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English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 45 minutes

Rhetorical synthesis (SAT)

Writing & Editing

CCSS W.11-12.2.BCCSS W.11-12.8England: SAT Reading and Writing (Rhetorical Synthesis)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Rhetorical synthesis (SAT).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Adding, deleting and revising for purpose; Command of evidence (SAT/ACT)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Adding, deleting and revising for purpose; Command of evidence (SAT/ACT)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. A paragraph argues that school gardens improve pupils' diets. The writer considers adding: "In one survey, pupils who grew vegetables ate 40% more vegetables at lunch." Should the writer add this sentence? (No, because surveys are never reliable. / Yes, because it provides evidence for the paragraph's claim. / No, because it changes the topic to surveys. / Yes, because it introduces a counterargument.) → Yes, because it provides evidence for the paragraph's claim.Prompt: What is the paragraph's main focus or the writer's stated goal?
  2. A researcher hypothesises that bees prefer blue flowers to yellow ones. A: Bees visited both colours in the morning. B: Bees made 62% of their visits to blue flowers and 38% to yellow flowers of the same size and scent. C: Yellow flowers were more common in the field. D: Some bees did not visit any flowers. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the hypothesis? (A / B / C / D) → BPrompt: First decide what the answer to the question is.
  3. A report on volcano safety says: "People living near volcanoes should know their evacuation routes." The writer wants to support this with a specific example. Which sentence best achieves this goal? (Volcanoes can be found on every continent. / Lava is extremely hot. / Some volcanoes are dormant. / In 1991, early evacuation saved thousands of lives near Mount Pinatubo.) → In 1991, early evacuation saved thousands of lives near Mount Pinatubo.Prompt: What is the paragraph's main focus or the writer's stated goal?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
  • Share the objective: Rhetorical synthesis (SAT). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Notes: • In 2010, Riverton had 12 km of bike lanes. • By 2020, it had 85 km. • Over the same period, the number of daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000. The student wants to present a possible link between infrastructure and cycling. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal?
  • Step 1: The right answer both uses accurate information from the notes and fulfils the stated goal.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: As Riverton's bike lanes grew from 12 km to 85 km between 2010 and 2020, daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000.
  • Answer: As Riverton's bike lanes grew from 12 km to 85 km between 2010 and 2020, daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Notes: • Axolotls are salamanders native to lakes near Mexico City. • They can regrow lost limbs, parts of their heart and even parts of their brain. • Scientists study them to learn about tissue regeneration. The student wants to explain why scientists are interested in axolotls. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal? (Many animals, including axolotls, are salamanders. / Because axolotls can regrow limbs and even parts of their brain, scientists study them to understand tissue regeneration. / Axolotls live in lakes, and scientists live in cities. / Axolotls are salamanders native to lakes near Mexico City.) → Because axolotls can regrow limbs and even parts of their brain, scientists study them to understand tissue regeneration.Prompt: Reread the student's goal. What exactly must the sentence do?
  2. Notes: • The Great Wall of China is over 21,000 km long. • Construction took place over many centuries. • Hadrian's Wall in Britain is about 117 km long. • It was built in about six years. The student wants to emphasise a difference in length between the two walls. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal? (The Great Wall was constructed over many centuries. / Hadrian's Wall took about six years to build. / Both the Great Wall of China and Hadrian's Wall were built long ago. / At over 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China dwarfs Hadrian's Wall, which is only about 117 km long.) → At over 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China dwarfs Hadrian's Wall, which is only about 117 km long.Prompt: Reread the student's goal. What exactly must the sentence do?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 5 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Notes: • The Great Wall of China is over 21,000 km long. • Construction took place over many centuries. • Hadrian's Wall in Britain is about 117 km long. • It was built in about six years. The student wants to emphasise a difference in length between the two walls. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal? (The Great Wall was constructed over many centuries. / Both the Great Wall of China and Hadrian's Wall were built long ago. / At over 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China dwarfs Hadrian's Wall, which is only about 117 km long. / Hadrian's Wall took about six years to build.) → At over 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China dwarfs Hadrian's Wall, which is only about 117 km long.Prompt: Reread the student's goal. What exactly must the sentence do?
  2. Notes: • In 2010, Riverton had 12 km of bike lanes. • By 2020, it had 85 km. • Over the same period, the number of daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000. The student wants to present a possible link between infrastructure and cycling. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal? (By 2020, Riverton had 85 km of bike lanes. / Cycling is a popular activity in many towns, including Riverton. / As Riverton's bike lanes grew from 12 km to 85 km between 2010 and 2020, daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000. / Riverton had 12 km of bike lanes in 2010.) → As Riverton's bike lanes grew from 12 km to 85 km between 2010 and 2020, daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000.Prompt: Reread the student's goal. What exactly must the sentence do?

Watch out for

  • Writing everything at once without planning.
  • Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Adding, deleting and revising for purpose.
  • Use concrete materials: a model text.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Rhetorical synthesis (SAT)

Name

Date

Score/ 5

  1. Question 1

    Notes: • In 2010, Riverton had 12 km of bike lanes. • By 2020, it had 85 km. • Over the same period, the number of daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000. The student wants to present a possible link between infrastructure and cycling. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal?

    • A. As Riverton's bike lanes grew from 12 km to 85 km between 2010 and 2020, daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000.
    • B. Riverton had 12 km of bike lanes in 2010.
    • C. Cycling is a popular activity in many towns, including Riverton.
    • D. By 2020, Riverton had 85 km of bike lanes.

  2. Question 2

    Notes: • The novel was published in 1962. • It is set in a small coastal town. • It has been translated into 30 languages. • Critics praise its portrayal of grief. The student wants to introduce the novel to an audience unfamiliar with it. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal?

    • A. Critics praise the novel's portrayal of grief.
    • B. The novel has been translated into 30 languages.
    • C. Published in 1962 and translated into 30 languages, this novel set in a small coastal town is praised for its portrayal of grief.
    • D. Small coastal towns appear in many novels.

  3. Question 3

    Notes: • The Great Wall of China is over 21,000 km long. • Construction took place over many centuries. • Hadrian's Wall in Britain is about 117 km long. • It was built in about six years. The student wants to emphasise a difference in length between the two walls. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal?

    • A. At over 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China dwarfs Hadrian's Wall, which is only about 117 km long.
    • B. Hadrian's Wall took about six years to build.
    • C. Both the Great Wall of China and Hadrian's Wall were built long ago.
    • D. The Great Wall was constructed over many centuries.

  4. Question 4

    Notes: • Axolotls are salamanders native to lakes near Mexico City. • They can regrow lost limbs, parts of their heart and even parts of their brain. • Scientists study them to learn about tissue regeneration. The student wants to explain why scientists are interested in axolotls. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal?

    • A. Many animals, including axolotls, are salamanders.
    • B. Because axolotls can regrow limbs and even parts of their brain, scientists study them to understand tissue regeneration.
    • C. Axolotls live in lakes, and scientists live in cities.
    • D. Axolotls are salamanders native to lakes near Mexico City.

  5. Question 5

    Notes: • Mary Anning (1799–1847) was a fossil collector in Lyme Regis, England. • She discovered the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton. • As a woman, she was not allowed to join the Geological Society of London. The student wants to highlight the obstacles Anning faced. Which choice most effectively uses the notes to accomplish this goal?

    • A. Mary Anning lived in Lyme Regis from 1799 to 1847.
    • B. Despite her important discoveries, Mary Anning was barred from the Geological Society of London because she was a woman.
    • C. Mary Anning discovered the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton.
    • D. Lyme Regis is in England and is known for fossils.

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Answer key: Rhetorical synthesis (SAT)

  1. 1. A. As Riverton's bike lanes grew from 12 km to 85 km between 2010 and 2020, daily cycling trips rose from 2,000 to 11,000.

  2. 2. C. Published in 1962 and translated into 30 languages, this novel set in a small coastal town is praised for its portrayal of grief.

  3. 3. A. At over 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China dwarfs Hadrian's Wall, which is only about 117 km long.

  4. 4. B. Because axolotls can regrow limbs and even parts of their brain, scientists study them to understand tissue regeneration.

  5. 5. B. Despite her important discoveries, Mary Anning was barred from the Geological Society of London because she was a woman.