Mentor+Texts+for+Writers

=Mentor Texts for Writers=

Nonfiction as mentor texts has been the focus of articles and books in recent years as it offers literacy learners access to the process and art of writing.  (cite several of the many)  Creative nonfiction is often used to acknowledge this art and Sanders (2008) describes it as, “Creative nonfiction is informational writing that has a voice and style and intentionally and skillfully employs a variety of writing techniques to engage the reader, keep the reader’s attention, and convey the intended message” (p. 31). Since research continuously notes the reciprocity between reading and writing, such well constructed books offer numerous ways for writers to become aware of excellence in the various traits of good writing. Recent professional literature addresses strategies that teachers can use to bring to students’ attention these mentor texts.

One unique type of mentorship is that of access to the “behind-the-scenes thinking and planning—the author’s craft of evaluating and selecting information, where historical gaps lie, and decisions as to what format and stylistic features to use. (Zarnowski, 2008). Many books today have both preface and authors’ notes that reflect just how these well crafted texts were shaped. (  Continue with several examples of an author’s use of notes to explain his process)

Books
