Procedure Guide: SNAPSHOT

Purpose: To teach writers to write in rich physical detail.

Before

• Explain the purpose of the strategy, emphasizing that writing:
• Introduce the purpose and characteristics of the SNAPSHOT writing strategy.
• Emphasize that SNAPSHOT writing:

should be written in sharp physical detail.

should make the reader "see the memory.”

includes physical detail to create a mood/feeling.

• Allows the reader to observe what is happening around the writer.

People/relationships (how they look, physical characteristics)

Setting (room, color, light, place, space, weather)

Writer (clothes, age,. size, place, expression)

• Model the strategy, explaining that the snapshot is a written picture.

Choose one color to write your snapshot on a transparency.

Share this with the class. Ask students if they can "see" what is happening.

• Instruct students to write at least one full-page snapshot about a memory/event.
• Have students share their snapshots with a partner for suggestions to clarify their writing.
• Have students revise their snapshots based on partners' suggestions.
• Have students submit the snapshots to teacher for guidance in revision.
• Follow the Snapshot activity with the THOUGHTSHOT activity.

Assessment

Physical details in snapshot

Quality of visual images that are described

Focus on description.