Nonfiction Reading and how to kill two birds with one stone! Earth’s Place in the Universe: Using Claim-Evidence-Response Strategies & Close Reading

Earth’s Place in the Universe: Using Claim-Evidence-Response Strategies & Close Reading

Using nonfiction passages has definitely helped me cover content that would otherwise be super difficult to teach, much less scaffold or review. For students, it is of course important to develop strong reading comprehension skills in order to understand the world around us. Many students find covering nonfiction materials through articles or passages a more easily digestible method compared to textbooks which are oftentimes written far above independent reading levels. One subject that has proven particularly fascinating for my students, is Earth’s place in the universe. Let’s explore how to use claim-evidence-response (CER) strategies and close reading to deepen our understanding of this topic.

Claim-Evidence-Response Strategies:

The CER strategy is a method of analyzing text that involves making a claim about the information presented, supporting that claim with evidence from the text, and responding to the information presented. This strategy helps students to critically evaluate the information and to make connections between what they are reading and what they already know.

When using CER strategies to analyze a text about Earth’s place in the universe, students should consider the following:

1. Claim: Make a statement about what the text is saying about Earth’s place in the universe.
2. Evidence: Find specific information in the text that supports your claim. This could be a quote, a statistic, or a description of a phenomenon.
3. Response: Reflect on the information presented and consider what it means in the context of what you already know. Ask yourself questions such as: What implications does this information have for our understanding of Earth’s place in the universe? How does this information change or reinforce your current beliefs?

Close Reading:

Close reading is a method of reading that involves careful examination of a text in order to understand its meaning and to make connections between the text and other sources of information. When using close reading strategies to analyze a text about Earth’s place in the universe, students should consider the following:

1. Read the text carefully, paying attention to keywords and phrases.
2. Consider the context in which the text was written, including the author’s background, the date of publication, and the intended audience.
3. Analyze the text for patterns, such as repeated ideas or themes.
4. Evaluate the reliability of the text by considering the sources cited and the author’s credentials.
5. Reflect on the implications of the information presented, considering what it means for our understanding of Earth’s place in the universe and our role in protecting and preserving it.
6. By using claim-evidence-response strategies and close reading, students can develop a deeper understanding of Earth’s place in the universe and the role that they play in preserving it for future generations. These strategies help students to critically evaluate information and to make connections between what they are reading and what they already know, which is an important part of becoming informed and engaged citizens.