Standard: 6-8.RH.5 – Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).
Grade level: Grade 6-8
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: History/Social Studies
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on helping students understand how different texts present information in various ways, such as sequentially, comparatively, or causally. Mastering this standard is crucial for students as it enhances their ability to analyze and comprehend complex texts, which is essential for academic success in history and social studies. Before tackling this standard, students should be familiar with identifying main ideas and supporting details, as well as recognizing different text structures.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to critically analyze complex texts, recognizing the author’s methods of presenting information and evaluating the effectiveness of these methods.
Common Misconception 1
One common misconception is that all texts present information in the same way. This is incorrect because texts can be structured in various ways to achieve different purposes.
Intervention 1
To address this misconception, provide students with a variety of texts that use different structures and have them practice identifying and discussing these structures.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that the structure of a text does not impact its meaning or effectiveness. This is incorrect because the way information is presented can significantly influence how it is understood and interpreted.
Intervention 2
Have students rewrite a text using a different structure and then discuss how the meaning or impact of the text changes.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of different text structures and be able to identify main ideas and supporting details in a text.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop the ability to critically analyze complex texts, recognizing the author’s methods of presenting information and evaluating the effectiveness of these methods.
Instructional Activities
- Analyze historical documents to identify different text structures.
- Compare and contrast different accounts of the same event.
- Create graphic organizers to map out the sequence, comparison, or cause-and-effect relationships in texts.
- Rewrite a passage using a different text structure and discuss the impact.
