Letter to Author/Illustrator

3rd grade

Jinny Miller & Melissa Gayton

Melissa Gayton

Form of WritingResponse to Literature

Stage of WritingPrewriting

Georgia Performance Standard ELA3W2 The student writes in

a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.

The student produces a response to literature that: a. Captures a reader’s interest by

developing a point of view.

b. Demonstrates understanding of the text, formulates an opinion, and supports a judgment.

c. Makes and connects: text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-world connections using significant details from the reading selection.

d. Uses appropriate organizational structures to ensure coherence (T-charts, compare and contrast, letter to author, rewrite the ending, beginning, middle, and end with details from the text.

f. May include pre-writing.

Primary Learning Outcome

Students will know how to complete a letter to an author/ illustrator.

Prewriting: Letter to Author/Illustrator

Review the different forms of writing. (narrative, persuasive, response to literature, informational)

Purpose

Audience

Organization/Structure

Prewriting: Letter to Author/Illustrator

Parts of Letter

Heading -address and/or date

Salutation -Dear ______, Body -Information to author

or illustrator) Closing -Sincerely, Your

Friend, Signature -Sign your name

Mr. Roland Smith,

As you may recall you recently came to Chapman School in Sheridan, Oregon on April 28, and talked about your books. You may or may not remember me, my name is Eric, I help set up the assembly, and I purchased your newest release SASQUATCH. When I first started to read it I couldn't wait to pick it up again, unfortunately I had to go to class and pay attention. So when I got home I pick your book up, sat on the couch, and started where I had left off earlier. I couldn't put it down, I tried to read it in as much detail as I could, I must have sat there for 3 or 4 hours. I finished it right there. It is a fabulous book and you are a great author. I liked the way you put in little details throughout the book that didn't mean much at that point, but it eventually adds up. That is great. I laughed at the parts that talked about Clyde being abducted by aliens and marrying the princess. I have read a few good books in my life and this book fits right in with them. Well anyway, congrats on the great book and I hope you keep disin' them out, because I'll keep reading them, and I can't wait until that Mexican Wolf book comes out so I can read it.

A New Fan,Eric Boekhoff Published Example

Graphic Organizer

Graphic Organizer

Let's Write the Author

Activities for any Literature, Teacher Vision. (n.d.) Unit, Lets Write to an Author: graphic organizer. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/TCR/1557341478_059.pdf

Prewriting Practice Activity

Complete graphic organizer.

Letter to Author/Illustrator Eric Carle

Brain storming (no complete sentences)Form opinions/ judgments about content and illustrations

Prepares for drafting

Jinny Miller

Form of WritingResponse to Literature

Stage of WritingDrafting

Georgia Performance Standard

ELA3W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.

B.) Demonstrates understanding of the text, formulates an opinion, and supports a judgment.

D.) Uses appropriate organizational structures to ensure coherence (T-charts, compare and contrast, letter to author, rewrite the ending, beginning, middle, and end with details from the text).

e.) Provides a sense of closure.

g.) May include a draft that is revised and edited.

Primary Learning OutcomeStudents will compose

a rough draft letter to an author/illustrator using the prewriting graphic organizer.

Drafting a Letter to Author/Illustrator

Form sentences from ideas off graphic organizer

4 sentences per paragraphSupporting evidence of opinions/judgments

Messy

Dear Roland Smith,

Thank you for coming to our school! It was a lot of fun. I liked learning about Kenya and how you wrote your books because I like animals and I want to learn how to write stories. It was also fun to learn about your childhood.

I just finished "Amy's Missing" and I thought it was really good! I especially liked Amy when she kept thinking helicopters were dragons.Remember, writing is revision!!!

Sincerely,

Diane Bolme Published Example

Graphic Organizer

Graphic Organizer

Website Graphic Organizer

Letter to My Favorite Author

Teacher Vision, Letter to My Favorite Author: graphic organizer. Retrieved from April 2, 2009, from http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/TCR/0743937678_032-033.pdf

Drafting Practice Activity

Complete letter from ideas on graphic organizer

Ideas = Complete Sentences

Supporting Details

Draft is Messy!

Prewriting Assessment Activity

• Write letter to your author and/or illustrator.

• Use graphic organizer

ScoringCompletion of graphic organizer

Ideas for each paragraph

Drafting Assessment Activity

Complete rough draft of letter to author/illustrator

Draft ideas from graphic organizer

Scoring Complete sentences4 sentences per paragraph

Supporting evidenceAppropriate content in each paragraph

Resources

Bolme, Daniel. (2009) Fan Letters of Roland Smith. Retrieved April 2, 2009, from http://www.rolandsmith.com/index.php?page=letters

Boekhoff, Eric. (2009) Fan Letters of Roland Smith. Retrieved April 6, 2009, from http://www.rolandsmith.com/index.php?page=letters