I’m preparing to teach a mini class on study skills this year. There’s lots of great things to cover. I’m having a blast reading and learning and being the student so that I can model great things in the fall. I know this makes me especially nerdy – but that’s okay.
As I define the topics I want to cover, I realize that many of the articles I’ve been reading would be perfectly appropriate for my middle school students to read. Doing so would provide an opportunity:
- to respond to non-fiction in their journals and blogs,
- do their own investigating, and
- provide an authentic opportunity to teach web site evaluation.
This all seems so obvious, but I am enjoying my “ahhh moment” so much that I thought I’d share the template I just created:
Reading Response Journals – Responding to Non-fiction Articles
After reading the article, use the following template to respond in your journal:
- URL: _________________________________________________________________
- Is the author’s contact information included? YES_____ NO_____
- Author’s Name ____________________________________________
- Are the author’s credentials given? (education, position) YES_____ NO_____
- Is there a known organization or institution associated with or sponsoring the site? YES_____ NO_____
- Name of organization or institution:________________________________
- Is the Web site designed to teach you something? YES_____ NO_____
- Is the website an .edu, .org, .gov, or .com? _________
- What is the purpose of the Web site? (Is it to entertain, persuade, educate, or sell?)
- Does the author try to persuade you in any way? How?
- Quickly try to identify the facts from the opinions. Make a list.
- What new information did you learn?
- Were there any photographs, charts, graphs, or diagrams that were important?
- After reading, what unanswered questions do you have? What are you curious about?
- What connections did you make with the information provided?
- What is your opinion of the author’s (or interviewee’s thesis)? Do agree or disagree with the point of the article?
Okay – feedback, ideas, advise?
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