Last Monday, I began talking about the
importance of understanding the key elements of finely-crafted expository
nonfiction and helping students identify them as they read and include them as
they write.
The first key characteristic of expository
writing that sings is a narrowly-focused topic. Broad topics lead to general
writing that lacks passion and excitement, but specific topics allow writers to
really dig in and be creative (while still adhering to the facts). One of the
easiest and most authentic ways to develop a narrow topic is by starting with a
question.
writing that sings is a narrowly-focused topic. Broad topics lead to general
writing that lacks passion and excitement, but specific topics allow writers to
really dig in and be creative (while still adhering to the facts). One of the
easiest and most authentic ways to develop a narrow topic is by starting with a
question.
For example, my book Feathers: Not Just for Flying began with one sentence in a magazine
article: “Hummingbird eyelashes are the smallest feathers in the world.”
article: “Hummingbird eyelashes are the smallest feathers in the world.”
When I read those words, my mind exploded
with questions. Birds have eyelashes? And they’re made of feathers? Exactly how
small are they, and what do they look like?
with questions. Birds have eyelashes? And they’re made of feathers? Exactly how
small are they, and what do they look like?
All these questions eventually led me to a
bigger question: How else do birds use their feathers in unexpected ways? Feathers: Not Just for Flying answers
that question by providing sixteen examples.
bigger question: How else do birds use their feathers in unexpected ways? Feathers: Not Just for Flying answers
that question by providing sixteen examples.
The seed for Can an Aardvark Bark? was planted during
a family trip to Disney World when my nephew was 9 and my nieces were 7 and 5. One day we decided to take a break from the rides and visit
the Animal Kingdom, where we saw two adorable cotton-top tamarin monkeys. The
informational plaque on their cage told us the monkeys’ natural habitat and
range, what they eat, and the sounds they make. It said they bark. My nieces and nephew were skeptical. But then, as if on
cue, the monkeys started vocalizing. That night my nephew asked a great
question: “Do you think there are a lot of different animals that bark?”
Researching that question with him eventually led me to write a book about a
wide variety of animal sounds.
a family trip to Disney World when my nephew was 9 and my nieces were 7 and 5. One day we decided to take a break from the rides and visit
the Animal Kingdom, where we saw two adorable cotton-top tamarin monkeys. The
informational plaque on their cage told us the monkeys’ natural habitat and
range, what they eat, and the sounds they make. It said they bark. My nieces and nephew were skeptical. But then, as if on
cue, the monkeys started vocalizing. That night my nephew asked a great
question: “Do you think there are a lot of different animals that bark?”
Researching that question with him eventually led me to write a book about a
wide variety of animal sounds.
My upcoming book,
Summertime Sleep: Animals that Estivate,
began with a trip to the library in 2011. I spotted a
250-page book about hibernation and asked myself, “Is there really that much to
say about hibernation?” As I read the book, I came across a single paragraph about an
animal behavior I’d never heard of—estivation.
Summertime Sleep: Animals that Estivate,
began with a trip to the library in 2011. I spotted a
250-page book about hibernation and asked myself, “Is there really that much to
say about hibernation?” As I read the book, I came across a single paragraph about an
animal behavior I’d never heard of—estivation.
After reading that paragraph, I had SO many
questions. I NEEDED to know more about how and why a wide range of animals,
from snails and salamanders to fish and hedgehogs, rest all summer long. I
can’t wait to share all the cool things I discovered when the book is published.
questions. I NEEDED to know more about how and why a wide range of animals,
from snails and salamanders to fish and hedgehogs, rest all summer long. I
can’t wait to share all the cool things I discovered when the book is published.
To help students
develop a spirit of inquiry:
develop a spirit of inquiry:
—Encourage them to be open to new ideas and information all the
time. When I read the “hummingbird eyelashes” tidbit, I was working on another
book, but I still paid attention. I was on vacation when we saw the barking monkeys,
but I didn’t let that experience slip away.
time. When I read the “hummingbird eyelashes” tidbit, I was working on another
book, but I still paid attention. I was on vacation when we saw the barking monkeys,
but I didn’t let that experience slip away.
—Model ways students
can keep track of questions they
have or things they’re curious about. I am constantly tacking things, like the
“hummingbird eyelashes” article, to the idea board in my office.
can keep track of questions they
have or things they’re curious about. I am constantly tacking things, like the
“hummingbird eyelashes” article, to the idea board in my office.
You could have an idea board or a Wonder Wall in
your classroom, or students could keep track of their questions and ideas on
the last page of their writer’s notebook. When it’s time to do a nonfiction writing
project, students can look through the questions and use one of them to fuel
their own journey of discovery.
your classroom, or students could keep track of their questions and ideas on
the last page of their writer’s notebook. When it’s time to do a nonfiction writing
project, students can look through the questions and use one of them to fuel
their own journey of discovery.
Even if you give your students an umbrella topic
that compliments your curriculum, such as the Revolutionary War, a list of
questions is still a valuable tool. Students can use them to brainstorm alone
or with a buddy. If they notice a commonality to their questions, they can see
if there’s a way to apply that to the umbrella topic.
that compliments your curriculum, such as the Revolutionary War, a list of
questions is still a valuable tool. Students can use them to brainstorm alone
or with a buddy. If they notice a commonality to their questions, they can see
if there’s a way to apply that to the umbrella topic.
For example, if a child has lots of
weather-related questions, maybe s/he could write about weather during the Revolutionary
War. Since it was an exceptionally snowy period in history, that would be a
great topic. If a child gets excited about numbers, maybe s/he could create a series of infographics comparing statistics related to different battles or the two different armies.
weather-related questions, maybe s/he could write about weather during the Revolutionary
War. Since it was an exceptionally snowy period in history, that would be a
great topic. If a child gets excited about numbers, maybe s/he could create a series of infographics comparing statistics related to different battles or the two different armies.
When natural curiosity guides the research and
writing process, and when children are encouraged to zero in on what they find
most fascinating, their final piece is bound to burst with passion and
personality. Why not give it a try?
writing process, and when children are encouraged to zero in on what they find
most fascinating, their final piece is bound to burst with passion and
personality. Why not give it a try?
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
Topics
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
One Response
Excited for your new book, Melissa:)!! It sounds great!