Jane Schaffer Writing Method
What are the parts of a Jane Schaffer paragraph?
Topic Sentence, Concrete Detail, Commentary, Concluding Sentence
In the line, “The candle’s flame danced nervously as the footsteps grew closer,” identify TWO literary devices and EXPLAIN how they contribute to the mood.
Devices: Personification & Imagery. Explanation: The “nervous flame” builds tension and creates a fearful, suspenseful mood.
What phrase introduces textual evidence properly?
PS: If you don't say the ones I list, it's okay you can still get your points
"According to the text,” or “The author states,”
"The text states/says/explain"....
In order, What does the narrative arc consist of?
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution.
Both stories explore the consequences of human desire. How does each author warn readers about trying to control fate?
In The Monkey’s Paw, Jacobs warns that interfering with fate leads to suffering through the tragic wish outcome. In The Raven, Poe warns that obsession with the past traps the mind in grief and madness.
In the Schaffer method, what does a Concrete Detail (CD) represent?
Evidence or example from the text that supports your topic sentence
Read this line: “Hope was a fragile glass, ready to shatter with one wrong word.” What type of figurative language is used, and what does it reveal about the character’s emotional state?
Device: Metaphor. Meaning: The character’s hope is delicate and easily destroyed, showing emotional vulnerability.
What is the difference between direct and indirect evidence? BONUS: DOUBLE YOUR POINTS
Direct is a direct quote from the story or poem
Indirect is paraphrased or summarized
What is sensory language?
BONUS: DOUBLE POINTS if you give one example.
Descriptive words that appeal to the five senses;
In The Raven, how does Poe’s use of sound devices intensify the poem’s mood?
DOUBLE POINTS!!!!
Repetition of “Nevermore” and internal rhyme create a hypnotic, mournful rhythm that mirrors the narrator’s growing despair.
How many Commentary Sentences (CMs) usually follow each Concrete Detail?
Two
In a story, the author describes the setting as “a playground covered in rusted swings and hollow laughter.” Identify the tone and mood, and explain how diction contributes to each.
Tone: Old and Nostalgic Mood: Uneasy or haunting. Explanation: Words like “rusted” and “hollow” evoke decay and sadness, influencing both tone and mood.
Identify a strong piece of evidence for this claim: The narrator in “The Raven” cannot accept loss.
“Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore.’” shows he refuses to move on from Lenore
What must every narrative climax include?
A turning point or major conflict for the main character
How does symbolism function differently in each text to develop theme?
In The Monkey’s Paw, the paw symbolizes greed and humanity’s desire to control destiny. In The Raven, the raven symbolizes grief and eternal loss. Each symbol reveals how obsession destroys peace of mind.
Which part of the paragraph restates the main idea in a new way?
Concluding Paragraph
Explain how symbolism can reveal a theme in this example: A cracked mirror appears each time the protagonist lies.
So what is symbol and why? What is the theme?
The mirror symbolizes truth and self-perception. Each crack represents how deceit damages integrity and identity, revealing a theme about the consequences of dishonesty.
“Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore.’” shows he refuses to move on from Lenore
Commentary explains how the evidence supports the claim; it connects reasoning and interpretation
Read this short excerpt: “As the clock struck midnight, I stood at the crossroads, the rain washing away every trace of what I’d done.”
Identify the narrative techniques the author uses to build tension, and explain how it contribute to the story’s tone.
Techniques: Imagery Explanation: The visual of rain “washing away” suggests guilt and cleansing, while the midnight timing heightens suspense and mystery, shaping a tense, reflective tone.
Explain one example of dramatic irony in The Monkey’s Paw.
Readers suspect danger from the paw before the Whites do, creating tension when they still make the wish.
Write a mini paragraph about the Monkey's using this TS: Greed can lead to a person’s downfall. (Student provides TS-CD-CM-CM-CS structure.)
BONUS: 100 EXTRA POINTS
Greed can lead to a person’s downfall. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” Mr. White wishes for money, but his wish leads to his son’s death. This shows that greed causes people to make rash decisions. It also shows that wanting too much can destroy what you love most. Therefore, greed often ends in regret.
Read the sentence: “Thunder grumbled in the distance, warning the traveler to turn back.” Identify the two literary elements, then explain what they are doing.
Element: Foreshadowing through personification. Function: The thunder’s warning predicts future danger, hinting that conflict or tragedy will soon occur
In “The Monkey’s Paw,” the Whites wish for money but receive it only after their son’s death.
What type of irony is this? Identify one piece of indirect textual evidence that supports your explanation.
Situational Irony because the outcome is the opposite of what the characters expect—wishing for happiness brings tragedy instead.
Evidence: “It came true... but it has cost us our son.” This reveals that the wish’s fulfillment carried an unexpected and devastating consequence.
You are writing the conclusion of a narrative about overcoming fear. What two strategies should you use to ensure your ending feels complete and purposeful, and why are they effective?
HINT: 1. How can they reflect? What could be the ending? Why is this effective?
1. Reflection: The character should express how they have changed or what they learned.
(What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?/It's okay to face your fears.)
2. Resolution of conflict: Show how the main character overcame their fear.
3. Effectiveness: These strategies provide emotional closure and connect the ending back to the story’s theme.
What conflict type best describes each story?
Monkey’s Paw: Man vs. fate/supernatural.
Raven: Man vs. self.