August 18, 2014
“This activity works best in a computer lab. If you are trying to teach students how to revise, I recommend this activity as a sound method for teaching how to organize content. The activity reveals some of the problem spots that might need attention. In addition, the students who struggle with length will find this a helpful strategy. This activity gives students a tool that enables them to see the essay in a new light.”
August 18, 2014
“This activity works best in the classroom. If you are trying to teach students how to revise, I recommend this activity as a creative and fun method for teaching the different actions of revision. Sometimes revision can seem like a difficult practice, and this activity allows students to play with their writing.”
August 18, 2014
“This activity works best in the classroom. If you are trying to teach students how to paraphrase, say before a large research paper, I recommend this activity as a way to both model paraphrasing and to practice the art of paraphrasing in the classroom. I find that many students struggle with proper paraphrasing: they may copy too much from the original text or use too many quotes in their own essays. This activity helps them see what might be a more appropriate amount of paraphrasing and direct quotes.”
August 18, 2014
“This is a classroom activity. I usually use this activity before a unit designed to teach either summary or description. This activity is a good way to help students develop vocabulary, a vocabulary that will help them be much more conscientious writers. The interactive nature of this activity creates a very energetic beginning to any written unit.”
August 18, 2014
“This is a classroom activity. I usually use this activity right before a major writing assignment or during a unit on grammar and punctuation. Because the activity is a game of sorts, it removed some of the writing anxiety.”
August 18, 2014
“This is a computer lab activity. Whenever you have students do any type of research this activity can be useful way of helping them find interesting questions to research. The activity teaches students that to perform research one must have a question in mind, questions that require rigorous pursuit of knowledge. This activity also invites students to share their ideas with each other which can help foster a community within the classroom.”
August 18, 2014
“I use this activity at the start of any writing intensive unit. This activity is designed to help students use reading as a way to stimulate ideas and to record those ideas without interference. I have found that many students don’t believe they have anything new to offer. This activity gives them a chance to write down ideas that may lay just beyond their consciousness and helps short circuit that internal editor. This exercise is a good way to begin the research paper or any other lengthy writing assignment.”
