Non-Fiction Mentor Text - Jan. 19

            For my non-fiction mentor text I have chosen a poem by Taylor Mali entitled "The the Impotence of Proofreading" (the video is posted just below). I find this to be a very inspirational piece because it speaks to my students on so many different levels.


            For starters, Taylor Mali has this way of delivering his poetry with straight-faced sarcastic humour that can appeal to many different viewers. He has the ability to deliver barbs that are accurate and pointed; he is insulting the general population while pointing out important flaws we should all be aware of and indicating ways we could perhaps improve our practices. He also has a tendency to play into important matters that are significant to a classroom environment (he is a teacher himself). Some of his other work includes poetry about being bullied, the role of teachers, and the importance of speaking with clarity and conviction. These are all subjects that can be relevant to students and teachers alike.


           As a mentor text for students, the poem I have chosen emphasizes the importance of proofreading everything before you hand it in - with a humorous twist. My students can be entertained while still getting the message that they cannot rely solely on spell checker to correct their grammar. This can also be used to illustrate why students still need to learn proper grammar. The spell-checking and writing tools of modern technology cannot replace the hard-learned ability to write distinctly and succinctly.


          We can use Taylor's piece as a mentor text because we can examine the nuances and language he uses, included his word choice and composition. We can also discuss the content of the poem, reflecting on how he chooses to illustrate his message with a few carefully chosen words. This can lead to discussion on how changing one or two words can drastically alter the meaning of an entire sentence. This can also lead into the importance of correctly placed grammar.

         While many of the students we will be working with at Hawthorne are gifted students, I still feel that emphasizing the importance of editing your work will be an asset to their future studies. This will give me the opportunity to discuss the importance of grammar and proofreading while allowing my students to see their lessons in a humorous and entertaining manner. I hope to be able to appeal to their creativity and to motivate them to at least proofread their future assignments.