Introduction to the Blog Series: Modernizing Mentor Texts

Why Mentors Matter: 

While working on my MFA in creative writing, one of the most challenging, but most impactful, work I did involved the critical analyses of published work. The assignments required me to read short passages– usually no more than 200 words– and write lengthy essays about them. The refrain in the program was that we’d never read as readers again; we’d read as writers.

The work I analyzed became my inspiration. What were the craft moves that I could notice and name? How did they do it? What did those authors do that I could do? I had a mentor in the program, an actual person who read and critiqued my work, but those passages were also mentors, inspiring and teaching me to become a powerful writer. And what is the best part about the two-dimensional mentors? I could find many more by studying the craft moves with the pages I admire. 

A Quick Catch Up

If you search the Two Writing Teachers website for mentor texts, you’ll find lots of ideas. A great starting place is the first mentor texts blog series we did in 2016. Here is the ICYMI that links all of the posts. Stacey and I have some podcasts about mentor texts, as well. Here’s one to get you started. 

Considering Students: 

Just as I have mentor texts that guide my writing, I hope that students also discover their power. Written work is more accessible to students than it has ever been, but how do students learn to notice, linger, and celebrate the power of the available mentors? In 2024, Leah, Sarah and I presented at the CCIRA conference, sharing a process for students. 1.   

1. Notice something about the craft of the text.
2. Talk about it and make a theory about why a writer might use this craft. 
3. Give the craft a name.
4. Think of other texts you know. Have you seen this craft before?
5. Try and envision using this craft in your own writing.

Writers of all ages and levels can learn from each other and the works they read when they center and practice this process. 

The Language of Mentor Texts

This blog series confirms and expands how I think about mentor texts, partially because such smart people have written the posts you will read this week, and also because the definition of texts is evolving. 

As we planned the series, we talked about the importance of common language, and mentor texts is a term that has subtle but important differences from demonstration texts or exemplar texts. We agree on the following definitions: 

• Mentor texts– texts of any sort that inspire writers. They might be within the realm of possibility, and they may be out of reach, but they have the power to serve as a teacher for writers. 
• Demonstration texts– texts that teachers use intentionally and purposefully to teach a specific skill. Demonstration texts are most effective when they are missing the skill writers are ready to learn, so teachers can demonstrate how to revise and include that skill. 
• Exemplar texts– texts that contain the components of the standards or expectations for writers. These texts contain clear evidence that teachers and students can use for instruction and learning. 
• Craft moves– the specific writing moves a writer does to have an impact on readers.

The Plan for the Week

Throughout the series, the Two Writing Teachers shares modernized mentors, providing ideas for current and responsive texts, ways to build agency, and ideas for multi-media mentors. 

• Sarah launches the series with inspirational ideas for multimedia mentor texts. Students have so many possibilities for creation, and her post will expand the horizons of possibilities. 
• Betsy continues the series with ideas for argument and opinion mentor texts. 
• On Wednesday, Stacey’s post focuses on information texts, not your traditional types. Her ideas about infographics and the examples she shares bring information texts to a new level. 
• Shifting agency and boosting student independence are always priorities, and Leah’s Thursday post has ideas for implementation. 
• On Friday, Lainie shares ways to highlight students as mentors. 
• Jenna completes the series by describing ways to elevate mentor texts in the lives of emerging and young writers. 

Giveaway Information:

We’re excited to feature our lead author, Stacey Shubitz’s book as the giveaway for this blog series. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Craft Moves: Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts , donated by Stenhouse Publishers (Routledge). To enter the giveaway, readers must leave a comment on any MODERNIZING MENTOR TEXTS by Monday, 1/20 at 12:00 PM EST. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Thursday, 1/23. The winner must provide their mailing address within five days, or a new winner will be selected. While TWT readers from around the globe are welcome to leave a comment, you must have a U.S. mailing address to win the book.