Choosing a Great Mentor Text to Work With
The following guide is taken from Joanne Rossbridge's online course Joint Construction: From Model Text to Writing, run exclusively by PETAA.
Follow these steps when selecting potential mentor texts to support writing:
- Identify your teaching context, e.g. English only or with links to other curriculum areas.
- Locate a range of potential mentor texts.
- Consider your learners and choice of texts:
a) What is the teaching focus for students?
b) How much support will be required?
c) Will you and your students connect with the text? Why or why not?
d) Will students require field building or particular background knowledge in order to engage with the text?
e) Can connections be made to additional texts?
- Consider the cultural and social context. Some questions to consider:
a) When and where was the text published?
b) How many times has the text been republished? Why?
c) Is it highly valued within the culture? Has this changed over time?
d) Who is the author and what is their background?
e) What is the purpose of the text beyond entertaining?
f) What are the themes or main messages that the text conveys to readers?
- Identify the field, tenor and mode of the text and begin to consider any language features related to the field, tenor or mode relevant for your students.