Chapter 9 and Conclusion

     Chapter 9 discusses revision of writings and strategies to use during the revision process. The revision stage is a great time to focus on craft studies. Craft is how you say what you have to say. The way you describe or tell a certain story can affect the feelings the reader takes away from the story. I think craft studies are really interesting ways to incorporate more detail and variety into the students pieces. I cannot remember doing studies like these during my school years, so I am excited to incorporate it into my classroom. I have always had trouble elaborating and adding detail to my own writing, so I believe I could also benefit from craft studies.

     Lists and leads are both examples of a craft study. Leads in particular can be crucial to a story. If the reader is not interested at the beginning they may not wish to continue reading. I really enjoy a good lead in a story- they make the story stand out to me more. We can also focus on the structure of a mentor text. The "shape" of a story can a big impact on the final result also. The sequencing, genre, and transitions can all add up to a fantastic story structure. Finally, we can focus on voice. The voice of a story is the person within the text. Students must be taught to listen for their own writing voice. 

     The true test of whether Writing Workshop has made a difference is if our students use writing as a tool to respond to the world. Writing can affect our world in a number of ways. We must encourage our students to not be afraid to use writing outside of the classroom. We must teach them that a piece they write may one day change the world.