Unpack the standards
It is essential that educators work to demystify the learning process for students. Only when learning outcotmes are clear to students will the material covered transfer from short term lessons to longterm enduring learning. The first step in this process is to look carefully at the standards to be covered and break them down into essential skills. This process is called "unpacking" the standard.
The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching (Goodwin, B. & Hubble, E., 2013) suggests unpacking the standard to gain a clear perspective of the skills a student must demonstrate to master the standard. Throughout this course, I have worked to create a unit for my students which ultimately seeks to have them master using evidence to create a persuasive piece of text. Scanning through the Common Core State Standards, I identified the following critical standard.
The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching (Goodwin, B. & Hubble, E., 2013) suggests unpacking the standard to gain a clear perspective of the skills a student must demonstrate to master the standard. Throughout this course, I have worked to create a unit for my students which ultimately seeks to have them master using evidence to create a persuasive piece of text. Scanning through the Common Core State Standards, I identified the following critical standard.
- CCSS.ELA-Writing.W.11–12.1: Write arguments to support claims in analyses of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence (Common Core Standards Initiative, 2012).
- Students need to be able to formulate a clear position on an issue that has a personal impact on them.
- Students need to clearly state the reasoning on both sides of an issue
- Students need to be able to conduct research on an issue using digital sources and verify the validity of the source.
- Student will identify a specific audience to target.
- Students will need to select evidence that best supports their reasoning and that will best persuade their chosen audience.
- Students will need to determine the best genre to influence their chosen audience.
- Students need to be able to analyze an issue in order to determine the best way to argue for their side of the issue.
- Students will need to utilize rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, and pathos) in order to persuade the audience.