Citing Evidence in Nonfiction Texts

Objectives

This unit introduces students to a variety of comprehension strategies used to improve understanding of nonfiction text. Students will:

make inferences in nonfiction texts.
cite evidence from text to support inferences.
explain what it means to make a claim.
support assertions with evidence from text.

Essential Questions

How do strategic readers create meaning from informational and literary text?

How does interaction with text provoke thinking and response?

What is this text really about?

How does interaction with text provoke thinking and response?
How do strategic readers create meaning from informational and literary text?
What is this text really about?

Related Unit and Lesson Plans

Related Materials & Resources

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Formative Assessment

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Short-Answer Item:

Read the paragraph and answer the questions that follow:

According to some studies, many children view more than 20,000 TV commercials a year. Advertisers make commercials that appeal to children. They pay to have these commercials shown when children are most likely to be watching TV. Commercials aimed at children must follow government rules. For example, they cannot exaggerate the qualities of a product. They cannot show an activity that is dangerous.

1. What inference can you make from the paragraph?

2. What evidence in the paragraph supports your inference?

Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubric:

Points	Description
2	Student makes a valid inference based on the paragraph and identifies evidence from the paragraph to support the inference. Answers include the following examples: Inference: TV commercials are an important part of advertising. Evidence: Children view more than 20,000 TV commercials a year. Inference: Advertisers believe children are an important market for their products. Evidence: They make commercials aimed at children. They pay to show commercials when children are watching TV. Inference: The government tries to protect children from unfair advertising. Evidence: Government rules control TV commercials aimed at children.
1	Student makes a valid inference but does not identify supporting evidence OR Student identifies evidence that implies support for an inference without specifically stating the inference.
0	Student demonstrates a lack of understanding of the task or does not attempt to answer the questions.

Performance Assessment:

Have students choose one of the following tasks:

Conduct a mini-research project by completing the following requirements:

First, determine a topic. Then develop questions to guide research.
After the questions have been developed, research two or three sources and gather information based on the research questions.
Make an assertion based on the research.
Create a poster or write an essay that expresses the assertion and supports it with evidence from the texts you researched.

Create an advertisement for a historical place by completing the following requirements:

Describe the historical place based on research. Include its location, appearance, and special attractions.
Include three statements in the advertisement:
- one statement that demonstrates bias or exaggeration
- one statement that requires the reader to make an inference
- one statement that makes an assertion about the people who would most likely visit the historical place.

Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:

Scoring Rubric for Option 1

points	Description
4	Student completes the mini-research project and includes all four requirements: chooses a topic and develops research questions gathers information from two or three valid sources makes an assertion creates a product that states the assertion and supports it with information from the research.
3	Student completes the mini-research project and includes three of the requirements.
2	Student completes the mini-research project and includes two of the requirements.
1	Student completes the mini-research project and includes one of the requirements.
0	Student demonstrates a lack of understanding of the task or makes no attempt to complete the performance tasks.

Scoring Rubric for Option 2

points	Description
3	Student completes the advertisement and accurately includes all three of the requirements: one statement that demonstrates bias or exaggeration one statement that requires the reader to make an inference one statement that makes an assertion.
2	Student completes the performance task and accurately includes at least two of the requirements.
1	Student completes the performance task and accurately includes at least one of the requirements.
0	Student demonstrates a lack of understanding of the task or makes no attempt to complete the performance task.

Final 05/13/2013

Citing Evidence in Nonfiction Texts

Unit Plan