Think Like an Author
What does it mean to think like an author?
Great authors don't choose words, symbols, or plot twists by accident—they make intentional decisions to shape meaning, evoke emotion, and leave readers with something worth remembering.
These are the same literary analysis skills we want students developing in ELA.
Whether students are uncovering theme, interpreting symbolism, analyzing figurative language, or recognizing irony, these resources help them think like real authors by exploring the purpose behind every creative choice.
Before students can write like great authors, they must first learn to read like them.
🛒 Shop The Collection
👉 Pop Culture Literary Analysis
This complete unit includes everything you need to teach four key literary analysis skills:
📝 Read The Blog
🔎Students Analyze Stories Every Day: How Pop Culture Becomes the Bridge to Literary Analysis
Students don't need easier texts—they need better on-ramps. Discover how song lyrics, short films, Disney, Pixar, and other familiar stories can help students master literary analysis skills before transferring those same skills to novels and classic literature.
🔎Every Great Story Has Something to Say— What Pixar’s Storytelling Rules Teach Us About Theme
Using Pixar's famous storytelling rules, this post explores a fresh way to help students move beyond one-word topics and uncover what authors are really trying to say.
🔎5 Common Mistakes Students Make When Identifying Theme (And How To Fix Them)
Why do so many students confuse topic, plot, and theme? This post unpacks five of the most common misconceptions about theme and shares simple strategies to help students write stronger, more meaningful theme statements.
🔎The Real Goal of Teaching Figurative Language: 5 Strategies That Actually Work
Teaching figurative language isn't about memorizing definitions—it's about helping students notice how authors use language to create meaning. Discover five strategies that help students recognize figurative language naturally and begin thinking like authors themselves.
🔎 Do English Teachers Really Overanalyze Everything? A Better Way to Teach Symbolism
Do English teachers really read too much into everything... or is there more evidence behind literary analysis than students realize? Discover how Disney, Pixar, and professional animators transformed the way I teach symbolism by showing students that artists intentionally use color, shape, line, texture, and visual design to communicate meaning long before they ever open a novel.