1. Depth and Complexity Icons
Today we are going to learn about 4 Depth and Complexity Icons. The four icons that we will focus on today will be: The Big Idea, Details, Language of the Discipline and Unanswered Questions. How many of you are familiar with these icons?

2. Before we start, I have passed out the frame that I would like you to take notes on. I will be presenting a slide on each icon. I will define what each icon represents and will then provide you time to talk with your table and decided on what words will help you remember what the icon represents. The first icon I will explain will be big idea. The next will be details then Language of the Discipline and last will be unanswered questions.

3. Big Idea Looking at Depth: Key Questions:
Identify or general statement that summarizes information or draws a conclusion based on evidence drawn from the text.
Key Questions:
What overarching statement best describes what is happening?
The first icon is the Big Idea. As I read the definition aloud, think to yourself of what words will help you remember what the Big Idea represents. I will give you time to discuss it with your table.
When we think of this icon, we want to ask ourselves what is the overarching statement or statements that describe what is happening. In a more simplistic way to think about it is – What is the theme or main idea of the text.

4. Details Looking at Depth: Key Questions: Elaboration
Identify attributes
Parts
Factors
Key Questions:
What are its attributes?
What features characterize this?
What specific elements define this?
The second icon we will be learning about is the details icon. As I read the definition, please think about what word or words will help you remember details. This icon has you think about specific details in the story that make the story evolve or happen.
Once again in a more simplistic way to think about it is --- what details are critical in the story. For example, think about if that detail wasn’t in the story would it make a difference. Keep in mind if we can take the detail out of the story and it still evolves then that detail is not one we want to write down.

5. Language of the Discipline
Looking at Depth:
Specialized vocabulary
Skills and task specific to the discipline
Tools used
Teacher talk
Key Questions:
What terms or words are specific to this story?
The third icon is Language of the Discipline this icon will focus on the key terms or words that are specific to the story. We can use words like genre, realistic non-fiction, summarizing, and depending on the story we could use words as discrimination, identity, etc.
We can also think of this as words your teacher says: For example, I won’t say tell what kind of story this is? I probably would say what is the genre of the story we are reading today? Or how is realistic fiction similar to fiction?

6. Unanswered Questions Looking at Depth:
Identify unclear ideas or missing information
Discuss/write about areas yet to be explored or proven
Note conclusion that need further evidence or support
Key Questions:
What is still not understood about this area/topic/discipline?
What is unknown about this area/topic/discipline?
In what ways is the information incomplete or lacking in explanation?
The final icon is the answered questions, this icon will have you the reader ask questions that wasn’t clear in the story and/or topics/areas you are still wondering about.
This icon can lead the reader to look beyond the words and look deeply into the story to find questions that may lead to other questions within it’s self. For example, if the story was about discrimination about an African American girl an unanswered question could be: After time and the laws changed were there still instances that she felt discriminated? Even though the story ends .. the reader can still wonder if discrimination ended for her.

7. Reasoning for Depth
Studying something from the concrete to the abstract, from the known to the unknown.
Examine topics by determining the facts, concepts, generalization, principles and theories related to them.
Uncovers more details and new knowledge related to a topic of study.
So you may ask Why do we need to go into such depth when we read our stories?
We do this so as a reader you can read something concrete and look into a more abstract manner. You can start analyzing the text and categorizing the themes, topics and you are then able to uncover so many more details and new knowledge related to that story. You will no longer say, Oh, this story is about a girl who couldn’t drink water from a fountain. You will now look at this story and tell people, this story is about an African American girl who struggled with discrimination and how it affected not only her and her family but society. An how over time changes are happening, yet discrimination still exists and people are continuously feeling discriminated and now it could be more than just color.

8. So now that you have your frame is filled out with key words, we are now going to do an activity about yourself and we will be using the 4 icons.
I will do one with you about myself and then will give you time to work on your own frame about yourself.
For the big idea icon there are many things I could put in there, but if I wanted to narrow it down to one main thing I identify myself as I would write I am an avid reader, but before I can say that I must remember that I will need details and language of the discipline that will prove/support that I am an avid reader.
Now that I have identitfied myself as an avid reader, I must support it with details. I have listed several details that support that I am avid reader. I read on the weekends and I love going to the Alameda County Library and I also described where I enjoy reading.
As for Language of the Discipline I have listed several words that avid readers know. I also know that there will be specific words that are linked to my books that may not be linked to other genres. Maybe tragedy, emotional, relationships are words that I will see as I read Nicholas Sparks books.
The last icon is the unanswered questions: this section you can write any questions you have in regards into what you identify yourself as.