The ability to
write effectively is not only essential to learning and language, but it is
also an essential life skill. Being able to convey your thoughts, ideas, and
feelings in writing allow for another avenue of expression. Some, like myself,
would say that writing allows for you to convey your thoughts in a more clear
and expressive way than just communicating orally. Sometimes when we are
speaking we say things we don’t mean and our thoughts get jumbled in our mind
and what we say is not necessarily what we were thinking. Though people may
forget what you have said, what you write lasts long after people have
forgotten. This is the power of the written word.
This week we
were responsible for writing a blog post based on the OLC strand on Writing.
The resource that I had originally planned on writing about was a resource
found at www.Writetolearn.net but
Ruth pointed out to me that this resource was not only focused on the American
Curriculum but that it was also a paid resource. So instead of this resource,
one of my table partners from class pointed out a great resource to use that is
provided by the New York Times. The article is titled, “Thinking Critically: Reading and Writing
Culture Reviews,” and can be found here http://nyti.ms/1Wwa3ww. With the access to
the Internet and different media forms students are constantly being exposed to
different movies, music, TV shows and games. The exposure and the sheer amount
of different options for shows, music, and artists is twofold what it was when
I was child. We only had a handful of TV shows to watch on cable and people
were forced to like them and talk about them.
Nowadays students have thousands of channels
with access to thousands of movies and shows. Conversations about why you
should watch a show are becoming more and more frequent and this resource from
the Times tackles this phenomenon with a resource focused on students writing
reviews. The article is a great resource and gives
advice on how to structure a lesson plan around thinking critically about
something and writing a review. They also provide a great handout with some
great critical questions that you can provide students to assist them in
writing a successful critical review. The lesson would be best suited for
either grade seven or eight, and in grade eight it hits on three of the four
overall expectations for the Writing strand in the OLC.
By the end of grade 8 students will:
- generate,
gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended
purpose and audience;
- draft and
revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary, and
graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and
audience;
- use editing,
proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of
language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present
their work effectively (OLC, pg 144,
http://bit.ly/1Lep545 )
LESSON
PLAN
To
start this lesson I would begin with a question to the class about what some of
their favorite artists and TV shows and Movies are. After hearing some of their
answers I would then ask them why they think that these artists or shows/movies
are good. I would then ask the class if anyone disagrees, and to tell me why
they do not like the artist or show/movie. Following a prompt on the resource I
would then ask the class if they think that everyone is suited to be a critic.
I would then tell them that it is important that everyone is a critic because
it is our popular opinion that helps to shape the world around us. This would
be the Segway from the minds on into the main action part of the lesson. The
first part of the lesson will include the students picking a review to
critically assess, whether it is in print or online. Once the students locate a
review to assess they will fill out the Reading Reviews With a Critical Eye
worksheet to evaluate the review. After the students have completed this
worksheet the class will come together and discuss what they have learned about
reviews and the process involved in and the style they are written in. Then as
a homework assignment you can tell the students to go home and pick something
to review, whether it is a TV show, a movie, a music album etc. It is their
chance to be the reviewer now. Using what they have learned from critically
assessing the review with the worksheet the students will write their own
review.
 |
| Reading Reviews with a Critical Eye Worksheet, 2015. [online pdf]. http://nyti.ms/1ksRtns |
As a follow up assignment, the next day you can have everyone in the class critically assess one other students review using the same handout. This lesson could be a great chance for kids to express some of their personality by writing about one of their favorite shows etc., as well as giving students in your class a chance to get to know each other a little better. This is also a great lesson plan to teach the kids how to write a critical review as well as how to critically read one. As stated earlier it hit on 3 of the 4 overall expectations in the OLC as well as a number of specific expectations such as “1.1 identify the topic, purpose, and audience for more complex writing forms & 1.3 gather information to support ideas for writing, using a variety of strategies and a wide range of print and electronic sources.” (OLC, pg 144, http://bit.ly/1Lep545 )
No comments:
Post a Comment