Tues. Sept. 16, 2014: Anthem discussion/ active reading steps

Today, students were instructed to show me that they actively read the National Anthem and answered the question posed at the end of class yesterday. I then reviewed what I expect when it comes to active reading as well as the reasons (I have pasted these below: sorry for the mess!).

We then discussed the "issue" of the anthem (many want it changed) and determined how people might find it offensive.  We decided that four groups may want the lyrics changed. One of the items determined to be lacking, however, was actual evidence (examples) to show that the groups we picked might actually be offended.

The first group we chose were those who really didn't know the lyrics to the anthem. The students determined that their opinion could not be based on sound reasoning until they actually took the time to understand it. We had already established one example of people not knowing the words (our own class study from yesterday), but it was agreed that the sample was too small to apply to all of Canada (make it an issue). I then gave the students the article "Majority of Canadian students don't know the national anthem: UVic study" that appeared in the Financial Post on May 12, 2010. If you were not here, Google it (I got it on the Web).

As a class, we then applied the active reading strategies (below) to it while I read it out loud. One other thing we added was our own opinions about the article: it is valid; is it a wide enough study to represent the whole country; is it subjective. Keep in mind that the reflections you do when reading are how you come up with further ideas for topic development.

How to Read Actively (Abridged)

(During and a bit of After)

1.      Analyze the title (before your read). Write down in one or two words what it might mean.

2.      Count the number of paragraphs (this is a “before” activity but, oh well). Put the numbers beside them.

3.      Read the first paragraph

a.       If it is an essay

                                                              i.      Highlight the thesis (or main points)

                                                            ii.      Highlight and define unknown words, allusions, phrases (allusions are references to historical times, books plays, people, etc that the writer would expect the reader to be familiar with).

                                                          iii.      Paraphrase the paragraph (in one or two words!!!!!!!)

4.      Read and do steps for ALL paragraphs.

5.      Summarize work at the end (three sentences only!)