Effectiveness of Chapter Headings Vs No Chapter
Headings
Thoughts by Julieann Wallace
- teacher, author, illustrator, chocolate
monster,
Round One
Middle School Readers
(9-12 year olds)
In the red corner,
we have Book One. A well written adventure story for Middle
School readers that will have you
rolling on the floor in fits of laughter.
Book One is 35, 000 words in length.
It is a chapter book as one would expect, but has no Chapter Headings.
(applause)
In the blue corner,
we have Book Two.
A well written adventure story for Middle School readers that will have you rolling on the floor in
fits of laughter. Book Two is 35, 000
words in length. It is a chapter book as
one would expect, and contains Chapter Headings. (applause)
Let the game begin!
Book One
|
Book Two
|
ü Chapters
|
ü Chapters
ü High
interest attention grabbing Chapter Headings/Images luring the reader to keep
reading to see what happens next.
ü Reader
can use prediction as to what may occur in the chapter.
ü Chapter
Heading will prepare reader for the type of words they will come across in
the chapter.
ü As
a teaching tool, Chapter Headings will create discussion, think and share,
prediction, reasoning, possible, impossible conversations.
ü Stepping
stone from Picture Books to Chapter Books.
|
Some Middle School Brains
without chapter headings
as they read a novel
|
Middle School Brains
with chapter headings
as they read a novel
|
|
|
|
The reader is lost. They don't know where they are going with
any of the information they are reading, or when it will end. Often, this
reader will not persevere with reading, are often discouraged, and give up.
|
They have perspective.
They know that this chapter contains all the information needed for a
particular point to be made, or for a scene to occur, and then next chapter
is the next development in the story.
The reader is encouraged
to continue reading as bit by bit the story unfolds in a meaningful way.
|
N.B. The
above information is generally speaking about children in the Middle School Reader
age range. Whilst this is a broad
generalisation, children do have different reading abilities, and some may
excel, or some may require more support with their reading journey.
Book
One
knocked out! Book Two - WINNER! (applause)
Round
Two
YA Readers (12-17 year
olds)
In the red corner,
we have Book One. A well written teenage drama story for YA
readers, that will have you page turning and gasping for air. Book One is 55, 000 words in length. It is a chapter book as one would expect, but
has no Chapter Headings. (applause)
In the blue corner,
we have Book Two.
A well written teenage drama for YA readers, that will have you page turning
and gasping for air. Book Two is 55, 000
words in length. It is a chapter book as
one would expect, and contains Chapter Headings. (applause)
Let the game begin!
Book One
|
Book Two
|
ü Chapters
ü Font
of Chapter Number is unusual or quirky, appealing to the YA age group and their
status that they are not children anymore, but individuals wanting to make a
statement.
ü Stepping
stone from Middle School Reader to YA to New Adult to Adult
|
ü Chapters
ü Chapter
Headings to invite the reader to keep reading to see what happens next.
ü Reader
can use prediction as to what may occur in the chapter.
ü Stepping
stone from Middle School Reader to YA to New Adult to Adult.
|
The YA Brain
without chapter headings
as they read a novel
|
The YA Brain
with chapter headings
as they read a novel
|
|
http://printontheperiphery.wordpress.com/category/book-history/ *
|
http://printontheperiphery.wordpress.com/category/book-history/ *
|
As an effective independent reader, the YA
brain is very adept at prediction, reflection, questioning and linking of
information. The YA reader does not
require Chapter Headings, and is motivated by the plot and character
development, and emotional attachment to the characters.
|
As an effective
independent reader, the YA brain is very adept at prediction, reflection,
questioning and linking of information. The YA reader does not require
Chapter Headings, but can be persuaded to continue reading because of a
Chapter Heading. They are motivated by
the plot and character development, and emotional attachment to the
characters.
|
The spectators wait with bated breath as they await
the judges' decision…….
Book One and Book Two stand aside the referee
shuffling from foot to foot in nervous anticipation……
The result is in - DRAW! ( rapturous
applause)
Chapter Headings - The Choice is Yours
After researching the topic of Chapter Headings, I
discovered that Chapter Headings, and whether you incorporate them into your
writing or not, is a very personal choice. However, your choice must be based
on the needs of your targeted audience.
As children journey through the years, there is a
natural progression that they globally partake in, to become independent,
effective readers.
·
Babies - junior school children - Picture Books,
and some chapter books - supported by abundant verbal interaction about words
and pictures as their reading and
vocabulary develops - enriched by reading.
·
Middle-School Children - Chapter Books, some
incorporation of illustrations here and there, to no illustrations.
·
YA - Chapter Books. Illustrations far and few between, if any at
all (generally speaking).
As
a writer,
one of your goals is to want your
reader to love reading, to feel successful at reading, and keep them returning to reading. So, in order to do this, you need to know your targeted
audience well as you decide on whether to use Chapter Headings or not.
Chapter Heading Vs No Chapter Heading
A
Scenario
…The End. You have finally finished your manuscript.
You will either be doing the dance of joy, because your story is complete, or
lost, like I always am because I am saying goodbye to the characters in my
story that I have created, and come to love.
You glance over your ms, and wonder: Do I need
Chapter Headings?
Frantically, you race to a book store and hit the
new release and best seller shelves and proceed to investigate every book on
the shelf delving into the world of Chapter Headings, to see what other writers
do, and what the "in thing" is with the publishing houses, and return
home confused as there is no clear pattern happening for Chapter Headings.
You return to your manuscript and ponder what to
do.
What should you do regarding
Chapter Headings?
So, what is a chapter heading?
Let's look at some
definitions to set a clear focus on the topic.
chap· ter n. One of the main divisions
of a relatively lengthy piece of writing, such as a book, that is usually numbered
or titled.
head·ing n
1.something that serves as a head, top, or front.
2. a title or caption of a
page, chapter, etc.
ti·tle n 1.the distinguishing name of a book, poem, picture, piece of music,
or the like.
2. a descriptive heading or
caption, as of a chapter, section, or other part of a book.
Books, Chapters, Chapter Headings for Middle Grade and YA Readers
It is a certainty that
writers give much thought as to whether to add chapter headings or not. Some writers revel in chapter headings,
others question whether they are necessary, or even struggle over the use of a
heading, and even what words to use in the Chapter Heading.
Some have their Chapter
Headings before they write their book, others create the Chapter Headings after
they complete the Chapter. There is no
right or wrong way when embarking on words for Chapter Headings, as we all work
in different ways.
The Role and Effect of Chapter Headings
For the Writer:
·
Chapter Headings can be like the story plot and can help to keep the
writer focussed on the story/message/idea.
·
Chapters Headings can give the writer a point of reference to
occurrences in the storyline. Have you ever gone back to a chapter to read the
details again. For example, in a
mystery, if the clues are planted throughout the book, and you missed something
really obvious that gives a hint about who did it? Or, do you need to plant a
clue in an earlier chapter?
·
A single word in the Chapter Heading can smash writer's block, filling
you with enthusiasm, encouraging words to flow easily.
For the Reader:
·
Chapters can be seen like steps to solve a problem in the story (story
map).
·
Chapters Headings guide the reader with the story plot.
·
Chapters can keep the reader focussed on the story/message/idea
·
Chapters give the reader a point in the story to stop and think about
what has happened, and leads them to start thinking about what is going to
happen next? Prediction and Reflection.
·
Chapters give the reader a point of reference to occurrences in the
storyline.
When
are chapter headings ineffective?
·
When they are irrelevant to the content.
·
When they are misleading.
·
When they give the story away! Do not allow the heading to give too much
information about what is going to happen, taking the mystery and lure away
from the reader.
Deciding on Chapter Headings
My Suggestion:
Step back from
your book, and look at it from the eyes of your targeted audience.
·
What do they BRING to you book in the way of
prior knowledge, ability and expectations.
·
What do they NEED from you book?
·
Why are they reading your book?
·
What do you want to GIFT them with, from the
words from your book?
·
By adding Chapter Headings, are you giving, or
taking something away, from the power of your words?
·
What stage is your reader emotionally at?
·
What gender is the book targeted at?
Step back to your book.
·
Are the Chapter Headings giving
away too much information about what will happen in the story?
·
Are the Chapter Headings inviting
the reader in to keep reading?
·
Does the Chapter Heading fit
the context of your content? Or,
does you book need Chapter Headings at all?
·
Do the Chapter Headings add to your story, or do they take away
from your story?
·
Do you have to use words for your Chapter Headings, or can you use an image instead?
Chapter Headings In a Nutshell
Whether to have Chapter Headings or not, is totally
up to you as the writer. But whatever you choose, your decision must be based
on the needs of your targeted
audience.
Also
consider the following:
The Chapter Headings
·
need to add to your story.
·
have a link to the words used in the
chapter, making meaning, building
strength, building the plot, building interest.
·
help to chunk information that have the common
purpose of moving the plot along.
·
Can be words or images.
Obtaining
opinions from beta readers, and writing buddies is essential J
For Added Interest….
In works of fiction,
authors sometimes number their chapters eccentrically, often as a metafictional statement. For example:
Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on
Chapter Headings.
What are your thoughts about the topic?
References
*****
Julieann
Wallace
~ Writer,
Illustrator, Author, Editor, Educator ~
It’s funny how life twists and turns and
polishes people into who they are
created
to be. Never in her wildest dreams did Julieann think that she would
become
a published author. Art, Sport and
Teaching were her passions, besides being a mum to three amazing children.
Throughout
her journey in life, one thing is
absolutely clear -
~
We are not all created equally, but, we all have the same capacity to love, to
laugh,
and
to treat others in kindness, patience and understanding equally~
And this is what you will find in
Julieann’s picture books - written with
an
author’s passion, an illustrator's hand, a teacher’s mind and a creative heart.
*****
Give-away:
One commenter will win a paperback copy of "The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters." All you have to do is comment on this post to be entered in the drawing. Must be a signed-up member of the Chapter Book Challenge to qualify. Comment before noon on March 26th, 2014. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator on March 26th, 2014 at noon.
*****
Winners:
And now for the announcement of the two winners of K.M. Weiland's books!
In the first drawing, for
"Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story," the winner is:
Amy Dixon!
Congratulations, Amy!
Beverley Baird!
Congratulations, Beverley!
