Organizing Information Using Scrible
This lesson teaches students how to synthesize information from various sources, using Scrible to combine annotations and research into a coherent argument or narrative. Synthesizing information is a vital skill that enables students to combine insights from multiple perspectives and sources, creating a comprehensive view of a topic. This skill is crucial for developing well-informed arguments and narratives and fosters critical thinking, comprehension, and analytical abilities.
Objective: Students will synthesize information from multiple texts, utilizing Scrible to organize their findings and develop a well-structured argument or narrative.
Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate information from diverse sources into a cohesive argument or narrative, showcasing their critical thinking and synthesis skills.
Synthesis Activities:
Research and Annotation
Annotating key points and information in multiple sources helps students actively engage with the material, facilitating a deeper understanding and retention of the content.
Activity:
- Assign students to read and annotate important information across various texts using Scrible, focusing on arguments, data, and different perspectives related to their research topic. You may provide their sources or allow students to search for their own research.
Categorization
Organizing annotations into categories allows students to identify connections and themes across different sources, laying the groundwork for practical synthesis.
Activity:
- Instruct students to categorize their annotations within Scrible using tags or color coding, grouping similar ideas, evidence, and viewpoints together.
Outline Creation
Developing an outline from categorized information helps students structure their argument or narrative logically, ensuring a coherent and persuasive presentation of their synthesis.
Activity:
- Using their categorized annotations, students will create an outline in Scrible, organizing their information into a logical sequence for their argument or narrative.
Drafting
Writing a draft based on a structured outline allows students to flesh out their argument or narrative, integrating and articulating synthesized information clearly and effectively.
Activity:
- Students will draft their argument or narrative in Scrible, referencing their outline and annotations to ensure their writing is well-supported and coherent.
Peer Review
Peer review encourages students to critically evaluate their own and others' work, offering constructive feedback to refine and improve the synthesis and clarity of the argument or narrative.
Activity:
- Facilitate a peer review session where students share their drafts in Scrible and provide targeted feedback on the effectiveness and cohesion of the synthesis.
Revision
Revising based on feedback allows students to refine their synthesis, enhancing the clarity, logic, and persuasiveness of their argument or narrative.
Activity:
- Students will revise their drafts in Scrible, incorporating peer feedback to strengthen their synthesis and improve the overall presentation of their argument or narrative.
Standards Alignment:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.7 & W.11-12.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.2 & W.11-12.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
*If your school or district references standards other than Common Core for writing, please reach out, and our team can provide the Scrible standard alignment for your set of standards.