Scaffolding the Writing of Synthesis through Students’ Home Literacies

Betsy Gilliland

School of Education

UC Davis

Brooke Nicolls

Grant High School

Sacramento

Area 3 Writing Project

Context

The course: pre-freshman composition at San José State University

The students: • Recent immigrants and international students• Generation 1.5 (all education in CA schools)• Monolingual English speakers

The challenges: Academic reading and writing Summaries and argumentation

The assignment

Service Learning Project Introduction to the problem Professional views: synthesis Response to the literature: analysis Personal reflections: experience Solution to the problem: argumentation

My Question

How can I scaffold students’ writing process so they are able to synthesize readings from multiple sources in support of a thesis question?

Synthesis: The Literature Review

Essential skill for college writing Rarely taught, but always expected Represents higher level critical thinking Advanced feature of language Needs to be broken down for students Teacher modeling of process essential

Reading to Write

Start with a Thesis Question Read for answers to the question(s),

highlighting key information and making notes of relevant details

Fill in the graphic organizer (handout p. 4) for each article

Synthesis Reading Organizer

Is Sex All that Matters?

Keeping Teens Ignorant

US Could Use a Lecture

For Teens, the Issue is Trust

My Views

Statistics about teens having sex

Statistics about teen pregnancy

Teen attitudes to sex

Facts about sex education

Author’s view on sex ed.

Author’s view on…

Other…

From Notes to Paragraphs Each line (or group of lines)

of the organizer becomes a paragraph

Begin with a topic sentence stating the main idea of that paragraph

Use reporting verbs to show which author(s) wrote which statements

Compare and contrast different ideas

Use a variety of sentences to convey information

Cite your sources!

Useful reporting verbs:– Agree (disagree)– Argue– Believe– Claim– Describe– Explain– Feel– Imply– Propose– Question– Recommend– Warn

Introducing Synthesisto Students

Use well-constructed organizers Select appropriate organizer for texts to be read and written

Provide models of organizers used in context Talk students through creation and use Allow collaborative practice

“…the value is not in showing my students the Grecian urn [a final polished model]; the value is in showing them the process, step-by-step, that is used to construct the urn.”--Kelly Gallagher, Teaching Adolescent Writers (p. 52)

Classroom Modifications: Fathers Song synthesis: “Father of Mine” and

“Dance with my Father” Categories to listen for Highlight key evidence in lyrics Pair share: fill in grid as you talk Share with group

Fathers: Student Work 1

Fathers: Student Paragraph 1In both songs the artists have lost their

fathers in different ways. According to the song “Dance with my Father” his dad passed away and is showing grief. As he says in the song, he wishes to get one more chance of being with his father. Unlike “Father of Mine” the artists believes his father just left without any closure. Similar to the previous song, he wishes to see his father again, but only to ask the questions left unanswered. Even though both artists miss their fathers in different ways, they felt secure when they were with them.

Fathers: Student Work 2

Fathers: Student paragraph 2Emotions can affect many people, some ways good and in some ways bad. Similar to the song “Dance with my Father,” “Father of Mine” misses their father deeply. On the contrary in “Father of Mine” the writer sounds as if he is mad at his father for leaving him, where as in “Dance with my Father” the writer sounds sad and pray’s for his father to come back. According to “Father of Mine” the Father use to beat up his wife, but in “Dance with my Father” the father loved his wife and she loved him.

Success: Survey and Synthesis

Gets kids out on campus, talking with adults

Doesn’t require much reading of complex text

Success Model: Transitions

A)There are many different definitions of what it means to be successful. Sean says that it is being able to be an example or role model. Similar to Ms. Nicolls, Sean also believes that it’s important to be responsible and work hard. On the other hand, Ms. Providence and Michael state that to be successful is to live a happy life and to be content.

Success Model: AttributionB) There are many different opinions of what

it takes to be successful in today’s world. Sean, a Grant High custodian, says that to be successful it is important to be an example or role model. Similar to Ms. Nicolls, a teacher at Grant High, Sean also believes that it’s important to be responsible and to work hard. On the other hand, Ms. Providence, another Grant High teacher, and Michael, a student at Grant High, state that to be successful is to live a happy life and to be content.

Problem-Solution Synthesis

Students talk with adults, other people on campus to get answers to questions

Groups compare answers, write up paragraphs showing results

Problem on Campus: SW 1

Problem on Campus: SW 1

Problem on Campus: SW 1There are a lot of problems on the campus of Grant High. According to Andre, a campus monitor, he says that one of the problems is cutting class, disobeying rules, and trash. The cause of that is that some students are badly influenced and there’s a lack to campus security. Similar to that, Mr. Jones, an Administrator, says the students not on task and skipping class due to lack of studies and the integrety towards education. Ms Martin, teacher, also states that the problem is cutting class.

Problem on Campus: SW 1Unlike the campus monitor, administrator, and the teacher. Mr. Shepard believes that it’s the tarties that’s the problem. On the other hand, Mark, Kaysy, and Xue say that it’s drop-outs, fights and the lunchline. The probability cause is are: exit exam, gang affairs, and the entering ID number while lunch is handed out.

Problem on campus: SW 2

Problem on campus: SW 2

Problem on campus: SW 2A variety of problems come to mind to many different people on school grounds. Whether its students, teachers, campus monitors and even Administrators. Andre agrees with Mr Sanchez that one of the biggest problems on campus is students being late to class. As for Mr. Purcell and Mrs. Huynh they both agree that lack of organization is a big problem for students on Campus. One of the students that attend grant say’s that drugs and Gang’s are the problem, but as for Geraldo and Anthony, two other students that attend grant, they state that students are bad and teachers don’t know how to teach.

Evaluation

Students can help evaluate each other’s work

Groups pass writing to other groups for evaluation

Teacher types up paragraphs for whole-class evaluation and discussion

Extensions and Adaptations

Compare-contrast essays: graphic organizer with just two articles/ideas

Organizing results of surveys Keeping track of informational research Reading notes from textbook

Your feedback, please!

What is something new you learned in this session?

What will you commit to trying? What questions do you still have?

When you are finished, please stick your post-its to the chart paper in the back of the room.