Critical Writing Fundamental Five

What is critical writing????? Writing for the purpose of organizing, clarifying, defending, refuting, analyzing, dissecting, connecting, and/or expanding on ideas or concepts.

5 Myths About Critical Writing Critical writing requires an full implementation of the writing process. Critical writing requires an extensive number of pages. Critical writing requires a polished finished product. Critical writing does not fit into every content area. Critical writing should only be evaluated by a trained English/language arts teacher.

What’s so great about writing???? “Everything we write is a potential learning experience. Writing is a systematic process for learning essential meanings.” - Paul and Elder, 2007 Writing critically requires the learner to take a subconscious idea, expand on that idea, connect it to other subconscious ideas, and bring that to the conscious level through the tangible act of writing.

5 Truths About Critical Writing Critical writing can take on many forms. Critical writing requires independent construction of thoughts from the writer. Critical writing on a regular basis will increase overall literacy skills. Critical writing, when planned well, increases rigor and relevance. Critical writing should always be assessed in some way as an accountability measure, but this does not mean it must be formally assessed every time.

Sensational Sentences 1. Write the words ‘critical writing’ in the topic/concept box. 2. Review the six words listed in the word box. 3. Consider these words. Using 2 words per sentence, create 3 sentences that describe the concept of writing critically as we have discussed it so far.

Critical Writing Retain process thoughts meaning learning construct

Journals Record thoughts while reading. Respond to seed questions. Document learning from the day. Record entry and exit writing activities. Record thoughts and opinions about the learning.

Freewriting Writing non-stop for a fixed period of time No worries about grammar or proper form Focused on getting ideas on paper Begin with high interest topic so students can begin immediately Work toward content related and skill specific topics that can be used also for assessment

RAFT R – Role A – Audience F – Format T - Topic

ELAR Example 4.6(B) describe the interaction of characters including their relationships and the changes they undergo Role – Big Bad Wolf Audience – Little Red Riding Hood Format – Letter Topic - Apology

Social Studies Example US4.C Identify the causes of World War I and reasons for U.S. entry Role – young man Audience – his mother Format – letter Topic – why he must go to war

Create a RAFT assignment for your class… 1. Select a standard that you will teach in the first 6 weeks 2. Consider the concept/topic to be discussed with this standard and the multiple viewpoints that may be relevant in understanding this topic/concept. 3. Consider the different people/characters/historical figures who might have something to say about this topic and who they would say it to. 4. Determine an audience, format, and topic for the writing.

Summarization Pyramids Construct a pyramid of lines on a sheet of paper. For each line, choose prompts that yield one-word short answers for the shorter lines, and longer responses for the longer lines.

Critical Writing Pyramid 1. One word that best describes the essence of the topic. 2. One effect of the topic. 3. Another topic related to this topic. 4. – 6. Three attributes about this topic. 7. One question this topic sparks in you. 8. Your personal opinion on this topic.

Get the Gist In twenty words or less, describe the most important ideas from your learning today.