INTERLINK Curriculum Guide
Course Details RW4
In writing, the emphasis is on content and rhetorical style. Making logical connections between ideas and constructing more academically oriented essays on special topics is stressed. Students learn how to cite references and avoid plagiarism. Students are introduced to techniques of conducting research using library resources and the Internet. In reading, emphasis is on analytical and critical thinking skills, comprehension of authentic texts and applying comprehension skills to longer reading passages. Students learn how to read a text critically and recognize inferences.
Benchmarks of Completion of Level 4:
Demonstrate ability
to:
a. understand typical adult
prose
b. write a well-organized,
well-supported multi-paragraph essay (in class)
Core
Projects for RW 4
RW 4 Portfolio Project: Critical Essays
Project Summary: Critical essays are compositions that critique a piece of work. Book, movie and music reviews all fall into this category as well as any writing that seeks to analyze and offer an opinion about an aspect of life including sports, science and society. A critical essay usually references outside information and so includes a research element. A successful critical essay is coherent, well-organized, buttressed by supporting details and persuasive. A critical essay also allows the writer to express not only his or her unique perspective but to do so in a unique voice. The portfolio would contain the whole collection of essays and revisions.
The development of writing skills is primarily a process of growth rather than addition of new elements. That is to say, students do not so much learn different skills at different levels as continue to improve skills already present albeit in only a rudimentary or underdeveloped form. Skills such as paraphrasing and writing to an audience are not absent in beginning level writing, but become more refined and sophisticated in higher levels. It is important to remember that the teacher's job is not to "teach" skills, but rather to help students acquire them. Some of the skills worked on in the course of this project are listed below (the list is not comprehensive) to help teachers make the best use of this project.
Skills
practiced in this level:
· Citing references: Because use of external
sources is almost certainly involved in these essays, students have a chance to
practice footnoting techniques to cite sources.
· Avoiding plagiarism:
From the first level, students have practiced quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing
and should therefore be familiar with techniques for using outside sources without
plagiarizing. Because this project uses external material in an even more explicit
way, there is more opportunity for students to become aware of what plagiarism
is and how to avoid it.
· Research techniques: Students use traditional
resources such as the library as well as Internet-based sources to access information.
Searching techniques as well as general browsing procedures are enhanced in this
project.
· Advanced word processing skills: Students begin to use more
sophisticated word processing applications such as tables, graphs, style sheets,
etc. and auxiliary skills such as scanning text and graphics.
· Improvement
in skills listed for previous levels
RW 4 Independent Reading Project
The specific activities and materials for this project are determined by teacher and students, but the description of the parameters and goals of the project should be carefully reviewed.
The specific activities and materials for this
project are determined by teacher and students, but the description
of the parameters and goals of the project should be carefully reviewed.