Analysis and Commentary: The Tour Guide

1. Analysis and Commentary: The Tour Guide Social Studies – Writing Series #5

2. Analysis and Commentary: Tell Them What to See • Explains how the facts you have given support the topic sentence in your paragraph • Usually answers the questions “Why?” and “How?” • Do the thinking for your readers – connect and explain your facts • Persuade as if you were a lawyer or a salesperson

3. Pieces of a Body Paragraph (Topic sent.) Although eating is important in both celebrations, the sit down meal is central to Thanks-giving whereas July 4th food is meant to be carried and eaten outdoors.(Facts) Grocery stores advertise frozen turkeys, stuffing, potatoes, and cans of pumpkin during the Thanksgiving season.(Commentary) Each of these foods requires preparation before they can be cooked.(Facts) For July 4th, however, stores advertise discounts on sodas, hot dogs, hamburgers, and chips.(Comment-ary) Many July 4th foods are ready to be eaten without cooking; they are easy to take to a baseball game or a fireworks show. But even foods that need cooking can usually be thrown on a grill without any preparation and then eaten without utensils. Food is the event for Thanksgiving; food is not the focus for July 4th.(Clincher sent.) For Thanksgiving, people go to the food; for July 4th, the food goes with the people.

4. Dear ________________, I need ______________. Supporting fact as to why you need it ____________________ Explanation of fact _____________________ Example: Dear Mom, I need $10. $10 will let me see the new movie. All of my friends have seen the new movie and that’s all they talk about, so I need to see it so that I can join the conver-sation. Also, my teacher has used the movie as an example and I didn’t know what he was talking about. Strategy #1 – Fill in the Blank

5. Activities for this strategy: Brainstorm and categorize the prompt Divide into groups or pairs Write a topic sentence, supporting evidence and analysis and commentary for one body paragraph Share body paragraphs and choose the best ones for a class essay Strategy #2 –Prompt: How are werewolves and vampires similar and different?

6. Werewolves brainstorming: Human Full moon Grow hair and fangs Can run in packs Hide being werewolves Run to forests Quiet as people Vampires brainstorming: Undead – never die Drink human blood Bite necks Kill people who become new vampires Live in cities Well dressed Good looking Strategy #2 –Prompt: How are werewolves and vampires similar and different?

7. Strategy #2 –Prompt: How are werewolves and vampires similar and different?

8. Strategy #2 –Prompt: How are werewolves and vampires similar and different? Thesis: Although werewolves and vampires are both fictional monsters who harm humans, they differ in how they transform, where they live, and how they view their supernatural qualities. Body Paragraph #1 – How they transform Supporting evidence: Analysis and Commentary: Body Paragraph #2 – Where they live Supporting evidence: Analysis and Commentary: Body Paragraph #3 – How they view their supernatural qualities Supporting evidence: Analysis and Commentary:

9. Strategy #2 • Divide into groups or pairs – Each group/pair gets 1 body paragraph from the previous slide • Write a topic sentence, supporting evidence and analysis and commentary for one body paragraph • 3) Share body paragraphs and choose the best ones for a class essay

10. Strategy #3 –www.donorschoose.org Preparation: • Go to www.donorschoose.org, select and print out enough 8–10 requests (enough for each student group of 3–4 to have one) • You could donate (or ask the PTO to donate) $5 - $10 to the group who argues for their cause the best

11. Strategy #3 –www.donorschoose.org • Have groups choose 1 request from donorschoose • Groups need to write • Topic sentence arguing one reason why their request should be funded • Supporting evidence (facts) – Write a sentence that gives evidence as to why the request should be funded • Commentary – Explanation as to how the evidence shows that the request should be funded

12. Strategy #4 – Pictures • Write a reason that the photographer took the picture (Topic sentence) 2) Give evidence (facts) from the picture to support your reason 3) Explain how the evidence supports your reason

13. Strategy #4 – Pictures – Example Why did the photographer take this picture? (Topic sent.) The photographer took this picture to show that Albert Einstein was human. (Fact) Einstein raised his eyebrows and stuck out his tongue. (Commentary) This behavior isn’t typical of a genius who is a scientist and it makes the viewers laugh. Obviously, Einstein didn’t always take himself too seriously.

14. Strategy #4 – Pictures – Practice Why did the photographer take this picture?

15. Strategy #5 –Fill-in-the-Commentary Essay • Cinderella and Snow White

16. Strategy #6 –Class Essay • Assign an essay to the class • Brainstorm, categorize and write the thesis as a whole class • Divide categories among groups and have each group write one body paragraph • Have them write the topic sentence in black ink, supporting evidence in blue ink, and commentary in red ink

17. Strategy #7 – 4-Square

18. Strategy #8 • The next 5 slides are from previous writing PowerPoints • Students can practice writing analysis and commentary using one or more of the slides • As a whole class, model and think aloud writing one body paragraph from one slide • In pairs or in groups, choose one body paragraph to write, focusing on the analysis and commentary • For homework, write one body paragraph • Give students the Body Paragraph rubric and let them score their own and/or their peers

19. Thanksgiving and July 4th • Body Paragraph #1—Who we celebrate with • Thanksgiving = family • July 4th = neighbors • Body Paragraph #2—Why we celebrate • Thanksgiving = giving thanks • July 4th = U.S. birthday • Body Paragraph #3—What we do to celebrate • Thanksgiving = football and food • July 4th = parades, music, and fireworks Thesis: Thanksgiving and July 4th, two federal holidays unique to the U.S., are both similar and different in who they are celebrated with, why they are celebrated, and what is done to celebrate them.

20. Football and Basketball • Body Paragraph #1—Equipment and cost • Football = Expensive (lots of equipment and people) • Basketball = Inexpensive (not much equipment) • Body Paragraph #2—Brings people together • Football = All day event with hundreds of thousands • Basketball = Shorter, more frequent events • Body Paragraph #3—Players and Rules • Football = Large and aggressive; tackling and plays • Basketball = Tall and agile players; jump shots and dribbling Thesis: Football and basketball both reflect the U.S.’s need to be bigger, more powerful, and wealthier than the rest of the world even as they differ in what is needed to play the games, how they bring people together, and how the games are played.

21. Schools in 1950s and Today • Body Paragraph #1—Economic • 1950s = chalkboards and paper • Today = projectors, computers, interactive boards • Body Paragraph #2—Social • 1950s = Memorization of facts, paddling, parent support • Today = Creativity, schools take on parental roles • Body Paragraph #3—Political • 1950s = Segregated, failure is student’s responsibility • Today = Desegregated, IDEA, NCLB, failure is school’s responsibility Thesis: Since the 1950s, schools in the U.S. have become more inclusive and more responsible for preparing all students for success in tomorrow’s world.

22. Position: Austin rocks! Thesis: Families and singles should move to Austin because of the outstanding University of Texas, beautiful Lady Bird Lake, and delicious Mexican food. Road map: UT, Lady Bird Lake, Chuy’s Position: Austin stinks! Thesis: It is surprising that anyone ever chooses to live in Austin because of its terrible traffic, dying malls, and high summer temperatures. Road map: IH-35 at rush hour, Highland Mall, any large parking lot at noon in August Austin, Texas

23. Analysis and Commentary: Tell Your Audience What to See • Connect the facts to your position • Answer “Why?” and “How?” • Think aloud for your audience • Sell your position