writing instruction across content areas ccl- may 8, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Writing Instruction Across Content Areas
CCL- May 8, 2015
AnalyzeArgue
Compare/ContrastDescribe
DetermineDevelopEvaluateExplainImagine
IntegrateInterpretOrganize
SummarizeSupport
Transform
Essential Academic Skills
Jim Burke & Barry Gilmore
Analyze
• Break something down methodically into its parts– What are the elements of a primary source, or a poem?
• Recognize tools or elements– Rhetorical devices or types of argument
• Recognize patterns and structures– Repetition, structural elements
Before teaching students to analyze …
• Model- Use a strong example paper to show the component parts broken down. Then have students practice analyzing it in pairs or groups.
• Define Expectations- The teacher needs to define what analysis looks like in the specific discipline being taught. Do you expect a thesis? Specific evidence?
Before teaching students to analyze …
• Build Content Knowledge- Provide students with the academic language necessary to look for evidence in the particular content area.
• Practice Mental Moves- Assign short texts to students and have them practice Mental Moves:1. Look Closely- Key elements?2. Select Details- Which elements contribute most to the
meaning?3. Find Patterns- What repeats in the structure?4. Infer- What is implied, symbolic or metaphorical?5. Draw Conclusions- How can the overall meaning be
explained?
Teachers College Writing Lesson
Obstacles to watch for…
• Projection- Personal opinion is easily inserted instead of looking at what the evidence supports.
• A Point, but not THE point- In some cases, students analyze a minor theme in place of the core idea.
• Incorrect Inferences- When students get symbolic or inferential thinking wrong, the analysis can become skewed.
Thank you!!