Fall 2022      Volume 50, Number 4

Using Mentor Texts: Enhancing Student Word Choice in Writing
By Shannon Eichele

Document: Article 

Introductory Paragraph:  Students may not naturally possess the ability to effectively use precise and powerful language to convey their thoughts as writers. Finding ways to engage and enrich our students through the writing curriculum can sometimes pose a challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of mentor texts would enhance engagement and word choice in student writing. The hope was that students would take what they learned about language from mentor texts to create precise, meaningful writings of their own. Students were taught how to identify and understand an author’s use of word choice by using picture books. Writing samples collected post-study included usage of a wider range of word choices compared to the samples collected before the story began. Students did begin to apply the new language skills learned during the six-week study.

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.33600/IRCJ.50.4.2022.26

Page Numbers:   26-37