Mark your confusion.In other words, mark spots in the text where you get confused. “Embrace confusion.” The idea is that mature readers are not those who can read every text perfectly, but instead they are those who know where, exactly, a text is throwing them. Mature readers don’t say, “I didn’t get it. Like, any of it.” They say, “I started getting lost in the middle of the article,” or “I got thrown when the author mentioned Boko Haram in Nigera.”
Show evidence of a close reading.This basically means annotate: add notes, give explanations or comments. You need 1-2 thoughtful examples of mature thinking.
Write a 1+ page reflection.Goal= respond thoughtfully to the article. USE YOUR ANNOTATIONS HERE: ELABORATE ON YOUR NOTES.Also, each article will provide 1-3 possible response questions that help you if you get stuck. See link below for a student-written example response.
How do I monitor my own comprehension of a text? Where do I tend to get confused? What do mature readers do when confusion happens?
How do I stay focused while reading a text? How do I engage in a "conversation" with the author of an article while I’m reading? How do I work smarter not harder, so that I can both read the article and prepare for the one-page response at the same time?
How do I respond to texts in a professional, thoughtful manner? How do I express my opinions on current issues while remaining grounded in a text? How do I organize my thinking in response to a reading?
ANNOTATING: HOW-TO
"Annotating" just means that you're 'a-note-taking'!!!
Make notes on anything that peaks your interest OR doesn't make sense....
Bad Example: the annotation below shows very little in regards to WHAT the student found interesting; it doesn't show evidence of DEEPER THINKING.
Good Example: in the annotation below, the student asked the question: "If there are more US soldiers than ISIS, then why doesn't the US do something?" This is thoughtful; this is something that the student can expand upon in his/her 1 page reflection.