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Lesson 3

We will begin writing our individual reflections that describe our research processes and explain our strengths and areas of growth as readers, writers, collaborators, and presenters.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use devices, techniques, descriptions, reasoning, evidence, and visual elements to support and elaborate on reflective narratives?

  • Can I apply correct and effective syntax, usage, mechanics, and spelling to communicate ideas and achieve intended purposes?

  • Can I sequence and group sentences and paragraphs and use devices, techniques, descriptions, reasoning, and evidence to establish coherent, logical, and well-developed explanations?

  • Can I think about and evaluate personal and group development?

Texts

There are no texts for this Lesson.

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Write

We will review the characteristics of a reflective narrative and prewrite our reflective narratives.

Step 1

Review Part 2 of the Culminating Task Checklist. Read the explanation below about what a reflective narrative is:

A reflective narrative is a type of writing that explains some kind of personal growth. In a reflective narrative, the writer details who he or she is to the reader. A reflective narrative is focused on a short event or series of events in the writer’s life. A reflective narrative, most importantly, shares how the writer has grown as a result of an experience.

A reflective narrative has a concise organizational structure, which the writer determines.

Finally, in a reflective narrative, the writer does not merely answer a series of questions. The writer uses questions to inspire his or her thinking or to organize his or her ideas. These questions should not be answered numerically, but the answers should be woven into the writer’s narrative.

As a writer, this reflective narrative is a place for you to share your experiences with your audience. Take a minute to brainstorm a list of important experiences you had while working on your pathway presentation. These experiences can be important to you individually or important to your group.

Step 2

Now, free-write for a few minutes on the following prompt:

  1. How will this research experience inform the reading, writing, collaborating, and presenting skills you will practice later this year?

Additionally, identify several areas where you grew personally in your mastery of these skills.

Activity 2: Write

We will prewrite our reflective narratives.

Review the requirements in the reflective narrative prompt.

In a way that makes sense to you, respond to each of the requirements to begin prewriting. Consider the following suggestions:

  • Make a T-chart, with numbers on the left-hand side and short answers on the right-hand side.

  • Quick-write the process you and your group took to create your pathway presentation.

  • Organize your thoughts in questions and answers: What did I do? What did I learn about myself during that experience?

  • Analyze your individual reading, writing, speaking, communicating, and collaborating skills by asking yourself questions, such as, “What was it like for me to read the texts?” “Where did I feel confident?” “Where did I struggle?” “What would I like to be able to do?”

  • Use another process to begin generating thoughts for your reflective narrative.

Next, organize your thoughts by answering the following questions:

  1. What information will you include, and what will you omit?

  2. What is the best way for you to structure your reflective narrative? Will you organize it chronologically, by problem-solution, by vignette and explanation, or will you use another organization strategy?

Finally, respond to the following questions about the purpose and audience:

  1. What is your purpose for writing a reflective narrative besides it being another assignment you must complete?

  2. Who is the audience for your reflective narrative?

  3. What is the best way for you to communicate to that audience? What should be the tone of your reflective narrative?

Activity 3: Write

We will begin drafting our reflective narratives in class and finish our drafts at home.

Draft your narrative. Do not worry too much about perfection now. Just get your thoughts on paper.

Drafts should be messy. You might find that you forgot an idea and need to write it in the margin, or that your thoughts come more quickly than you can write them down.

Begin your draft in class, and finish it for homework. You will need it for the next lesson.