General Information on Think CERCA:
Purpose: Students will use this program to develop critical thinking skills in reading and writing, particularly in writing arguments. They will learn the CERCA - claim, evidence, reasoning, counterargument, and audience - components of writing.
Students Will Explore Different Writing Types/Purposes
Analytical Writing
Argumentative Writing
Expository Writing
Narrative Writing
Our Steps in Class:
1) Connect: Students connect with topic.
2) Read: Students read materials based on levels set in your class roster.
3) Engage with Text: Students highlight and annotate to gather evidence from the text.
4) Summarize: Students summarize findings.
5) Build a Draft: Students use a graphic organizer to create a written draft.
6) Discuss: Students participate in the Whole Class Discussion Question to facilitate a higher level thinking/ comprehension about the common question.
7) Write Essay: Students produce a formal piece of writing in response to the lesson question.
Writing Topics:
Analytical Writing
How do different characters respond to conflict?Argumentative Writing
Expository Writing
How did individuals’ experiences at Ellis Island both affect their lives and reflect the changes taking place in the United States at the time?Narrative Writing
What was a difficult decision you had to make?