A great way to engage students in analysis is through the creation of storyboards that examine Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, and Theme. This activity is referred to with the acronym "TWIST". In a TWIST, students focus on a particular paragraph or a few pages, to look deeper at the author’s meaning.
Using an excerpt from the second page of the story, where there’s a hint that there’s something more going on with this “lottery” than just good luck, students can depict, explain, and foreshadow what will happen in the story, while getting a good idea of the author's voice.
The postmaster, Mr. Graves, followed him, carrying a three-legged stool, and the stool was put in the center of the square and Mr. Summers set the black box down on it. The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool, and when Mr. Summers said, “Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?” there was a hesitation before two men, Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, came forward to hold the box steady on the stool while Mr. Summers stirred up the papers inside it.
| T | TONE | Mysterious and foreboding: the villagers are keeping their distance from a box that is supposed to be a part of a lottery. Normally, a lottery is an exciting event. |
|---|---|---|
| W | WORD CHOICE |
Distance, space, hesitation |
| I | IMAGERY |
“...Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, came forward to hold the box steady on the stool while Mr. Summers stirred up the papers inside it.” |
| S | STYLE |
The author is very descriptive, leaving a feeling of foreboding and uncertainty, when she writes, “The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool…” |
| T | THEME |
There is more to this box that holds these papers than meets the eye. Perhaps this lottery isn’t such a good thing after all. Perhaps the theme will point to the dangers of depending on luck. |
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Student Instructions
Perform a TWIST analysis of a selection from "The Lottery". Remember that TWIST stands for Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, Theme.
Facilitate small-group discussions where students collaboratively analyze a passage using the TWIST framework. Assign each group member a specific TWIST element (Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, Theme) and have them share their findings before combining ideas. This deepens understanding and encourages active participation from every student.
Offer students helpful sentence starters to guide their analysis for each part of TWIST. For example: "The tone of this passage is... because..." or "The author’s word choice suggests...". Scaffolded prompts give students confidence and structure when analyzing complex texts.
Demonstrate a TWIST analysis by reading a passage aloud and verbalizing your thought process for each element. Show how you identify clues in the text and connect them to the author’s intent. This makes critical thinking visible and supports learners who benefit from explicit examples.
Encourage students to create graphic organizers, such as charts or storyboards, to record their observations for each TWIST category. Visual representation helps students see connections and patterns, making abstract concepts more concrete and memorable.
Lead a whole-class discussion where students share the themes they uncovered through TWIST analysis. Connect these themes to real-life situations or other texts to promote deeper understanding and relevance. This final reflection reinforces learning and encourages analytical thinking beyond the classroom.
TWIST analysis is a method for examining a literary work by focusing on Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, and Theme. It helps students dig deeper into an author's choices and the meaning behind specific passages.
To do a TWIST analysis for "The Lottery", select an excerpt and analyze the tone, identify key word choices, describe the imagery, examine the style, and determine the theme. Students can use storyboards or written responses to organize their insights.
TWIST analysis breaks down challenging texts into manageable elements, making it easier for students to understand author intent and uncover deeper meanings. It encourages close reading and critical thinking.
For tone: What mood does the author create? For word choice: Which words stand out and why? For imagery: What pictures does the text paint? For style: How does the author’s writing stand out? For theme: What message or lesson does the story suggest?
Storyboards are a great way for students to visualize a TWIST analysis. By pairing images with explanations for each element, students can make connections between textual evidence and literary analysis.