Reality TV A mini-unit designed to introduce text-based argument drafting i3 College Ready Writers Program National Writing Project 2014

Quick-write What are your thoughts about reality TV?

The Thinking Behind Layering: Processing Connecting texts, not just summarizing Considering different angles Changing our claims as we write through the text set

“And now I’m thinking…” Go back to your Quick Write about reality TV. Use a transition like “Now I’m thinking,” and then select a detail from the text (the image) to add to your quick-write about reality TV.

NEXT: We are messing around with how an idea might change. Read the article OR the research about the Girl Scout study. Code the text with F for fact and E for example. You might star (*) facts that seem especially important or compelling.

Join the Conversation Generate a list of sentence stems – On the other hand – A different way of looking at this might be – I hadn’t considered… – This line [insert] is making me wonder… – “They Say, I Say” samples… Using one of these transitions, cite a fact or evidence from the text. Respond to the text by writing what you are thinking.

Another Layer Read the article “Why Reality TV Is the New Family TV” Code the text with F for fact and E for example and underline statements of opinion

What are you thinking now? Add another layer to your thinking. Cite something from the text—insert it into your quick-write--and reply to it with your own thoughts.

What are we thinking? Topic: How did this work for you and how might it work in your classroom?

The Evolution of My Thinking Concerning argument writing, I used to think… But then (this happened)… And now…

Moves Writers Make When They Want to Share an Opinion Sometimes we look at a headline and our brain starts spinning…. One more “reality TV” text to consider!

Reading Exploration: Underline, Code, Underline sentences that state a position the writer is taking on the topic. Double underline the sentence that seems to be the writer’s claim. If you find a counterclaim, code it CC in the margin. Code for evidence that seems convincing: F- Facts; E - Examples; A – Authorities

Draft a working claim, Star & Jot You may already have a “working claim” from previous reading and writing; if not, draft one now. Star evidence that seems connected to your claim, pushes you to revise your claim, or seems interesting. Jot Write for 3 – 5 minutes, focused on the evidence that seems most convincing and what you are thinking about when you consider this evidence.

How to help students fill the page Make a quick list under your claim of the kinds of evidence you have from each text. – Look at the notes you have – Look at the annotations you have made – Look at the coding you have done – Look at the stars you have made This will tell us how we got to this claim Analyze models Try out Kernel Essays

Moves Writers Make When They Want to Share an Opinion Beth Rimer & Linda Denstaedt on Structure 29: :07 view Session #3 Organization is best taught through multiple models: -Explore possibilities for positioning claims -Borrow and play with patterns we notice -Experiment with Kernel Essays

Kernel Essays: Patterns of Thinking Try two or three of Gretchen Bernabei’s text structures using your claim; Pick one of the structures to develop, using the evidence you’ve identified. Write: – 2 min. on Box 1 – 2 min. on Box 2 – 2 min. on Box 3….and so on

That’s a Wrap!!!