Making Nonfiction from Scratch

by Ralph Fletcher

Do you have students whose nonfiction writing is formulaic, devoid of energy and voice? In Making Nonfiction from Scratch bestselling PD and children’s book author Ralph Fletcher offers a candid critique of how nonfiction writing is often taught in schools and gives teachers the inspiration and strategies they need to help their students write authentic nonfiction. Skilled nonfiction writers draw on strategies, techniques, and craft found in other poetry, comedy, even mystery. Without those elements, nonfiction would be dry and dull. Making Nonfiction from Scratch helps bring all of those aspects together and shows how each genre can enrich nonfiction writing. Ralph emphasizes the power of choice, mentor texts, and nonfiction read-alouds in making nonfiction an everyday part of classrooms.  “Classroom Connection” sections throughout the book suggest immediate, practical strategies for putting the ideas in the book to use. Two case studies and a chapter on the dos and don’ts of nonfiction writing instruction round out this short, practical book. Any informational writing should be insightful, accurate, and well organized – but it doesn’t have to be boring. Ralph invites you to make your classroom a place where students can create delicious nonfiction full of passion, voice, and insight.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2015

About the author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Reviews

[Raymond Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read!

Excellent read for those who want to strengthen their writing instruction within the classroom. Fletcher presents a fantastic alternative to the how writing workshop can be done with this genre while challenging the traditional ideals of teaching students to write non-fiction compositions.

[Susan Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fletcher's approachable style makes the content easy to access in this down-to-earth how-to for instruction in information writing. Fletcher connects with nonfiction writers and uses authentic student work to illustrate techniques for improving nonfiction writing with students. Using a gaming profile to encourage students to 'level up' their nonfiction writing was wonderful as were many, many analogies in this book. My favorite chapter was Chapter 7 on creating Exploratory Notebooks with students using small notebook of only 20-30 pages having students activate their prior knowledge, form inquiries, visually represent, collect facts, react, make predictions, and sift/sort through their topic research. A very practical and accessible guide for teachers at all experience levels.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's little in this essential volume on teaching nonfiction writing that I didn't know and implement in my teaching, at both high school and college levels, but nine times out of ten, I was regarded as a misfit for my methods. It's great to see this culmination of Fletcher's core values brought together in a single volume: choice, process-orientation, and creativity of expression. A must have on writing teachers' shelves.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the right book at the right time (we'll be finishing the CHOICE portion of our informational writing unit of study when we return from break) and one I'm sure I'll reread over and over again to remind myself of great minilessons and important ideas about the CRAFT of nonfiction. Glad I bought the physical book so I could mark it up!

[Dionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas to use in writers workshop with 1-8 grades. Wish there was more detailed practical application of ideas, though, as well as more examples for 1st and 2nd grade writers. Most examples were 4-8th grade.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ralph Fletcher is my virtual mentor for writing.
He always offers fresh perspectives and food for thought.
This book is no different. Conversations with teachers and snapshots from classrooms help to bring the information to light.
For K-8 teachers of writing.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this isn't one of my favorite books from Fletcher, he does give the writing teacher plenty of ideas about how to make NF less formulaic and more imaginative for its reader. The suggested mentor texts, in my opinion, should be updated.

[jmjester · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Fletcher dispenses invaluable advice told in an engaging manner. I'm a better teacher and writer because of his thinking.

[Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

An essential book for every teacher's shelf. Great read.

[Jayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read, had a great message, and shared it without overloading your brain. It is all practical that I can share with my teachers!