform. How do they perform? Writing is one way. So, do not get discouraged. Let me give you a tip on how to achieve what you want.

Let’s say you are teaching John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. You want them to write a literary analysis; yet, you also want them to practice writing about nonfiction. Create a prompt that asks them to write about both.

  • Prompt #1:
  • The Great Depression brought many unlikely people together. Carefully read John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Then In a multiparagraph essay, explain why this historical era brought unlikely characters together (1-2 body paragraphs; 2+:1; 1-2 chunks) and analyze how George and Lennie’s relationship evolves over the course of the novel (2-3 body paragraphs; 1:2+; 1-2 chunks per paragraph).
  • Prompt #2
  • Before you read. Of Mice and Men is about dreams that we have for our lives. In a multiparagraph essay (2-3 body paragraphs; 2+:1, 1-2 chunks), describe one dream of your own or of someone you know, explain how the dream was or will be brought to reality, and discuss the significance of that dream. 
  • Midpoint of the novel. Of Mice and Men is about dreams that we have for our lives. In a multiparagraph essay (2-3 body paragraphs; 1:2+, 1-2 chunks), describe one of the character’s dreams, explain how the dream will be brought to reality, and discuss the significance of that dream. 
  • Prompt #3
  • Before you read. The belief in the American Dream–the belief that anyone can achieve a better life through hard work–has always been an important part of the Amercan character. Steinbeck, however, is questioning the reality of this belief in his novel. Write an essay analyzing the current status of the American Dream. Determine whether it is still possible, and if so, discuss the dreams Americans have these days that might differ from previous years. If not, explain what has happened to our concept of achievement through hard work (2-3 body paragraphs; 2+:1, 1-2 chunks).
Keep Reading and Writing!
Warm regards,
Dr. D’

 

  • Share:
author avatar
Dr. Deborah E. Louis

Ph.D. in Humanities

Dr. Deborah E. Louis' passion for educational excellence began as a classroom teacher. For sixteen years, Deborah taught On-level, Pre-AP®, and Advanced Placement® English Language Arts to secondary students of diverse ethnicities and learning styles. In 2010, Deborah purchased the Jane Schaffer Writing Program®, and along with her non-profit organization, Center for Educational ReVision (CerV®), her goal and that of her national team of experts is to provide the highest quality professional learning and mentoring to teachers in the areas of writing, advanced academics, high-stakes testing, and educational technology. Through webinars, workshops, job-embedded training, and teaching materials, Deborah strives to ReVision the educational system, combining traditional and flipped approaches to professional learning for teachers of grades K-12; and differentiating for Special Education, English Language Learners, and Gifted and Talented. Although her mission takes her all over the United States and abroad, Deborah lives in Dallas, Texas USA. She loves music, dancing, archetypal psychology, and continuous learning opportunities.

Previous post

SCOPE AND SEQUENCE (Week One): The Diagnostic Writing Sample
August 20, 2015

Next post

Archetype of the Week: The Orphan
August 26, 2015

You may also like

Generating Commentary with a WOW Factor!
10 April, 2021

Dear Dr. Louis, What is a WOW sheet? – A. Stout, AP® English Literature Endorsed Consultant, Boise State Writing Project Fellow   Dear Mr. Stout, Thank you for your insightful question! “WOW” stands for the “Web-off-the-Word”™.” It is one of …

Weaving: Moving Beyond the Structure One Student at a Time
8 February, 2021

Dear Dr. Louis, How do I teach weaving? Scott Dear Scott: “Weaving” is Jane Schaffer’s integral step of blending concrete details (CDs) and commentary (CM).  When a student demonstrates his/her ability to identify and understand CDs and CMs and when …

helping hand
From Formula to Freedom, Part I
8 January, 2021

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Search

Latest Courses

Self-Paced Expository In Service (Up to 50 People)

Self-Paced Expository In Service (Up to 50 People)

$2,500.00
Self-Paced In Service:  Analytical Response to Literature (Up to 50 People)

Self-Paced In Service: Analytical Response to Literature (Up to 50 People)

$2,500.00
Self-Paced Argumentation In Service

Self-Paced Argumentation In Service

$2,500.00

Categories

  • Blended Learning
  • Blog
  • Conventions
    • Grammar
  • Etiquette
  • Fun Facts
  • JSWP Advanced
    • AP®/IB
  • JSWP Methodology
    • Commentary
    • Concrete Details
    • Embedding Quotations
    • Formulaic Writing
    • Introductions and Conclusions
    • Ratios
    • The Chunk
  • Modes
    • Argumentation
    • Expository
    • Literary Analysis
    • Narrative
  • Pet Peeves
  • Planning and Preparation
  • Prompt Writing
  • Reading Closely
    • Archetypes
    • Core Literature
  • Schafferisms
  • SPED
  • Style
    • Syntax
    • Tone
  • Testimonials
  • Testing
  • Vocabulary
  • Workshop Descriptions

logo-janeschaffer

(214) 946-3385

info@JaneSchaffer.com

Company

  • About JWSP
  • Dr. Louis’ Blog
  • Our Services
  • Testimonials
  • Request a Training
  • Become an OnSite Trainer
  • Team Members
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Support

Professional Learning

  • Private Schedule
  • Self-Paced Professional Development
  • Standards and Testing
  • Request a Training

My Account

  • My Account
  • Track Your Order
  • Wishlist

COPYRIGHT 2020. Louis Educational Concepts, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Jane Schaffer Writing Program® is a division of Louis Educational Concepts, LLC.

  • Legal Information
  • Privacy Statement
  • JSWP Policies

Apply to Become an OnSite Trainer?

Qualified participants will be trained to deliver meaningful, accurate, and
scaffolded JSWP skills and concepts to their district’s or campus’s faculty.

Learn More

Login with your site account

Lost your password?

Not a member yet? Register now

Register a new account

Are you a member? Login now

Subscribe for Latest Updates

Subscribe for Latest Updates

Teachers of all subjects and grade levels learn about reading and writing strategies, featured curricula, workshops, and webinars.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.