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EXTEND:
This instructional strategy has students isolate the details provided by the author and then connect those details to the author's conclusion before determining whether the author's argument is sound or not. In order to effectively form a judgment or claim about an author’s argument, students first need to thoroughly understand it. A graphic organizer helps students visualize what the author is saying. An evidence-based claim organizer can be used to determine the author’s argument in order to form a judgment.
PREPARATION:
Decide on the text that needs to be evaluated.
Explain to students the purpose of the instructional practice.
Have a sample ready to share so that students can see the intended final product.
Have copies of Student Resource: Evidence-Based Claim Organizer Template available for distribution to students.
STEPS:
MARK TEXT: Distribute copies of the chosen text and lead students through an activity of marking the text to note interesting details.
DETAILS: Instruct students to “find the details” by selecting three interesting and related details to add to the chart, referencing the page number or paragraph in which they appear.
MAKE CONNECTIONS: Next, ask students to “connect the details” by reflecting on and recording their thoughts about the details they have identified, paying close attention to how the details are connected.
SHARE: Once the “Connecting the Details” step is complete, have students share their thinking with another classmate.
MAKE CLAIM: Finally, direct students to “make a claim” about the text. What conclusion can they come to using the evidence they have outlined from the text as support?
VARIATIONS:
Educators can use Educator Resource: Evidence-Based Claim Organizer Sample to model to the full class the appropriate inquiry and reflection techniques involved in employing the academic thinking skills of analysis and evaluation.
Educators can scaffold this instructional activity for their students by gradually releasing the responsibility for students’ independent completion of each section.
EXTENSIONS:
Students can use Student Resource: Evidence-Based Claim Organizer Template to evaluate multiple texts that cover the same argument and then compare the results of their individual evaluations to see which text provided the best argument.
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