For critical reading/ and literacy I am choosing the Discussion Web activity. Two students will choose an argument, research their argument, and then use the discussion web graphic organizer to build support for their arguments for or against. Then they will meet up with two more students to build the arguments more, and report their findings to the class. It is used best as a post-reading activity, it helps students begin to think about to organize their thoughts, and find research based evidence to support their arguments.
I was lucky to observe the chair of our English department one day and she was having her students do a mock trial for Romeo and Juliet. The argument was whether the Friar should be held accountable for the deaths of R&J and the student s had to go to the library and computer labs to find evidence to support their arguments. The discussion web seems like a good introduction to allow students to work on how to debate, find evidence to support their conclusions, and refute those of the opposing argument.
Yes! It's always a good idea to have a pre, during, and post reading activity for students so that reading is active.
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