1. Literacy Coaches Network
October 18, 2016

2. Sentence Frames for THINKING

3. How does synthesis work? (p.2 in packet)
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness
Any major life-changing endeavor must be accompanied by considerable sustained effort, and I would speculate that the majority of people do not or cannot continue putting out that kind of effort. What’s more, all new happiness-enhancing or health-boosting strategies have something in common; they bestow on the person a specific goal, something to do and to look forward. Moreover, as I explain later on, having goals in and of themselves is strongly associated with happiness and life satisfaction. That’s why – at least for a time – any new happiness strategy does work!
John

4. How does synthesis work?
Jane McGonigal’s Reality Is Broken
When you’re on a WoW quest, there’s never any doubt about what you’re supposed to do or where or how. It’s not a game that emphasizes puzzle solving or trial-and-error investigation. You simply have to get the job done, and then you will collect your reward. Why do we crave this kind of guaranteed productivity? In The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky writes that the fastest way to improve someone’s everyday quality of life is to “bestow on the person a specific goal something to do and to look forward.” When a clear goal is attached to a specific task, she explains, it gives us an energizing push, a sense of purpose. That’s why receiving more quests every time we complete one in World of Warcraft is more of a reward than the experience points and the gold we’ve earned.
John

5. Quick Intro to Synthesis
Should your school’s summer vacation be extended, shortened, eliminated, or revised? Why?
On the back, create the following organizer:
Partner Name
Summary
Best Direct Quote
Your Reaction
John

6. Quick Intro, continued
3. For TWO minutes each, talk to TWO people and get their responses to the prompt, taking a minute between each to fill in your chart.
4. Let’s talk about the following:
John

7. Quick Intro, continued
Return to your original response and add your partners’ thoughts to yours that supports, challenges, or qualifies your original position. You can use sentence starters, such as:
+“In contrast, _____ disagrees, suggesting instead that _______.”
+“Additionally, ______ supports this idea, saying that ______”
+“Another factor to consider is what ___ raises, recommending that __”
Claim: (I believe that) summer vacation should be ____ because ___”
John

8. First steps with source-based synthesis
Write a brief response before reading about one of the following topics:
1. Should the Washington football team change its name? (page 3)
2. Do today’s commercial films and television go beyond stereotypes in their depiction of women and girls? (page 4)
Read one of the texts, marking phrases that are similar to or different from your position.
John

9. Adding to the argument Including your own commentary:
Using Evidence:
+“In contrast, _____ disagrees, suggesting instead that _______.”
+“Additionally, ______ supports this idea, saying that ______”
+“Another factor to consider is what ___ raises, recommending that __”
Including your own commentary:
“What this shows is that _______________________”
“What this fails to recognize is ____________________”

10. What we know about successful synthesis
Use, but not overwhelmed by sources
Writer’s argument is central
Smoothly incorporates evidence
Addresses counterclaims
Renee

11. Guided Practice: High School Sports
Before we read about this topic, write a brief response to one of the following questions (page 7):
To what extent are participation in high school sports and the pursuit of academic excellence incompatible activities?
Should high schools severely cut back their sports programs? Why or why not?
John

12. Amanda Ripley: The Case Against High School Sports
Number the paragraphs.
As we read (whole group, pairs, individually), underline the claims she makes and circle evidence she provides to support her claims.
Use the margin for your comments or responses to her argument (commentary)
John

13. Frames for Ripley

14. Expanding the Conversation
Read one of the following texts individually, underlining claims, circling evidence, and using the margin for your responses. Complete a sentence stem or two to practice some additional academic “moves”:
2. Kai Sato (pages 12-13)
3. Daniel Bowen and Collin Hitt (pages 14-15)
4. Mark Edmundson (pages 16-17)
If time allows, look at US Lags Behind (18-19)
John

15. Response to Ripley

16. Wrap Up
Sentence frames as THINKING frames AND as WRITING frames for ELL and other students who need language support.
I’ll ask Penny to put all the high school sports articles on the portal.
John Golden