This document outlines several strategies that good readers employ when comprehending a text, including making connections, visualizing, asking questions, inferring, determining importance, synthesizing information, and identifying the main idea, supporting ideas, inferences, tone, passage structure, opportunities for application, and use of logical reasoning. It provides examples of how readers can implement these strategies as they seek to understand an author's message.
The extended essay (EE) is a mandatory core component of the IB Diploma Programme. It is a research paper of up to 4,000 words giving students an opportunity to conduct independent research or investigation on a topic that interests them. Like the theory of knowledge (TOK) essay, TOK presentation, and participation in creativity, action, service activities, submitting an extended essay is a prerequisite for award of the Diploma.
Definition is a way of giving or explaining the meaning of an abstract term or a concept. It is derived from the Latin word finire (to limit); and de(from), the explanation it gives is limited only to what the reader need to know about the term to avoid confusion with other word belonging to the same class to where the target word belongs.
The extended essay (EE) is a mandatory core component of the IB Diploma Programme. It is a research paper of up to 4,000 words giving students an opportunity to conduct independent research or investigation on a topic that interests them. Like the theory of knowledge (TOK) essay, TOK presentation, and participation in creativity, action, service activities, submitting an extended essay is a prerequisite for award of the Diploma.
Definition is a way of giving or explaining the meaning of an abstract term or a concept. It is derived from the Latin word finire (to limit); and de(from), the explanation it gives is limited only to what the reader need to know about the term to avoid confusion with other word belonging to the same class to where the target word belongs.
Are you looking for ways to liven up reading discussion in your class? How to teach critical thinking skills to young learners? These tips will help you.
This is my slide deck from my session at the North Carolina Reading Conference last week in Raleigh, NC. I do staff development to schools and districts all over the country about best practices in literacy instruction. This topic is one of my most requested.
What is an Exploratory PaperExploratory Argument In explorat.docxalanfhall8953
What is an Exploratory Paper?
Exploratory Argument:
In exploratory essays, the writer (you) explores three sources that take a position on a controversial issue. All three sources can take the same side of the issue or two can take the same side and one can be on the other side of the issue. For example, take this issue: “Should there be stricter copyright penalties on the Internet? For instance, all three sources explored may argue that once a person uploads a photograph on, for example, flickr.com, it becomes public domain and no copyright laws should apply. The sources explored will argue on the same side of the issue, they all answer the issue question: yes. Yet, they will present evidence that will align with their different perspectives. For example, one source may take a legal perspective and the evidence will come from legal sources; another source may take a psychological perspective and their evidence to support their position will come from psychological studies, etc. In addition, the sources must come from a variety of secondary sources: scholarly journals, magazines, and/or newspapers, and the sources cannot be all Websites.
The Purpose
In the exploratory paper, the writer identifies three sources that take the same side of the issue; this means, for each source, their thesis statements/claims are the same. In order to help the reader (students, instructor) understand each source’s argument, the writer, (you) will include a brief 2-3 sentence summary for each source that includes the writer’s thesis/claim and the reasons provided to support his or her perspective. Also, this will include an analysis of how well the reasons and evidence support their position and their perspective. This requires specific references from the work in the form of direct quotations. This last part is important. Your own opinions are not expressed at all. This is not an argument paper.
Advantages to Writing an Exploratory Paper
Exploratory papers have a number of advantages. When you view an issue from many perspectives, you gain a greater depth of understanding of it and the various views taken. Also, exploratory papers provide mutual understanding and common ground for you next stage in argument: writing your own argument paper. These sources can be used to support your side to an issue or they may be used as an opposing view to your own position. After exploring sources on an issue, you learn about the other positions on this controversial issue.
How to Write the Exploratory Paper
The exploratory framework appears on eCompanion in the folder marked: “Exploratory Paper Assignment.” This handout basically lays out the format for each body paragraph. Also, there is a student sample essay that explores the issue: Should biotechnology be banned in U.S. sports? All three sources in this paper take the same side of this issue and argue that biotechnology basically destroys honest competition, but they approach and support thei.
Text Analysis – Current Educational Philosophy Issue Your Text a.docxmehek4
Text Analysis – Current Educational Philosophy Issue
Your Text analysis assignment is an analysis of a current philosophy of education issue. The selected text must have been constructed within the past year. The assignment requires that you make links between your chosen text, concepts, videos, and readings from the course. The purpose of the exercise is to help you to critically examine the way how text inscribe meanings that influence how we conduct education in this country. You may do this paper with a partner.
GUIDELINES
All papers must be typed and should be between 3 to 5 pages long.
Use the handout on Text Analysis while working to make sure all criteria are met. If you work with a partner, only one paper is required. The grade the paper achieves will be assigned to both students.
The format for the paper should be analytic, interpretive, and normative – do not mix up the order of the three perspectives. These perspectives must be clearly delineated in your paper in order to ensure full credit.
It is essential that you remember that this is an analysis and not a report. As such, your goal is to analyze the text not “re-describe” it. Remember! This is not a book report or a “text” description.
Restrict your analysis to a few themes of the text (preferably the main theme), focus on how the argument was constructed and how the text informs education in contemporary society. Utilize course concepts, videos, written texts, quotes, paraphrases, readings, discussion, etc. to help ground your ideas. Failure to do so will result in a weak, one-sided paper.
If you work with a partner, note where you disagree (on what and why). Not everyone shares the same position.
Refer to the "Worksheet on Reading Texts" handout below for explicit questions to guide you in the text analysis.
Worksheet For Reading Text
To really “read” a text, as opposed to just decoding it, requires the reader to construct meaning from the text. To help you in this process, you should attempt to answer at least the following questions for each text? ANALYTIC READING
1. What is the major argument (conclusions) presented in the text?
a. What is the author/speaker trying to convince you?
2. What is the evidence presented to support that claim (Premise)?
3. Is the argument implicit or explicit?
4. Is it an empirical (facts, statistics, etc.), analytical (concepts and definitions) or normative (making a moral claim) argument?
5. What type of reasoning does the author employ (inductive or deductive)?
6. How is the argument presented, i.e. what rhetorical devices are used to make the argument (narrative, metaphors, visual imagery, imagery, ideographs, euphemisms, rhetorical questions, labels, etc.)?
7. Are you able to detect any fallacies in the argument? INTERPRETIVE READING
1. When was the text made?
2. What was going on around that time that might have influenced the writing of this text or the way audiences interpreted it?
3. What might those who r ...
Part 1 of a 2-day workshop to introduce style in technical communication. Presented to beginning students of technical communication on December 1, 2009 at Kyung Hee University in Suwon, South Korea.
LING 281Template Sentences for Paper 1Templates for the au.docxmanningchassidy
LING 281
Template Sentences for Paper 1
Templates for the author’s main claim and reason
· The author’s main claim is X.
· The author reasons that X, Y, and Z.
· The author provides the following reasons for his/her claim: X; Y; and Z.
· Two reasons are given in support by the author. First,.…Second,.…
Templates for audience discussion
· The author’s audience likely consists of…
· The readers of the text are probably…
· The author appears to write for…
· This is evident through the ways the author…
· It appears as if the audience is X because Y.
· I inferred who the readers of the text likely are from textual clues such as…
Templates for the author’s textual organization
· The author organizes his article by…
· After he does X, he then goes on to do Y.
· Next, in paragraphs 4-7, the author…
· Finally, in his last section, the author…
· Perhaps the author organized his text by
in order to
.
· The reason for this organization is likely because….
A Quote Sandwich Model
Model for a “Quote Sandwich”
A paragraph that uses a quote, paraphrase, or summary, needs an introduction into the textual support and an explanation why the textual support is relevant to your argument.
It can be set up as a sandwich:
Example: (from Susie Park, a student of LING 281, Spring 2017)
TOP ( At the end of the article, Nelson states,
MIDDLE ( “You are Feidin Santana. You are CNN,”
BOTTOM ( in order to make a connection to the allusion at the beginning of the article.
Ways authors organize information in texts
Analysis
Break the subject (an object, event, or concept) down into parts and explain the various parts.
“Why?” “How?” “So what?” “What if?”
What it might mean is, how it relates to what is known, the implications it offers, in other words, my point is, to put it another way,
Cause and Effect
Explain both events and ideas. The cause is the stimulus or reason for an event or idea. The effect is the result or consequence of the even or idea.
So, because, cause, comes from, due to, if, on account of, reasons, since, stems from, accordingly, according to affect, as a result, consequence, consequently, creates, effect, hence, leads to, result, then, therefore, thus
Compare and contrast
Compare two or more items by describing how they are similar; contrast two or more items by explaining their differences; or, provide both the similarities and the differences for a number of items.
Comparison: alike, as well as, both, similarly, likewise, in the same way, analogous to, correspondingly, identical, equivalent
Contrast: alternatively, although, but, contrast, conversely, despite, differs from, however, in contrast, less, more, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, unlike, -er suffix (e.g., higher, better, newer)
Concession/refutation
Offer the opposition’s viewpoint and then tell why it is incorrect/inadequate/unimportant
Author states . . .; however, . . . .
Author believes . . ., but . . . .
Critique
Point out both the good and .
Philosophy 7 Asian Philosophy (Fall 2019) Paper Guidelines .docxssuser562afc1
Philosophy 7: Asian Philosophy (Fall 2019)
Paper Guidelines
1
Paper #3: Chinese Philosophy
You may choose to write about either Confucianism (A) or Daoism (B).
(A) Confucianism: Kongzi (Confucius) or Mengzi (Mencius)
Choose a passage from one of the primary Confucian texts that we read: The Analects or
The Mengzi. Whatever you choose, you must confine your essay to one of our authors’
texts: either Confucius’ Analects or Mencius’ Mengzi. You may choose any passage you
like but you may only write within the context of one of the two thinkers.
and
Analyze and explain it as thoroughly and precisely as you can, staying close to the text
of the author you choose (using its terminology, following its reasoning, etc.). This point
is important: refer to, quote, paraphrase, and cite Confucius’ or Mencius’ text—his words, his
terms, his explanations, his examples, etc.—to aid your explanation of the idea. The closer you
stay to the text, the clearer your explanation will be.
(B) Daoism: Laozi or Zhuangzi
Choose a passage from one of the primary Daoist texts that we read: The Daodejing or
The Zhuangzi. Whatever you choose, you must confine your essay to one of our authors’
texts: either Laozi’s Daodejing or Zhuangzi’s Zhuangzi. You may choose any passage you
like but you may only write within the context of one of the two thinkers.
and
Analyze and explain it as thoroughly and precisely as you can, staying close to the text
of the author you choose (using its terminology, following its reasoning, etc.). This point
is important: refer to, quote, paraphrase, and cite Laozi’s or Zhuangzi’s text—his words, his
terms, his explanations, his examples, etc.—to aid your explanation of the idea. The closer you
stay to the text, the clearer your explanation will be.
Note on Daoism: Remember that these specific texts are notoriously opaque and
mysterious, and their purpose seems to be, quite explicitly in some cases, to effect an
experiential change in thinking on the part of the reader. So, if you choose this option, give
yourself time to let the text affect you and wash over you. It is common that the sense of
particular passages vacillates and shifts as one reads them again and again. So try—
without trying, of course (i.e., in a wu wei fashion)—to give yourself ample room to
maneuver within the text’s mysterious spaces, as Zhuangzi’s butcher’s blade
maneuver’s freely within the heavenly contours of the ox’s carcass.
Philosophy 7: Asian Philosophy (Fall 2019)
Paper Guidelines
2
In these papers, I want you to try to capture the essence of what you choose. You might
imagine that what you are trying to do is teach someone what passage means within the
context of Confucianism or Daoism.
I am looking for in-depth and detailed analysis/explanation.
Paper Details
Due Date
SUNDAY, May 3rd on Canvas by MIDNIGHT
Paper Length
At least 3 full pages of text (“full” beginning.
Philosophy 7 Asian Philosophy (Fall 2019) Paper Guidelines .docxkarlhennesey
Philosophy 7: Asian Philosophy (Fall 2019)
Paper Guidelines
1
Paper #3: Chinese Philosophy
You may choose to write about either Confucianism (A) or Daoism (B).
(A) Confucianism: Kongzi (Confucius) or Mengzi (Mencius)
Choose a passage from one of the primary Confucian texts that we read: The Analects or
The Mengzi. Whatever you choose, you must confine your essay to one of our authors’
texts: either Confucius’ Analects or Mencius’ Mengzi. You may choose any passage you
like but you may only write within the context of one of the two thinkers.
and
Analyze and explain it as thoroughly and precisely as you can, staying close to the text
of the author you choose (using its terminology, following its reasoning, etc.). This point
is important: refer to, quote, paraphrase, and cite Confucius’ or Mencius’ text—his words, his
terms, his explanations, his examples, etc.—to aid your explanation of the idea. The closer you
stay to the text, the clearer your explanation will be.
(B) Daoism: Laozi or Zhuangzi
Choose a passage from one of the primary Daoist texts that we read: The Daodejing or
The Zhuangzi. Whatever you choose, you must confine your essay to one of our authors’
texts: either Laozi’s Daodejing or Zhuangzi’s Zhuangzi. You may choose any passage you
like but you may only write within the context of one of the two thinkers.
and
Analyze and explain it as thoroughly and precisely as you can, staying close to the text
of the author you choose (using its terminology, following its reasoning, etc.). This point
is important: refer to, quote, paraphrase, and cite Laozi’s or Zhuangzi’s text—his words, his
terms, his explanations, his examples, etc.—to aid your explanation of the idea. The closer you
stay to the text, the clearer your explanation will be.
Note on Daoism: Remember that these specific texts are notoriously opaque and
mysterious, and their purpose seems to be, quite explicitly in some cases, to effect an
experiential change in thinking on the part of the reader. So, if you choose this option, give
yourself time to let the text affect you and wash over you. It is common that the sense of
particular passages vacillates and shifts as one reads them again and again. So try—
without trying, of course (i.e., in a wu wei fashion)—to give yourself ample room to
maneuver within the text’s mysterious spaces, as Zhuangzi’s butcher’s blade
maneuver’s freely within the heavenly contours of the ox’s carcass.
Philosophy 7: Asian Philosophy (Fall 2019)
Paper Guidelines
2
In these papers, I want you to try to capture the essence of what you choose. You might
imagine that what you are trying to do is teach someone what passage means within the
context of Confucianism or Daoism.
I am looking for in-depth and detailed analysis/explanation.
Paper Details
Due Date
SUNDAY, May 3rd on Canvas by MIDNIGHT
Paper Length
At least 3 full pages of text (“full” beginning ...
2. It is a process through which the reader
draws meaning from a text, based on his
or her knowledge, the nature of the text
and the author’s message, the perceived
purpose of reading, and the broader
context in which the reading is carried
out.
3. Make Connections:
Good readers notice pieces of text that relate
to or remind them Of their lives, past
experiences, prior knowledge, other
books, articles, movies, songs, or pieces of
Writing, events, people, or issues.
Visualize:
Good readers create pictures in their minds
while they read. While reading, note places
where you get a clear picture in your mind
that helps you understand the text.
4. Ask Questions:
Good readers ask questions before, during, and
after reading to better understand the author
and the meaning of the text. Ask yourself:
What is the author trying to say?
What is the message of this piece?
Infer:
When the answers are “right here,” good readers
draw conclusions based on background
knowledge and clues in the text. Ask yourself:
I wonder why…
I wonder how…
I wonder if…
5. Determine Importance:
Good readers look for things that help them
identify big ideas and why they are
important. Look at text features for clues:
Titles and headings, Bold print, Pictures and
captions, Graphs and charts, Chapter
objectives and questions.
Synthesize:
Good readers combine new information from
their reading with existing knowledge in
order to form new ideas or interpretations.
Synthesis is creating a single understanding
from a variety of sources.
6. Main Idea
Supporting Idea
Inference
Tone & Style
Passage Structure
Application
Logical Reasoning
7. Main idea questions ask you to
identify the "primary purpose" or
"main point" of the passage. In order
to answer these questions correctly,
you must be able to identify the
thesis of the passage and those ideas
that support this thesis.
8. Which of the following most accurately
states the main idea of the passage?
The primary purpose of the passage is to
The passage is primarily concerned with
which of the following?
The author of this passage is primarily
concerned with
The main point made by the passage is that
9. Supporting idea questions are often prefaced
by "according to the passage" or "the passage
states that". Most of the questions that fit
into this category could be called "find the
fact" as they rely on your ability to find a
specific piece of information, often
contained in two or three sentences.
These questions tend to be more difficult
than main idea questions because they
require a more detailed recollection of the
test. If necessary, you can return to the text
and quickly re-read a few sentences.
10. According to the passage, a questionable
assumption about x is that
The passage states that x occurs because
According to the passage, which of the
following is true of x
The passage mentions each of the following
EXCEPT
According to the passage, if x occurs then
11. Inference questions are often prefaced by
"the passage implies" or "the author
implies", where "suggests" is sometimes
substituted.
In some ways, inference and supporting
idea questions are similar. They both require
you to stick closely to the text and rely on
specific facts. However, inference questions
tend to go a tad further and ask you to make
a very small logical conclusion that is
strongly implied based upon information in
the passage.
12. The passage implies that which of the
following was true of x
It can be inferred from the passage that
The passage suggests which of the following
about x
The author implies that x occurred because
The author implies that all of the following
statements about x are true EXCEPT
13. Tone questions ask you to identify the
attitude or mood of a specific part of the
passage or of the entire passage. Tone
questions test your ability to recognize an
attitude or disposition of the author, which is
signaled by the use of a handful of trigger
words. Never base your guess about the
author's tone on a single word--this is not
enough to define the tone of the entire
passage.
14. The attitude of the author of the passage
toward x is best described as one of
The tone of the author is best described as
15. Passage structure questions ask you to
determine the relationship between different
parts of a passage. The key to this question
type is understanding the relationship
between each idea and paragraph. You must
be able to separate ideas that support a
thesis from the thesis idea itself. These
questions are referred to by some as logical
structure questions.
16. One function of the third paragraph of this
passage is to
The author uses the adjective x in line y to
emphasize that
Which of the following best describes the
relation of the first paragraph to the passage
as a whole?
The author refers to x in line y primarily to
In the context of the passage, the
word x (line y) most closely corresponds to
which of the following phrases?
17. Application questions ask you to take
information and conclusions in the passage
and extrapolate them to similar situations or
ideas. The key to this question type is the
ability to identify the crux of an argument
and see how it relates to a similar situation.
18. Mirroring: Select an action or idea not
discussed in the text that most mirrors an
action or idea discussed in the text
Predicting: Make a prediction based upon
the information in the passage
19. The author of the passage would be most
likely to agree with which of the
following?
Which of the following statements would
provide the most logical continuation of
the final paragraph?
[an idea or action described in the
passage] is most similar to which of the
following?
20. Logical reasoning questions ask you to take
information outside the passage and reason
about how it will influence a point or
sentence in the passage.
In some ways, these questions are similar
to application questions as both require you
to understand the thesis of the passage (if
one exists) and the relationship between
ideas in the passage. However, logical
reasoning questions ask you to take outside
information and apply it to the ideas in the
passage (commonly to strengthen or weaken
a point in the passage).
21. Which of the following, if true, would
best support x [where x is an idea or
argument described in the passage]
The author's conclusion
concerning x would be most seriously
undermined if
Which of the following, if true, would
most weaken the explanation
of x provided in the passage