Exploration
Reading and analysing model texts to understand how they work.
Overview
In the exploration stage, students play with texts, exploring multiple models of quality writing in order to get a feel for how other authors have approached similar purposes and audiences. This may include discussions on form, themes, genre or techniques. The activities in this chapter provide students with mentor texts to explore the features, conventions and techniques of different forms of writing.
Activities
This strategy includes 4 activities, each with teacher instructions and a downloadable student handout.
Narrative and Reflective – Resonance
Students explore a narrative or reflective mentor text by identifying words and phrases that resonate with them, building their understandin...
Activity 2Informative and Persuasive – Cause and Effect
Students explore informative and persuasive mentor texts by mapping the cause-and-effect relationships within them, understanding how argume...
Activity 3Informative and Argumentative – Strong vs Weak
Students compare strong and weak examples of writing to identify what makes a piece effective. Teachers model and self-edit as they demonstr...
Activity 4Persuasive – Exploring Editorials
Students explore editorial writing by analysing real newspaper editorials, identifying the techniques used to persuade and the structural co...