Critical Thinking in Critical Thinking in Technical/Content Area Technical/Content Area WritingWritingBy Ms. Teref and Mr. PlumBy Ms. Teref and Mr. Plum

Everybody thinks Everybody thinks criticallycritically

Anecdote from the library: NBA stats Anecdote from the library: NBA stats

Is it possible the student was…Is it possible the student was…

... comparing different games? Teams? Players?... comparing different games? Teams? Players?

...making predictions about future outcomes?...making predictions about future outcomes?

Student response.Student response.

What’s the missing What’s the missing piece?piece?

Articulation, clarity in order to make Articulation, clarity in order to make connections between thoughts or ideasconnections between thoughts or ideas

Verbal: to compensate, Verbal: to compensate, G1.5 studentsG1.5 students use body use body language, “you know what I mean,” “bogus,” language, “you know what I mean,” “bogus,” “thingy”...“thingy”...

In academic/In academic/technical (content area)technical (content area) writingwriting: : G1.5 students overuse “and then... and then” G1.5 students overuse “and then... and then” instead of linking thoughts clearlyinstead of linking thoughts clearly. .

Common teachers’ reaction: Mental Common teachers’ reaction: Mental compensation and “I know what they mean”compensation and “I know what they mean”

ExampleExample

““Although the Eagles trailed throughout most of the game, they Although the Eagles trailed throughout most of the game, they kept their composure and were able to rally and pull out a kept their composure and were able to rally and pull out a victory.”victory.”

Identify:Identify:

a) the content area.a) the content area.

b) technical/academic language.b) technical/academic language.

c) what’s being compared/contrasted.c) what’s being compared/contrasted.

d) the word that connects the two thoughts.d) the word that connects the two thoughts.

bb

Write a sentenceWrite a sentence

Think about your content area and a unit you Think about your content area and a unit you have been focusing on lately.have been focusing on lately.

Write a technical sentence about the unit using Write a technical sentence about the unit using “although.” “although.”

Please share your sentences and tell usPlease share your sentences and tell us

a) what technical vocab you useda) what technical vocab you used

b) what you were comparing/contrastingb) what you were comparing/contrasting

Why are we talking Why are we talking about “although?”about “although?”

What do we express by using “although”? What do we express by using “although”? What are we essentially doing when composing What are we essentially doing when composing an “although” sentence?an “although” sentence?

What function does “although” perform in a What function does “although” perform in a sentence? Does it LINK two ideas or thoughts? sentence? Does it LINK two ideas or thoughts? --> LINKING WORD, CONJUNCTION--> LINKING WORD, CONJUNCTION

Common Conjunctions in Common Conjunctions in Technical/Academic Language--> Technical/Academic Language--> Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Most Most combined English sentencescombined English sentences fall into the following fall into the following groups:groups:

1) 1) Comparison/contrast:Comparison/contrast: but, although, however but, although, however

2) 2) Cause-effectCause-effect: because, consequently, therefore: because, consequently, therefore

3) 3) AdditionAddition: and, in addition, moreover: and, in addition, moreover

4)4)ConditionCondition: if, unless: if, unless

5)5)TimeTime: when, whenever, after, before: when, whenever, after, before

• WHAT’S EMPOWERING ABOUT THE ABOVE 5 WHAT’S EMPOWERING ABOUT THE ABOVE 5 CATEGORIES?CATEGORIES?

How do we help our How do we help our students? students?

It can be safely stated that... It can be safely stated that...

- all content areas use conjunctions all content areas use conjunctions

- conjunctions are tools for making content area conjunctions are tools for making content area language clear (w/o content, these tools don’t language clear (w/o content, these tools don’t work)work)

- w/o conjunctions, content doesn’t make sense w/o conjunctions, content doesn’t make sense

- - identifying and practicingidentifying and practicing writing with conjunctions writing with conjunctions correct use of conjunctions correct use of conjunctions critical thinking or critical thinking or analysis.analysis.

Suggested activity (1):Suggested activity (1):

Dr. Darnell’s “I do, you do”Dr. Darnell’s “I do, you do”

a) When summarizing a chapter or unit, model a a) When summarizing a chapter or unit, model a few sentences using “although” about your few sentences using “although” about your content area.content area.

b) Have students copy your sentences and write, b) Have students copy your sentences and write, in groups, a content-area sentence of their own.in groups, a content-area sentence of their own.

c) Let students share their sentences.c) Let students share their sentences.

d) Model another sentence.d) Model another sentence.

e) Have them write one sentence in groups.e) Have them write one sentence in groups.

Suggested activity (2)Suggested activity (2)

Students are answering a question about a Students are answering a question about a chapter.chapter.

They must begin their response with a They must begin their response with a sentence sentence starter or stemstarter or stem you provide: you provide:

e.g. e.g. Although cytoplasm may appear to have no Although cytoplasm may appear to have no form or structureform or structure, (students finish the sentence)., (students finish the sentence).

e.g. e.g. Although the Revolution didn’t settle the Although the Revolution didn’t settle the slavery debateslavery debate, (students finish the sentence)., (students finish the sentence).

N.B. For students to be successful, this activity N.B. For students to be successful, this activity must be repeated.must be repeated.

Suggested activity (3):Suggested activity (3):

After students have been exposed to your After students have been exposed to your classroom use of “although,” do the following classroom use of “although,” do the following bell-ringer:bell-ringer:

For the next 5 minutes, write as many For the next 5 minutes, write as many sentences using “although” about a sentences using “although” about a paragraph/passage/chapter/unit/. paragraph/passage/chapter/unit/.

The more correct sentences students write, the The more correct sentences students write, the higher the number of points awarded.higher the number of points awarded.

Suggested activity (4)Suggested activity (4)

The class is reading a paragraph from a The class is reading a paragraph from a textbook, newspaper, novel, short story...textbook, newspaper, novel, short story...

Have students find and circle “although” (or Have students find and circle “although” (or any other linking word).any other linking word).

Ask them what specifically is being Ask them what specifically is being compared/contrasted in the sentence.compared/contrasted in the sentence.

Suggested activity (5)Suggested activity (5)

By now, your students have been exposed By now, your students have been exposed numerous times to “although” or another numerous times to “although” or another linking word.linking word.

Students are writing a paragraph or an essay Students are writing a paragraph or an essay in response to a question or a topic.in response to a question or a topic.

As part of your grading rubric, students must As part of your grading rubric, students must use “although” and indicate so in the margin of use “although” and indicate so in the margin of their paragraph.their paragraph.

Suggested Activity (6)Suggested Activity (6)

• ““How do I begin my How do I begin my paragraph/essay?”paragraph/essay?”

• Students are preparing to write a paragraph or Students are preparing to write a paragraph or an essay in response to a topic/question.an essay in response to a topic/question.

• They must write a thesis statement or a topic They must write a thesis statement or a topic sentence beginning with “although.”sentence beginning with “although.”