Writing Instruction Across Content Areas CCL- May 8, 2015

Analyze Argue Compare/Contrast Describe Determine Develop Evaluate Explain Imagine Integrate Interpret Organize Summarize Support Transform Essential Academic Skills Jim Burke & Barry Gilmore

Analyze Break something down methodically into its parts – What are the elements of a primary source, or a poem? Recognize tools or elements – Rhetorical devices or types of argument Recognize patterns and structures – Repetition, structural elements

Before teaching students to analyze … Model- Use a strong example paper to show the component parts broken down. Then have students practice analyzing it in pairs or groups. Define Expectations- The teacher needs to define what analysis looks like in the specific discipline being taught. Do you expect a thesis? Specific evidence?

Before teaching students to analyze … Build Content Knowledge- Provide students with the academic language necessary to look for evidence in the particular content area. Practice Mental Moves- Assign short texts to students and have them practice Mental Moves: 1.Look Closely- Key elements? 2.Select Details- Which elements contribute most to the meaning? 3.Find Patterns- What repeats in the structure? 4.Infer- What is implied, symbolic or metaphorical? 5.Draw Conclusions- How can the overall meaning be explained?

Teachers College Writing Lesson

Obstacles to watch for… Projection- Personal opinion is easily inserted instead of looking at what the evidence supports. A Point, but not THE point- In some cases, students analyze a minor theme in place of the core idea. Incorrect Inferences- When students get symbolic or inferential thinking wrong, the analysis can become skewed.

Thank you!!