1. Breathing Life and Deeper Meaning into Texts
Persuasive Essay

2. Breathing Life and Deeper Meaning into Texts
Big Understanding: Students will recognize the author’s purpose or perspective and its effect on what is emphasized in the text and identify key concepts, ideas, literary elements, or themes in text.

3. KBAD use background knowledge to make meaning.
Day 1

4. Background Knowledge
When we read about a topic it's important to think about what we already know
This is true when reading nonfiction and fiction
There is always something you already know about a topic
Ask yourself, "What do I already know about ____________?"

5. Turn and Talk
"What do you already know about ____________?"

6. KBAD identifying topic sentences.
Day 2

7. Topic Sentences Gives the main idea of a paragraph
Usually is the first sentence in a paragraph
Does not include details
Helps the reader figure out the "big picture" of the text

8. For almost 50 years, Sudan had been involved in a vicious civil war, a war between groups of people from the same country. Long before the split, Sudan was culturally divided into two parts, northern and southern. The majority of people who live in the north are Arab and Muslim. Most of the people in the south are black and practice Christianity or native African religions.

9. Turn and Talk
How can you find the topic sentence in a paragraph?

10. KBAD determining main idea and details.
Day 3

11. Main Idea vs. Details
The main idea gives the "big picture" of the text
Details give the little bits of information that expand on the main idea

12. For almost 50 years, Sudan had been involved in a vicious civil war, a war between groups of people from the same country. Long before the split, Sudan was culturally divided into two parts, northern and southern. The majority of people who live in the north are Arab and Muslim. Most of the people in the south are black and practice Christianity or native African religions.

13. Turn and Talk
How can you tell the difference between the main idea and details?

14. KBAD find evidence to support point of view.
Day 4

15. Supporting Point of View
Point of view: a person's attitude or perspective
Once you decide what a character's point of view is you need to find evidence to support your point.
"I think that my character feels __________. I know this because of page ____ she says, _____________."

16. Turn and Talk
How can you tell a character's point of view?

17. KBAD notice fact and opinions when determining a character's point of view.
Day 5

18. Fact and Opinion Demonstrates Point of View
When a character gives the opinion in can tell you a lot about their attitude and perspective
Fact: something true that can be proven
Opinion: something that you think, feel, or believe

19. Turn and Talk
What do opinions tell you about a character?

20. KBAD formulate questions as you read.
Day 6

21. Ask Questions Using Quotes from the Text
When you read it is important that you ask questions
Use quotes from your book when asking a question
"The author said, _________________. It makes me wonder if _________________."

22. Turn and Talk
Share a question that you have about your independent reading book.

23. KBAD stop and jot with questions before, during, and after reading.
Day 7

24. Ask Questions BDA You Read
You will have questions about your book before, during and after you read
It is important to stop and jot these questions so you don't forget them
You will find answers to some of your questions and others there might be now answer for

25. Turn and Talk
When can you stop and jot questions that you have about your book?

26. KBAD use context clues to find the meaning of new words.
Day 8

27. Context Clue Strategies
When you read you will come across new words all the time
This is the best way to expand your vocabulary
There are many strategies that make finding the meaning of new words easier

28. Turn and Talk
What should you do when you come across a new word?

29. KBAD use domain specific vocabulary.
Day 9

30. Domain Specific Vocabulary
When you are reading about a specific topic you will come across vocabulary that has to do with the topic
These are words that you will not use everyday
You will need to understand the vocabulary if you are going to comprehend the text

31. Wetland areas surround New York’s Kennedy International Airport
Wetland areas surround New York’s Kennedy International Airport. Diamondback terrapins like to lay eggs in the sand dunes in these areas. The sand keeps the eggs warm and also protects them from predators, or animals that hunt the turtles and their eggs. Unfortunately for these turtles, a runway at Kennedy Airport separates them from their nesting ground.

32. Turn and Talk
Why is it important to notice domain specific vocabulary?

33. KBAD rereading and skimming to find information.
Day 10

34. Rereading and Skimming
Rereading is used when you are looking for the main idea or you don't understand what you've read
Skimming is used when you are looking for a quick detail or the name of a person or place that you forgot

35. Wetland areas surround New York’s Kennedy International Airport
Wetland areas surround New York’s Kennedy International Airport. Diamondback terrapins like to lay eggs in the sand dunes in these areas. The sand keeps the eggs warm and also protects them from predators, or animals that hunt the turtles and their eggs. Unfortunately for these turtles, a runway at Kennedy Airport separates them from their nesting ground.

36. Turn and Talk
When is it important to reread a passage?

37. KBAD use different sources to gain background knowledge and point of view.
Day 11

38. Gaining Background Knowledge
If you want to learn more about a topic you need to read, read, read!
The best way to get background information about a topic is to start reading
Sources: books, newspaper articles, websites, textbooks, interviews

39. Turn and Talk
What should you do if you wanted to learn more about deforestation?

40. KBAD determine the author's purpose, bias and influence.
Day 12

41. Author's Purpose
Every author has a purpose for writing: entertain, persuade, inform, teach
Every author also has a point of view
If they think something is important then they will want you to think it is important too!

42. Turn and Talk
Why is it important to recognize the author's purpose?

43. KBAD identify context and tone.
Day 13

44. Context and Tone
Context: situation, what is happening at this point in the story
Tone: the mood and feeling during the story

45. Turn and Talk
What is the tone of your independent reading book?

46. KBAD mark up a text to confirm predictions.
Day 14

47. Confirm Predictions
When you are reading it is important to think about what is going to happen next in your story
You can record your predictions in your reading responses or on post-it notes
As you continue to read you can revisit your predictions to see if they came true

48. Turn and Talk
Why is it important to check your predictions?

49. KBAD compare themes between texts.
Day 15

50. Identify Different Themes
Conservation/ preservation (Selective Logging)
Restoration (Water Quality)
Survival
Man v. wild
Activism
Being a change agent
Types of energy
Toxins/chemicals
Air Quality
Water Quality
Recycling
Hazardous Waste
Good v. Evil
History of Law
Friendships with animals
Cooperation
Seeing other’s point of view
Tragedy/ Overcoming devastation
Rebuilding
Hope
Commitment
Going against the norm

51. Identify Different Themes
Conservation/ preservation (Selective Logging)
Restoration (Water Quality)
Survival
Man v. wild
Activism
Being a change agent
Types of energy
Toxins/chemicals
Air Quality
Water Quality
Recycling
Hazardous Waste
Good v. Evil
History of Law
Friendships with animals
Cooperation
Seeing other’s point of view
Tragedy/ Overcoming devastation
Rebuilding
Hope
Commitment
Going against the norm

52. Compare Themes
When you are reading a book you can compare the theme to a book you have already read
What do they have in common?
What do you notice about each book?

53. Turn and Talk
What is the theme of your book?

54. KBAD examine text features of essays.
Day 16

55. Features of an Essay When you read an essay you want to look for:
Introduction
Body paragraph with topic sentence and details
Conclusion

56. Turn and Talk
What are the features of an essay?

57. KBAD summarize the deeper meaning of text.
Day 17

58. Writing Summaries
When you are writing a summary you want to focus on the "big picture" of the text
Give the who, what, when, and why without including specific details.
Your summary only needs to be about five sentences

59. In this chapter Jeffery needed to find his missing puppy Wiggles
In this chapter Jeffery needed to find his missing puppy Wiggles. Wiggles ran away from home during Jeffery's birthday party. Jeffery looked all over his block for Wiggles but couldn't find him anywhere. Jeffery came home very upset only to find Wiggles waiting for him on his front steps. He realized that Wiggles needs to be kept in his bedroom if they're going to have a party at his house.

60. Turn and Talk
What should be included in a summary?

61. KBAD notice how one question leads to another.
Day 18

62. Asking Questions
When you ask questions you will notice that one question often leads to another
This happens when we read a book and are thinking deeply about what has happened in the story
Good readers ask lots of questions and are always wondering about what is happening in their book

63. Turn and Talk
Why is it important to ask questions as you read?

64. KBAD ask big questions and little questions.
Day 19

65. Big Questions vs. Little Questions
The questions that you ask when you read could be big or small
Big questions: about the main idea or the whole book
Little questions: about details or little parts of the story

66. Turn and Talk
What is a little question that you have about the main character of your independent reading book?

67. KBAD respond with opinions that are supported with evidence.
Day 20

68. Support Opinions with Evidence
When you write a reading response you can give your opinions
These opinions should be supported by evidence from the text
When you think something support it with evidence from text

69. Turn and Talk
What is an opinion you have about your independent reading book?