Text Tapping

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Text Tapping
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Text Tapping

• Combination of guided reading and writing
  strategies
• Simple as writers copying, word for word, the
  form of a text but substituting their own words
• Using the content of one text as a source for
  ideas, content, style, and structure for another
  text i.e. sequels, parodies

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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Examples

• Gone With the Wind Scarlett

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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Also

• Pygmalion My Fair Lady Pretty Woman

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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One other example

• From T.S.Eliots Old Possums Book of Practical
  Cats written in 1939
• To
• CATS (1983) seen by over 50 million viewers
  worldwide

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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Differences from guided reading and writing
strategies

• Text tapping takes both guided reading and
  writing strategies a bit further
• Use one text to compose another text
• Requires thoughtful reading of both texts and
  critical writing of the second text

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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Text tapping

• Provides scaffolding for use in a risk-free
  environment
• Text becomes the mentor to the novice writer by
  providing a form or subject

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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Use text tapping to

• Tap a familiar text as a model in order to create
  a similar text
• Tap an unfamiliar genre to use as a model in
  order to create that genre
• Tap part of a familiar genre in order to create a
  variation on that genre
• Tap a familiar genre in order to demonstrate
  knowledge of newly learned content

Literacy in the Secondary English Classroom,
Meeks 2003
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General Pattern of Text Tapping Lessons

• Collaborative groups students study examples of
  the genre they will tap
• By using these examples and their tacit knowledge
  of text, students generate a list of text
  features. Students write list on chart paper so
  they have ready access to this information when
  they write their own texts.

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General Pattern of Text Tapping Lessons (cont.)

• Once students have examined models and generated
  a list of text features, they draft their own
  text, constantly referring to the wall text and
  using their group members and the teacher as
  additional support.
• Because students have generated the criteria from
  models, they can assess how accurately their work
  reflects the qualities of the genre they are
  using as a model.

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General Pattern of Text Tapping Lessons (cont.)

• The teacher is a roving resource who answers
  questions, monitors students progress, and keeps
  students focused on the task.
• As teachers observe students at work, they can
  make both formative and summative assessments
  depending on the purpose of the lesson.

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Text Tapping and Writing Mechanics

• Text tapping can be used to teach language
  conventions grammar, mechanics, usage, and
  punctuation.
• For example if students need to learn how to
  punctuate dialogue, text tapping provides
  opportunities for authentic writing while
  avoiding workbook drills.

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Text tapping to teach punctuation of dialogue

• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Students tap into examples of dialogue in the
  story
• Then in groups address these questions
• Tell me everything you know about writing
  dialogue or conversation
• What are the characteristics of dialogue?
• What makes a dialogue a dialogue?

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Wall Text Developed from Text Tapping

• The Characteristics of Dialogue
• Dialogue is a transcript of a written
  conversation.
• Every time a person speaks, there is a new
  paragraph.
• Dialogue begins and ends with quotation marks.
• And more characteristics

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Wall text

• Continue to add ideas
• Make changes, refinements
• Note things like newspapers punctuate dialogue
  differently

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Teachers Role

• More like ringmaster
• Students examine texts
• Students come up with generalizations
• Students test those generalizations
• Students use those generalizations to create more
  text

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Assessment

• Text tapping can be used for both formative and
  summative assessment by the students and the
  teacher.
• Wall charts can be assessed by students and
  teachers
• Tapping-based projects can be used as summative
  assessments in lieu of a final examination or
  interim quizzes to check for comprehension.

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