Post-Reading Portraits of Courage (long-term project) When everyone has finished writing a draft of their research articles or writing up their interviews, have students follow these steps for putting the book together. Share rough drafts in small group of four students, keeping journal partners “workshops” together. A workshop is a format for discussing student writing, in which students critique one work. All students in each group read the work of all of the other another’s students in the group, and then discuss each work, one by one. Before student’s beginning this activity, review with the students what it means to critique: all criticism should be constructive, and students should always try to find at least one positive thing to say about each piece of writing. Ask workshop group members for ideas about illustrating their portraits. If possible, students should try to obtain photographs or drawings of the individuals that they interview or research. Divide class into groups with different responsibilities: a. typing up the portraits on the computer, b. layout, c. illustrations/photographs, and the book (i.e., to d. “marketing” whom should they distribute it, and how?) Note: You may wish to invite a publishing professional from the community (such as a layout person from a local newspaper, or a graphic designer) into the classroom to give students advice about how to design and market their anthology of courage portraits. Letter to the Author Have students write individual letters to Gary Soto in which they share: What they liked best about the book What they like as well didn’t How they related to the book in a personal way Letters can be mailed to Mr. Soto via his publisher.
Post-Reading Portraits of Courage (long-term project) When everyone has finished writing a draft of their research articles or writing up their interviews, have students follow these steps for putting the book together. Share rough drafts in small group “workshops” of four students, keeping journal partners together. A workshop is a format for discussing student writing, in which students critique one another’s work. All students in each group read the work of all of the other students in the group, and then discuss each student’s work, one by one. Before beginning this activity, review with the students what it means to critique: all criticism should be constructive, and students should always try to find at least one positive thing to say about each piece of writing. Ask workshop group members for ideas about illustrating their portraits. If possible, students should try to obtain photographs or drawings of the individuals that they interview or research. Divide class into groups with different responsibilities: a. typing up the portraits on the computer, b. layout, c. illustrations/photographs, and d. “marketing” the book (i.e., to whom should they distribute it, and how?) Note: You may wish to invite a publishing professional from the community (such as a layout person from a local newspaper, or a graphic designer) into the classroom to give students advice about how to design and market their anthology of courage portraits. Letter to the Author Have students write individual letters to Gary Soto in which they share: What they liked best about the book What they didn’t like as well How they related to the book in a personal way Letters can be mailed to Mr. Soto via his publisher.
Taking-Sides-Guide-Final-Version-CCSS.docx