Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Classify and Summarize Information [Pdf]
This learning module contains a link to graphic organizers that will help students categorize content and comprehend short and extended texts. The graphic organizers are designed to be applied to reading nonfiction passages in science...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: I Can Locate and Classify Information [Pdf]
A blank T-Chart is provided for students to use as they sort facts into two categories. Students will classify science information with this aid.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Expand Story or History Text Based Dialog[pdf]
Students will use graphic organizers to help them make inferences about historical figures' feeings and motives. Students will summarize the information during an extension activity.
University of Sydney (Australia)
The Write Site: Constructing a Working Thesis
Students will find a thorough definition of a thesis. Non-examples of thesis statements are also provided.
Other
The Center for Public Integrity: Home Page
Excellent site for journalists and others who feel that it is their beat to keep a watchful eye on the political culture of the country through investigations and analyses of public service.
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Thesis and Supporting Points
An explanation of a thesis and how many details are needed for support.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: Classify Facts and Opinions [Pdf]
Students will find three lessons about facts and opinions in this learning module. The following topics are linked in the module: contrast and evaluate fact and opinion; classify facts and opinions; and locate and classify facts.
Other
Odessa College: Three Part Format: Definition
This interesting site provides information about definition essays with example formats and a model essay.
Other
News Lab: Elements of Great Storytelling
This is a great site for broadcast journalists; it focuses on the elements that make a story great. You can find tips on writing from some of the top people in the industry.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Fact and Opinion Lessons
In this learning module, students will learn more about the differences between facts and opinions. A PowerPoint presentation and related activity are provided to reinforce the topic of facts vs. opinions. This module is designed to...
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Fact and Opinion Worksheets
Fact and opinion practice exercises, answer sheets, and explanation summaries are included on this tutorial site. Worksheets are tiered in levels of difficulty.
Other
Flickr: Critical Thinking Skills Poster
A downloadable critical thinking skills poster based on the original six levels of Bloom's taxonomy.
Other
Prezi: Inference Lesson 8th Grade
Learn what it means to make an inference by combining the author's clues and your background knowledge.
Tom Richey
Slide Share: Claim Evidence and Reasoning
A slideshow with twelve slides about reading or writing an argument, analyzing the claim and looking at how it is supported with observation, evidence, and reasoning.
Tom Richey
Slide Share: Argument and Persuasion
A slide show with fourteen slides with notes, tips, and examples on how to write a persuasive essay.
Other
Company Newsletters: Cost Effective Newsletters
This site from CompanyNewsletters.com provides some advice on how to choose the right articles and format to make your newsletter better.
Other
The International Press Institute
The International Press Institute describes itself as "a global network of journalists, editors and media executives, dedicated to freedom of the press and improving the standards and practises of journalism." To that end, this site...
Read Works
Read Works: Mountain or Molehill?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about biochar, an ancient idea with some present day uses. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Fact and Opinion: Reading Test 3
A 25-question quiz where students must identify statements as fact or opinion. Results can be printed, saved, or emailed.
BBC
Bbc Skillswise: Building Paragraphs
As part of the BBC's Skillswise unit, this site focuses on the development of good paragraphs. As learning tools, the site includes a fact sheet, a worksheet, and a game. Be sure to click on the quizzes to check your understanding.
Education Development Center
Education Development Center: Tv411: Reading Structure of a News Story
Interactive lesson explains the content and organization of newspaper articles. Includes self-scoring exercises for practicing identifying the five W's (who, what, when, where, and why) in a series of brief news articles and a...
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Logic in Argumentative Writing
An explanation and examples of several different types of logic that can be used in argumentative writing.
Other
Fair: Retractions of Reporting Are Quite Selective
Interesting essay on the use of unnamed or anonymous sources, accuracy of reports, and retractions of innaccurate reports by major news outlets. Eye opener.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Relevant Information and Valid Inferences (English I Writing)
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] Learn strategies for evaluating and revising an essay so that it contains relevant information and valid inferences.