Science, Text Structure, and The Golden Compass

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Science, Text Structure, and The Golden Compass
Dark Matter About 90 of the Universe is darkwe
can't see it except through its gravitational
pull. Although this was suspected more than 60
years ago, we are just now in a position to
explore the dark matter in large areas of the
Universe through a technique called weak
gravitational lensing.
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Text Structure v. Graphic Organizers

• Text structure
• Pattern organization used by writer to
  communicate ideas
• Writers use more than one pattern in a single
  text -- sometimes multiple structures can be
  found on the same page

• Graphic organizers
• Pattern of organization used by reader to
  organize ideas
• Readers choice of graphic organizer depends on
  the purpose for reading, the question asked, or
  the problem to be solved

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Attribute...

• Topic is described by listing characteristics,
  features and examples
• Cue words are for example and characteristics are
• Also called description or list

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Sequence

• Items are listed in numerical or chronological
  order
• Cue words include first, second, third, next,
  then and finally

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Sequence, continued...
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Compare and Contrast

• Explains how two things are alike and/or
  different
• Cue words include different, contrast, alike,
  same as, and on the other hand
• Sometimes called a Venn diagram
• Other forms T or Y charts

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Cause and Effect

• List one or more causes and the resulting effect
  or effects
• Cue words include reasons why, if....then, as a
  result, therefore, and because

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Problem/Solution

• Problem is stated and one or more solutions
  listed
• Cue words include problem is, dilemma is, puzzle
  is, solved, and question...answer
• Also called question and answer, in which
  author poses question and then answers it

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How these patterns mirror everyday thinking

• What did I have for dinner last night?
• What steps should I follow to send a text
  message?
• How are the NBA and the NFL alike? How are they
  different?

• How is it that certain students do better on
  standardized tests than other kids, all other
  things being equal?
• How can I get my students to become better
  readers and writers?

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Importance of text pattern recognition for
science...

• Comprehension
• If you can follow the pattern, you can pick up
  the ideas and attach those concepts to their
  labels with greater efficiency and retention.
• Prediction
• Once you identify a text pattern, you can make
  predictions about what comes next. Effective
  readers actively make predictions about what is
  coming next.

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Importance of text pattern recognition, continued

• Memorization
• Once you understand the organization of the
  pattern, its much easier to store and recall
  what goes into which slots.
• Writing
• Once you become familiar with the patterns,
  academic writing becomes more organized because
  you are following a format -- you are filling in
  the pieces to fit the pattern.

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Closed Graphic Organizers

• Strength
• Great method of teaching specific kinds of text
  structures
• Supports provide initial structure as student
  learns which graphic organizers represent which
  ideas

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Open Graphic Organizers

• Strength
• Allows broad possibilities for interpersonal and
  intertextual connections
• Great opportunity for collaboration as teams of
  students design appropriate organizational
  structures

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Your task...

• Using The Science of Philip Pullmans The Golden
  Compass
• Open to any section that interests your team (you
  might want to skim for a minute before you
  choose)
• Analyze text to determine structure
• Design appropriate representation -- youll have
  15 minutes
• Present graphic organizer to group

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The teams..

• Groups of 4?
• Recorder
• Reporter
• Taskmaster/
• Researcher
• Quartermaster/
• Researcher