1. Making Connections and Supporting them with Evidence-based Claims

2. What are Connections?
Connections are links that readers can make between what they are reading and things they already know about.

3. Why should we make connections?
Good readers make connections to better understand what they are reading.

4. How do readers make connections?
Good readers use their own background knowledge and prior experiences to make connections.
There are 3 different ways that a reader can make connections …

5. ~ Types of Connections ~
Text – to – Self
Text – to - Text
Text – to - World

6. Connection: Text – to - Self
These are connections that readers make between the text (what you are reading) and their own past experiences and/or background knowledge.

7. Connection: Text – to - Text
These are connections that readers make between the text they are reading and other texts the reader has read before.
Other kinds of texts might include books, poems, scripts, songs, or anything written.
You could even include movies or television shows that you have seen before.

8. Connection: Text – to - World
These are connections that readers make between the text and the bigger issues, events, or concerns of society.
To make these types of connections the reader must think about what is going on in the world around them.

9. Ways to Start your Connections …
“That reminds me of … “
“Remember when … “
“This is like … “
“This character makes me think of …”
“This setting reminds me of … “

10. CLAIMS
-The connections that you make must be used to support a claim that you have derived from the text.
*Trick: A claim usually answers the questions what do I think?

11. Example…
”Cold Snap” is a short story about an adolescent who has just discovered that her father is committing adultery on her mother. This story demonstrates how betrayal is inevitable when we hold unrealistic expectations for the people in our lives.
The effect that the affair had on Cassie, shows the reader that affairs within a family have detrimental effects on those involved.

12. ”Cold Snap” is a short story about an adolescent who has just discovered that her father is committing adultery on her mother. This story demonstrates how betrayal is inevitable when we hold unrealistic expectations for the people in our lives.
The effect that the affair had on Cassie, shows the reader that affairs within a family have detrimental effects on those involved.

13. EVIDENCE
However, any claim that is made about the text, MUST be backed up by concrete evidence derived from the story.
Evidence answers the question; “How do I know this is the case?”
In relation to the example, how do we know that Cassie shows the reader that affairs have detrimental effects on those involved?

14. Example…
The effect that the affair had on Cassie, shows the reader that affairs within a family have detrimental effects on the people involved. Cassie was so shocked by her father’s betrayal that the author described her as being “stunned as a moose in headlights” (Aspin, 37), upon the discovery of the other woman.

15. Connection

16. ”Cold Snap” is a short story about an adolescent who has just discovered that her father is committing adultery on her mother. This story demonstrates how betrayal is inevitable when we hold unrealistic expectations for the people in our lives.
The effect that the affair had on Cassie, shows the reader that affairs within a family have detrimental effects to those involved. Cassie was so shocked by her father’s betrayal that the author described her as “stunned as a moose in headlights” (Aspin, 37), upon the discovery of the other woman.
The story of Cassie relates to the film, “Bridget Jones’ Diary”. In the movie, Bridget Jones also demonstrates the shocked effects upon the discovery of her own cheating man. Both protagonists can be accurately described as speechless and stunned at the scene of betrayal before them.

18. Claim: We live in a world where people prioritize their own self-interest over the welfare of others.

19. EVIDENCE
“I don’t work to buy their beer and cigarettes,” he snorted. ”I don’t slave my ass off so single moms can screw like effing rabbits.”
”Jeez, Dad,” Brad said, glancing at me. “That’s a bit strong.”
“That’s because something strong is what is needed, before we all go to hell in a handbasket.” (54)

20. The short story ”Frog Palace” by Diana Aspin demonstrates how humans are selfish and prioritize their own self interest over the welfare of others. Brad’s father exemplifies this since he has a strong opinion against the use of his tax dollars being used towards the less fortunate in society. [”I don’t work to buy their beer and cigarettes,” he snorted. “I don’t slave my ass off so single moms can screw like effing rabbits.”] (54).
The short story relates to an episode of ”Friends” where two characters, Phoebe and Joey, argue over the existence of a selfless good deed. By failing to find an example, Phoebe gives in to Joey’s theory that humans are inherently selfish and do not do things for the benefit of others.