S T U D E N T G U I D E
Excerpt from "Civil Disobedience"
Does Thoreau make a convincing argument that — in a democracy — following one's conscience is more important than following an unjust law?
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Table of Contents
Vocabulary Building
Direct Instruction Guide
STEP 1: Connect
STEP 2: Read
STEP 3: Engage with the Text
STEP 4: Summarize
STEP 5: Build an Argument
STEP 6: Create your CERCA
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Optional Extensions
Definition | Facts and Characteristics___ |
Examples | Non-examples___ |
Vocabulary Word:�
CONSCIENCE
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V O C A B U L A R Y B U I L D I N G
Frayer Model �
The Frayer Model helps you learn vocabulary from different angles.�
Frayer Model
Read the Overview and click “Vocabulary” for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com.
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D I R E C T I N S T R U C T I O N G U I D E
Cornell Notes: Analyzing Connections within Informational Texts
What does it mean to analyze a text? | Analyzing a text means... |
Give three examples of words used when writing a sequence. | Three words that writers use when writing a sequence are… |
Give three examples of words used when writing cause and effect. | Three words that writers use when writing cause and effect are… |
Take notes on the lesson using the organizer below:
Watch the Direct Instruction lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com
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D I R E C T I N S T R U C T I O N G U I D E
Cornell Notes: Analyzing Connections within Informational Texts (continued)
Summarize and Reflect
In your own words and in complete sentences, write a 3–4 sentence summary of this skills lesson. An accurate summary will cover the lesson's central ideas and include important details to support those ideas.
Record your summary here:
S T E P 1 : C O N N E C T
Finding Your Purpose for Learning
When you've finished reading the overview, answer the following questions in the space below:
What more would you like to learn about Thoreau’s life and writings? What would you like to know about the Transcendentalist movement of which he was a part?
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S T E P 1 : C O N N E C T
Think-Pair-Share
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S T E P 2 : R E A D
Pause and Reflect
When you’ve finished reading, go back and find the questions in the text marked “Pause and Reflect.” These questions will help you connect the text to yourself, to other texts, or to the world around you.
Use the space on the left below to answer the reflection questions. Then, discuss your answers, noting how they were similar or different.
Record “Pause and Reflect” answers here:
Record discussion reflections here:
Read the text for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com
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S T E P 2 : R E A D
Test Prep Strategy: Rephrasing Multiple Choice Questions (Optional)
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Multiple choice questions can be tricky! But, there are some tips that you can use to avoid falling for test-maker traps.
Take your time and carefully read each multiple choice question and each response. Ask yourself, “What is the question actually asking?” Then, rephrase the question and responses in your own words.
Practice rephrasing the questions that go with your reading below:
Question on ThinkCERCA | What is the question asking you to do? |
Example: Based on this passage, what action is the author MOST likely to take the next time he sees someone who needs help? | Inference: What did the author learn from this experience? |
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Refer to the multiple choice questions for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com.
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S T E P 3 : E N G A G E W I T H T H E T E X T
Highlight and Annotate
In this step, you will analyze the text closely, then discuss your findings to begin developing reasoning for your argument.
The highlighting prompts will help you with the final writing task. You will find evidence to support your own argument or informational piece, as well as models of excellence that will help you better understand a writer’s craft in narratives. The evidence you highlight will be available when you begin building your draft in the next step.
Return to learn.thinkcerca.com to complete Step 3: Engage with the Text.
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S T E P 4 : S U M M A R I Z E
Write a Summary
Summaries help you process your thinking about a text and are often a great way to start off an argumentative or informational essay. A good summary shows you have knowledge about a topic.
Practicing summarizing also helps you prepare for the main idea questions posed on many standardized assessments. In addition, summarizing is a helpful skill for working with others, such as when you need to confirm your understanding of what someone else has said. That's a useful skill for all parts of life.
Your summary should:
Return to learn.thinkcerca.com to complete Step 4: Summarize.
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S T E P 5 : B U I L D A N A R G U M E N T
Collaborate: Share your Argument Builder
When you’ve completed the argument building step, share your results with others, and listen to how they responded to the same question. Ask questions and give feedback to help strengthen your partners’ reasons and evidence.
Does Thoreau make a convincing argument that — in a democracy — following one's conscience is more important than following an unjust law? | |
Share Your Argument | Listen and Record Others |
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Complete Step 5 to begin building your argument at learn.thinkcerca.com
S T E P 6 : C R E A T E Y O U R C E R C A
Peer Editing Activity
Complete Step 6 to create your CERCA at learn.thinkcerca.com
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S T E P 6 : C R E A T E Y O U R C E R C A
Writing Reflection
Before you submit your final CERCA, write a brief reflection describing your experience.
An area for growth for me on this piece or in my writing in general is…
The strongest areas of this piece of writing are…
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Through self-assessment and/or peer editing, I learned…
Optional Extensions
The following activities can be used as optional extensions to this lesson.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Asking Questions of the Texts
As you engage with texts in any subject, you can actively ask questions about the author’s purpose, intended audience, and occasion to understand the message. The table below provides examples.
Approaches | Example |
Questions about the author | Is the author an authority on this topic? What was the author’s motivation in writing this piece? |
Questions about the audience, purpose, and occasion of the text | Why was this piece written, and for what audience? |
Questions about civics, economics, geography, and history | What led to the Transcendentalist movement, and what was its impact on American culture? |
Questions about concepts and ideas | What responsibilities do citizens have in a democracy? |
Questions about self and community reflections | How can I respond when I disagree with a rule or law I consider unjust? |
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Asking Questions of the Texts (continued)
Use the table below to record questions about the text you read.
Approaches | Questions |
Questions about the author | |
Questions about the audience, purpose, and occasion of the text | |
Questions about civics, economics, geography, and history | |
Questions about concepts and ideas | |
Self and Community Reflections | |
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Collecting Stories of Change
Background
Individuals who inspire change exist in every community, in all times and all places. Interview a family member or friend to learn more about a person who served as an example of positive social change for them.
Materials
Interview
Select a person to interview and ask permission to record your discussion. If you don’t have a recording device available, take notes with a pen or pencil on paper.
Ask your interviewee: “Tell me about a person that you admire who acted responsibly and stood up for social change?” To spark conversation, you can ask these follow-up questions:
Remember to practice active listening. And don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions based on what your interviewee tells you!
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Collecting Stories of Change (continued)
Create
After you’ve finished your interview, save it to your computer or device. Edit it with software like Audacity or GarageBand. If you like, you can add music, sound effects, and an introduction.
Once you have your completed project, share and discuss with your classmates. What common qualities, characteristics, and traits emerged in the stories that you recorded? What stories of change struck you as most inspiring?
Your class can also share your work with the broader community as a podcast or, with permission from an adult (if under 13) on StoryCorps.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : R O U N D T A B L E D I S C U S S I O N
Sharing Additional Research Findings, Learnings, and Experiences
Roundtable discussions offer you the opportunity to share what you’ve learned, as well as to ask questions and learn from others. Come to the discussion prepared to share your key findings. Use the organizer on the next page.
How the discussion works:
Remember, it’s important to value dialogue and appreciate different perspectives. Learning from and understanding people who think differently or have different experiences is part of the process of growth! You don’t have to agree to learn from another perspective!
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : R O U N D T A B L E D I S C U S S I O N
Discussion Notes
Your Key Findings | |
What interested you about the topic in the first place? | |
What was your most striking finding? | |
What questions were raised by your experience? |
Presenter | Questions and Learnings from Peers |
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