Paragraph Model

Adapted by Elizabeth Nelson

ASSIGNING writing is not the same As TEACHING it.

How is assigning different from teaching?

Assigning TeachingAssigning describes tasks Teaching models and

scaffolds tasks

Assigning tells students about the criteria

Teaching shows students how to achieve it

Assigning focuses on the product

Teaching focuses on the process

Why is this important?

A student may not know the purpose of a topic sentence or HOW to write one.

A student may know the paragraph is not good, but have no idea how to fix it.

A student might not understand how each sentence connects to the next.

A student may not understand how ideas and evidence are connected.

Students Must Teachers Must

Provide credible evidence to support an idea

Provide explicit instruction to show students “writerly” moves

Use the writing process and write more than one draft

Conference and provide feedback without grades on drafts

• Directions: Write a paragraph explaining your view of the current condition of education in Michigan or your general philosophy of education.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE:

•Complete sentences•Transitions•Topic sentence•Examples•Supportive details•Warranting•Development of ideas

3 Minutes

Egg.timer

Think about your beliefs as you read from the list of quotes about education. Which quotes best represent your thoughts? Highlight or underline any that embody your viewpoint on education.

• Choose a quote from the list in your packet that really represents your viewpoint. Write it into box 1. Remember to put quotation marks around your quote with the author’s last name in parenthesis.

BOX 1

• “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer).

BOX 1Example

• In box 2, write why you believe this quote is significant. What does it mean in terms of your view on education? Why should we pay attention to this quote? What is important about it? This is the “so what” part of the paragraph.

BOX 2

• “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn.

BOX 2Example

• In box 3, introduce the purpose of the quote or introduce the author of the quote. If the author is an authority on education, you might want to say so. You may wish to explain to the reader the author’s motive or context for this quote. This is the transition into your evidence.

BOX 3

• Eric Hoffer, a self-educated longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn.

BOX 3Example

• In box 4, choose another quote or example that says something similar to the first one. The example or quote should support the first one and add to the reader’s understanding.

BOX 4

• Eric Hoffer, a self-educated longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn. “We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past” (Jukes).

BOX 4Example

• In box 5, introduce either the author of this quote or its purpose. You may want to make a statement that connects this quote to the first quote. This is also a transition sentence.

BOX 5

• Eric Hoffer, a self-educated longshore-man who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn. Today’s students do not learn the same way we did. And, their world is different from the one we grew up in. “We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past” (Jukes).

BOX 5Example

• In box 6, write a short explanation of HOW this quote relates to the first quote and why it is important. How does this further the reader’s understanding? Again, you are answering the “so what” and “why do we care.”

BOX 6

• Eric Hoffer, a self-educated longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn. Today’s students do not learn the same way we did. And, their world is different from the one we grew up in. “We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past” (Jukes). We have entered the Age of Information, and the students of today must become lifelong learners- not masters of content. Change is the only constant, and our students must have the skills and resiliency to adapt to a world that is constantly in flux.

BOX 6Example

• Read through the paragraph so far and think about the main idea. Do you see a general theme or idea in your message? In box 7, write one or two sentences that grab the general idea of the paragraph. Your sentence should be large enough to cover the ideas in both quotes, but small enough for your audience to have the essence of your paragraph.

• If this paragraph is part of a larger essay, then this sentence must support a thesis statement.

BOX 7

• Teachers have heard the adage that we are preparing students for a world which no longer exists. The real question is : “How do we as teachers accomplish this?” Eric Hoffer, a self-educated longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn. Today’s students do not learn the same way we did. And, their world is different from the one we grew up in. “We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past” (Jukes). We have entered the Age of Information, and the students of today must become lifelong learners- not masters of content. Change is the only constant, and our students must have the skills and resiliency to adapt to a world that is constantly in flux.

BOX 7Example

• Read through your paragraph. Can you find any places where one idea or sentence does not seem to connect to the next? Consider adding a sentence or words that make the flow from one sentence to another smoother.

STEP 8

• Teachers have heard the adage that we are preparing students for a world which no longer exists. The real question is : “How do we as teachers accomplish this?” Eric Hoffer, a self-educated longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to learn. Today’s students do not learn the same way we did. And, their world is different from the one we grew up in. “We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past” (Jukes). We have entered the Age of Information, and the students of today must become lifelong learners- not masters of content. Change is the only constant, and our students must have the skills and resiliency to adapt to a world that is constantly in flux.

BOX 8Example

21ST CENTURY LEARNER?

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE

1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

2. Communication3. Collaboration4. Creativity and

Innovation

What does this mean?

21st Century Learning

4 C’s

• Teachers have heard the adage that we are preparing

students for a world which no longer exists. The real question is :

“How do we as teachers accomplish this?” Eric Hoffer, a self-educated

longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher

concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to mass

movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will inherit the

earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a

world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the 21st century is no

longer about content knowledge. It is about process, application, and

synthesis. The teachers of today, in preparing the students for

tomorrow, must teach students how to learn. Today’s students do not

learn the same way we did. And, their world is different from the one

we grew up in. “We need to prepare students for THEIR future not

OUR past” (Jukes). We have entered the Age of Information, and the

students of today must become lifelong learners- not masters of

content. Change is the only constant, and our students must have the

skills and resiliency to adapt to a world that is constantly in flux.

Let’s add some critical thinking and creativity

• Teachers have heard the adage that we are preparing

students for a world which no longer exists. The real question is :

“How do we as teachers accomplish this?” Eric Hoffer, a self-educated

longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950’s, was a philosopher

concerned with the timeless question of man’s response to

mass movements. “In times of change, it is the learners that will

inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully

equipped for a world that no longer exists” (Hoffer). Teaching in the

21st century is no longer about content knowledge. It is about

process, application, and synthesis. The teachers of today, in

preparing the students for tomorrow, must teach students how to

learn. Today’s students do not learn the same way we did. And, their

world is different from the one we grew up in. “We need to prepare

students for THEIR future not OUR past” (Jukes). We have entered the

Age of Information, and the students of today must become lifelong

learners- not masters of content. Change is the only constant, and our

students must have the skills and resiliency to adapt to a world that is

constantly in flux.

Let’s add some critical thinking and creativity

Research

Elden, L. ( 2009, June ). Features of informational text [ ]. CRWP

Summer

Institute.

Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2006). They Say I Say: The Moves That

Matter in Persuasive Writing. New York: W.W. Norton &

Company.

Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C.(2011, November 18 ). Exploring the use of

templates in creative acadacaemic wr [ ] . Ncte annual

convention .