10 April

Generating Commentary with a WOW Factor!

  • Posted by Vanessa Hunt
  • Categories Blog, JSWP Methodology, Vocabulary

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 …

Read More
08 February

Weaving: Moving Beyond the Structure One Student at a Time

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories AP®/IB, Blog, Formulaic Writing, JSWP Advanced
  • Comments 0 comment

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 …

Read More
08 January

From Formula to Freedom, Part I

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, JSWP Methodology
  • Comments 0 comment

Dear Dr. Louis, “For the synthesis question on the AP Language exam (which is basically an argument prompt but the students have to use  sources as CDs),  I’ve heard much talk from other AP teachers that the commentary should still …

Read More
07 January

Making a Difference with The Concluding Sentence

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, JSWP Methodology, Style

Hi Dr. Louis! Happy New Year! I have a question for you regarding expository writing. In filling out the T-Chart for a body paragraph, how do you explain the difference between the commentary sentence and the concluding sentence? The ideas …

Read More
13 November

Applying the Jane Schaffer Structure

  • Posted by Alejandra Correa
  • Categories Blog, Formulaic Writing, JSWP Methodology, Modes, Planning and Preparation, Ratios, The Chunk

Good morning Dr. Louis, I am having my students complete outside reading before they come to class and as a way to support their comprehension and prepare them for a quick reading quiz, I am going to have them write …

Read More
14 January

Word Counts: Don’t Count on Them!

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, Formulaic Writing, JSWP Methodology, Prompt Writing, Schafferisms

Dear Dr. D, I have students stating that they struggle to reach the minimum word count while following the Jane Schaffer structure. For example, if the essay is to be 600-800 words, they may have only 450 words but state …

Read More
11 December

The Biography Ratio

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, Expository, Ratios, The Chunk

Hi. My name is Melissa. I was trained by you last school year with junior high and high school teachers of Ennis ISD. My seventh-grade students are writing a biography about an author. I’m requiring them to use the Jane …

Read More
01 November

Trust Thyself: When to Use and When Not to Use the Schaffer Method

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories AP®/IB, Blog, JSWP Advanced, JSWP Methodology, Schafferisms

Hi, Dr. Louis: My name is Jaime, and I’m a teacher in Los Angeles. We spoke on the phone about a month ago or so. I’m just sort of in a quandary using the Jane Schaffer Method with my students …

Read More
06 April

Jane Schaffer’s Non-Negotiables

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, JSWP Methodology, Schafferisms
  • Comments 0 comment

A .pdf resides here that shares with you Jane’s “Non-Negotiables.” Jane’s non-negotiables

Read More
19 May

The CD:CM Ratio: It’s All Relative.

  • Posted by Dr. Deborah E. Louis
  • Categories Blog, Ratios, The Chunk

Dear Dr. D’, What do I tell my department when they would like to change the ratios from what they were taught?  Frustrated Department Chair Dear Frustrated, Your question is one which I address on a regular basis; and, now …

Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • >