The Art of Writing and Revision

Teaching Strategies

I plan to scaffold and use a research-based approach to support students in reading, analyzing, and writing letters inspired by historical Renaissance figures. Students will develop an understanding of rhetorical purpose, historical context, and personal voice through the following strategies:

1. Teaching the Five Parts of a Letter

   Students will learn and apply the five main parts of a letter: heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature. This structure will guide both their friendly and formal letter writing, helping them organize their ideas clearly with purpose.

2. Close reading of Mentor Texts (Letter Excerpts)

   Historical letters from figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Queen Elizabeth I, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Catherine de’ Medici serve as mentor texts. Through guided close reading, students will look specifically at greetings and closings of the Renaissance letters to notice similarities and differences in these parts of the letters. They will also analyze these excerpts for tone, rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), word choice, and sentence structure. They will observe how writers used persuasive techniques to influence, express identity, or lead during politically charged or culturally significant moments.

3. Process Writing & Metacognitive Refection

   There will be an emphasis on writing as a process – planning, drafting, revising, and publishing and at the same time, students will reflect on their choices during each step to help them discover their own voice, vocabulary, and structure, thereby improving the intention and message they have. Revision is guided by both teacher conferences and peer feedback, with metacognitive prompts encouraging students to evaluate their tone, audience awareness, and rhetorical technique.

4. Graphic Organizers and Prewriting Strategies

   To support historical accuracy and organization, students could use graphic organizers, timelines, and concept maps to collect information about their chosen Renaissance figure. Prewriting strategies like free writing, clustering, and the 5 Ws (Who, What, Why, When, Where) help students explore their topic and clarify their purpose before drafting.

5. Vocabulary and Language Awareness (Historical English vs Modern English)

   T-Charts comparing modern and historical language, terms, or just words allow students to build vocabulary and consider how word choice affects tone and authenticity. During revision, students will integrate period-appropriate vocabulary into their letters, enhancing their historical voice.

6. Audience Awareness

   Reading and responding to each other’s letters using the friendly letter format will facilitate a debate to assess if the target message or intention was accomplished.  Reading formal letters aloud in a gallery walk will promote a sense of purpose, accountability, and audience. Students revise with their peers – and possibly external visitors – for collaborative feedback and engage with their work.