I thought I would update where we are in class.  Students have chosen topics for their snapshot moments and we continue to look at mentor texts for examples of great writing.  Today we discussed the strategy of slowing time down through the lens of Elie Wiesel's Night.  We've also used Stephen King's The Body (better known as the film Stand by Me) to look at how he creates action, suspense, and creative dialogue in his writing.  The mentor text "Violet" showed students the importance of including emotion and sensory details in their writing.  As students move forward with their pieces, I hope that they will incorporate these techniques in their own writing.