The Big Book of Details

Table of Contents

Part I: The Power of Details

Part II: Details that Describe: People, Places, Mood, Emotions, and Things

  1. State the Obvious
  2. Just Like That
  3. Action Clues
  4. Right in the Middle
  5. Zoom In
  6. Repeaters
  7. Pop Culture References
  8. Personify It
  9. Set It Up
  10. Thought Bubbles

Part III: Details that Dance: Showing Action and Sequencing Events

  1. Act & Think
  2. But, Why?
  3. Time Marker
  4. Location Marker
  5. Adverb Comma
  6. INGs Up Front
  7. EDs Up Front
  8. Explain that Sound

Part IV: Details that Convince: Opinions, Persuasion, and Arguments

  1. If . . .Then
  2. Opposite Side
  3. Good Question
  4. Imagine This
  5. Very Complicated
  6. Number Games
  7. Now and Then
  8. We the People
  9. Call to Action

Part V: Details that Elaborate: Defining, Comparing, and Clarifying

  1. Polar Opposites
  2. What’s Next?
  3. Sweet and Sour
  4. Big Deals and Famous Firsts
  5. Define It
  6. Name an Example
  7. A.K.A. (Also Known As)
  8. In Other Words
  9. So Important
  10. Share the Love

Part VI: Details that Speak: Conversation, Dialogue, and Speech

  1. Ending Dialogue Tags
  2. Beginning Dialogue Tags
  3. Invisible Tags
  4. Middle Tags
  5. Action & Words
  6. Say, What?
  7. Tell Me About It
  8. Talking and Thinking
  9. Mix it Up

Part VII: Moving Forward with Lesson Clusters and Classroom Ideas

  1. Lesson Clusters: Detail Moves for Targeted Writing Goals
  2. Students’ Charts: Fostering Writing Independence
  3. Classroom Ideas: Making Detail Moves “Sticky”
  4. Get Messy! Make Some Mistakes!