Knowledge and Skills Statement
Using text structures, have students discuss with a partner the implicit and explicit meaning of a text. After the discussion, have students write about their findings and include textual evidence.
Further Explanation
This assessment requires students to ask questions, make connections, and talk about the meaning of a text. Students demonstrate comprehension of the text as they determine what parts of the text express ideas that convey the meaning.
Research
Borsheim-Black, C. Macaluso, M., & Petrone, R. (2014). Critical literature pedagogy: Teaching canonical literature for critical literacy. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 58(2), 123–133. doi: 10.1002/jaal.323
Summary: In this article, the reader is introduced to a framework that can be used to develop critical thinkers and writers. Critical literacy builds the students' ability to recognize the explicit and implicit meanings of text. The students develop skills and dispositions to understand, question, and critique texts. The article includes a discussion on language and its use in texts. Using a standard literary text, teachers can employ this instructional approach to spark the interests and engage students in relevant text taken from their personal experiences and ideologies and from society.