Internet Academy

Reading

	Federal Way Public Schools

Thinking Critically
Lesson 9

Evaluating Ideas and Themes

Objectives/Vocab/Tips > Examples: 1 | 2 | 3 > Practice: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 > Self Check

Self Check:

Name:
Teacher:

Yes	No		Question
		1.	Are you actively asking if the details in the story are leading to a theme or idea?
		2.	When you are reading, do you ask if an incident or character's actions make sense related to the theme or idea?
		3.	Can you tell if a character's reasoning is logical? Do you ask what is wrong with a character's reasoning if it seems not to make sense?
		4.	Do you become active in reading the story, and not take everything the author says on a surface level?
		5.	Do you notice you are drawing conclusions or making generalizations from the actions in the passage?
		6.	Will you be able to use the skills evaluating ideas and themes in other stories you read in class, or independently?
		7.	Did you have enough help in writing the extended response?
		8.	Are you feeling good about your skill at evaluating your own writing?

What did you do best in this lesson?

What do you think you need more work on and why? What kinds of things would help?

At the beginning of this lesson we listed objectives or skills, you were going to practice and learn. Check each skill you have mastered:

	Identify strategies to help you evaluate authors' ideas and themes
	Practice evaluating themes and ideas in narrative passages
	Practice drawing conclusions from narrative passages
	Practice making generalizations from narrative passages
	Score and evaluate your answers.

Now, write the score you earned on the items you just practiced. (*1 point for a correct answer.)

Item		Possible Score	My Score Was:
1.	Multiple Choice - character related to theme in The Wolf and the House Dog	1*
2.	Short Answer - making generalizations from Indian Rights	2, 1, or 0
3.	Short Answer - drawing conclusions in selection from Fatherhood: Try Indirection and Prayer	2, 1, or 0
4.	Extended Response - evaluate reasons in poem Four Skinny Trees	4, 3, 2, or 1
TOTAL: (9 possible)

Apply your learning:

Think about how your learning will help your reading skills. What book are you currently reading? What is a conclusion you can draw from your reading so far?

Reflect on your learning:

Think for a few minutes about what you learned in this lesson. How do you think you are a stronger reader now? What are some tools you have to help you draw conclusions or make generalizations? What new skills do you have to help you understand if characters are using logical reasoning in their decisions? What do you still need to work on? Write a note about how smart you are!!

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