This Week In Writing
April 10-14
Informational Compare and Contrast Essay
Take a look...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJY2JqKEkvQ
This quarter we will work on writing Constructed Responses, Responding to Literature, and Writing Comparison Essays with Two Texts
Start with these two texts.
Start with these two texts.
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A key factor in being able to solve problems in real-world situations is the ability for students to be able to apply knowledge and use thinking strategies to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. In the real world, answers are seldom black and white, and there are often many solutions to a problem. Preparing students with only surface-level knowledge does not lead to “deep thinking,” to intellectual independence, or to building a student's capacity to problem solve and analyze complex situations in the real world. Requiring students to think and process information at much deeper levels prepares them for the real role they will face in life and in tomorrow's workplace.
What is a Constructed Response?
Constructed-response questions are assessment items that ask students to apply knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities to real-world, standards-driven performance tasks. Sometimes called “open-response” items, constructed-response questions are so named because there is often more than one way to correctly answer the question, and they require students to “construct” or develop their own answers without the benefit of any suggestions or choices. Constructed-response items can be very simple, requiring students to answer with only a sentence or two, or quite complex, requiring students to read a prompt or a specified text article, reflect on the key points, and then develop a meaningful essay or analysis of the information. Whether simple or complex, all constructed-response questions measure students' ability to apply, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the knowledge that they have acquired in a more abstract way. Using the RACE strategy, (most students are familiar with this strategy) (RESTATE-ANSWER THE QUESTION- CITE WHERE IN THE PASSAGE YOU FIND THE EVIDENCE and finally to EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPnt9AFaTdc
What is a Constructed Response?
Constructed-response questions are assessment items that ask students to apply knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities to real-world, standards-driven performance tasks. Sometimes called “open-response” items, constructed-response questions are so named because there is often more than one way to correctly answer the question, and they require students to “construct” or develop their own answers without the benefit of any suggestions or choices. Constructed-response items can be very simple, requiring students to answer with only a sentence or two, or quite complex, requiring students to read a prompt or a specified text article, reflect on the key points, and then develop a meaningful essay or analysis of the information. Whether simple or complex, all constructed-response questions measure students' ability to apply, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the knowledge that they have acquired in a more abstract way. Using the RACE strategy, (most students are familiar with this strategy) (RESTATE-ANSWER THE QUESTION- CITE WHERE IN THE PASSAGE YOU FIND THE EVIDENCE and finally to EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPnt9AFaTdc
This year, I will also teach the students a second strategy to use while writging a constructed response called TEACH.
What are Comparative Essays?
A compare-and-contrast essay explains the differences and similarities between two people, ideas, places or things.
This type of essay is a great format for helping students think deeply about two ideas or concepts with multiple similarities and differences.
This type of essay has four-parts:
1) an introduction to topics,
2) a focus on similarities,
3) a focus on differences, and
4) a conclusion-
5) Students are then expected to revise and edit their essay.
A compare-and-contrast essay explains the differences and similarities between two people, ideas, places or things.
This type of essay is a great format for helping students think deeply about two ideas or concepts with multiple similarities and differences.
This type of essay has four-parts:
1) an introduction to topics,
2) a focus on similarities,
3) a focus on differences, and
4) a conclusion-
5) Students are then expected to revise and edit their essay.
Responding to Literature:
Responding to literature helps students construct their own meaning which may not always be the same for all readers.
These are some of the ways a student can respond to a passage:
• Describe the text requires the reader to give an initial reaction to the text and describe its general content and purpose.
• Interpret the text requires the reader to construct an interpretation and/or explanation of the text and connect the text to personal knowledge.
• Move beyond the text requires the reader to reflect on the text and make personal judgments about its quality and meaning.
Responding to literature helps students construct their own meaning which may not always be the same for all readers.
These are some of the ways a student can respond to a passage:
• Describe the text requires the reader to give an initial reaction to the text and describe its general content and purpose.
• Interpret the text requires the reader to construct an interpretation and/or explanation of the text and connect the text to personal knowledge.
• Move beyond the text requires the reader to reflect on the text and make personal judgments about its quality and meaning.