Back 'er Up: Using Reverse/Descriptive Outlining to Understand the Documented Essay
Objective: SWBAT analyze how to a research-based argument by constructing a descriptive outline of "America: Made in China."
Big Idea: "Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only...notes...." --Jane Yolen
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This is lesson #3 in the research unit. Before students can successfully compose their own arguments, they need good models of writing to examine.
The essay featured in this lesson is a high school student's essay, "America: Made in China" and is in the excellent writing text Expository Writing: Discovering Your Voice. What makes this book superior to other writing books? First, it is by two high school teachers, Gary Anderson and Tony Romano, both of whom I've known for several years and whom I respect very much. Second, it incorporates both professional and student writing from across the country. Indeed, Gary crowd-sourced student examples from his PLN from across the country. Third, the book comes from a company devoted to authentic instruction rather than the crap generated by Pearson and its ilk.
In this lesson, students use the student argument to create a reverse/descriptive outline. I prepared scripts for their use prior to class and discuss the technique for doing this in Reverse Outlining.mp4.
First, read through the essay America Made in China with students. This is important because many students struggle with reading, and hearing the teacher read the essay helps them understand the text while they follow along.
Additionally, before reading the essay, I ask students to think about how writer articulates his ideas as well as what ideas he shares.
Rather than having students complete the descriptive outline alone, I asked them to pair up for the task. This allows them to discuss the essay and to work a bit faster on outlining a long essay.
What's important is that students observe structure and technique in the writing so that they can transfer these to their own writing.
For those who struggle, I ask: "What is the passage saying?" Then I ask, "How does the writer develop the idea?" or "How do we see evidence for the idea?" These questions help students clarify the task in their minds, as America 1.pdf shows via student work. America 2.pdf also shows student reverse/descriptive outlining.
