3 Levels of Text Discussion: Text-based analysis, discourse, lesson, slides
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Description
Searching for a way to push students towards idea-based, evidence-based thinking instead of plot summary? This is it! The 3 Levels of Text Discussion is inquiry-based, facilitating higher levels of DoK in task and academic discourse.
Adaptable across disciplines (works equally as well in History as ELA!) and grade levels (middle-high school, including AP Language and Literature), this activity is rooted in evidence-based claims, analytical thinking, and collaborative learning.
The 3 Levels of Text is a structured discussion protocol grounded in reciprocal teaching, engaging students across text-to-self, text-to-community, and text-to-world thinking WHILE providing a structure for idea-based thinking.
With "Word Cards," students practice grounding their thinking about text in universal ideas, rather than plot summary. Each student either chooses a word card intentionally or randomly (random makes it more challenging!). Each word card is a universal idea, or abstract noun -- the number 1 way to flip a student's thinking from plot to evidence-based ideas and deeper analysis. Students are challenged to connect their word cards to specific evidence in the text, answering HOW and WHY the word is related to text through theme/message, characterization, etc. A twist on "word cards" to gamify the discussion: a team member displays a word card, and the first person to connect it to the text with specific evidence/moment from the text gets a point.
As each student works through the "3 levels" of discussion, team members take notes and plan for probing questions to push the discussion/accountable talk using the note taker. The structure of the discussion allows for building on each other's ideas, as well as practice in listening / note taking to capture points of agreement and disagreement.
I've used this in so many iterations from 8th-12th grade. Students love the manipulatives -- great for tactile learning -- and I print in color and laminate both the discussion cards and word cards for future use across different texts. I use this as a formative and summative. It's fantastic for pre-writing as it allows students to practice for thesis statement and topic sentence development. Students walk away with many options for thesis statements after making evidence-based claims in their connection to the word cards.
This activity is a great structure for reciprocal teaching groups!
What's inside?
- 15 Colorful slides (PPT and PDF).
- Criteria for Success & Grading Rubric with discussion look for's
- Graphic Organizer Note Taker handout with a space for questions, points of agreement/disagreement and main ideas shared by team members
- Discussion Prep Pre-writing Questions (on slides & as a handout)
- Discussion Prep Pre-writing "Deep Dive" prompts (on slides & as a handout)
- 36 universal idea word cards
- Printable Discussion Protocol Card (looks great in color and laminated!)
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