Lesson Plan for Senior Secondary 2 - English Comprehension - Comprehension – Reading For Critical Evaluation

### Lesson Plan: English Comprehension – Reading for Critical Evaluation #### Grade Level: Senior Secondary 2 #### Duration: 60 minutes #### Subject: English Language Arts #### Topic: Comprehension – Reading for Critical Evaluation --- ### Objectives: - **Cognitive:** Students will be able to critically analyze and evaluate written texts, identifying the author's purpose, main ideas, supporting details, and the effectiveness of the argument. - **Affective:** Students will develop an appreciation for the importance of critical reading and learn to value diverse perspectives. - **Behavioral:** Students will demonstrate their ability to engage in discussions and articulate their thoughts on the text in a coherent manner. ### Materials: - Selected Text for Critical Evaluation (e.g., a news article, essay, or excerpt from literature) - Whiteboard and markers - Projector and screen (if needed) - Handouts with guided questions - Writing utensils and notebooks --- ### Lesson Activities: #### 1. **Introduction (10 minutes)** - **Greeting & Attendance:** Briefly greet students and take attendance. - **Warm-Up Discussion:** Begin with a discussion on what it means to read critically. Ask questions like: - "What do you think ‘critical evaluation’ means?" - "Why is it important to read critically?" - "Can you give an example of when you had to evaluate a text critically?" #### 2. **Presentation (15 minutes)** - **Introduce the Concept:** - Explain critical reading and its components: identifying the author’s purpose, understanding the main ideas, recognizing biases and assumptions, and evaluating the strength of the arguments and evidence. - **Text Features:** - Discuss features of texts that can help in critical evaluation: tone, style, word choice, and presentation of evidence. - **Modeling the Process:** - Use a short text (projected or handed out) and model the process of critical evaluation. Highlight key points while reading, and think aloud as you evaluate the text. #### 3. **Guided Practice (20 minutes)** - **Group Activity:** - Divide the class into small groups. - Provide each group with a different short text or excerpt. - Distribute the handouts with guided questions to help students critically evaluate their text. - What is the author’s main argument or thesis? - What evidence does the author provide to support their argument? - Are there any noticeable biases or assumptions? - How effective is the argument presented? - What is your evaluation of the text? - **Group Discussion:** - Allow students time to discuss within their groups, then have each group present their findings. #### 4. **Independent Practice (10 minutes)** - **Text Assignment:** - Give students a new text to read and evaluate independently using the same guided questions. - **Writing Exercise:** - Ask students to write a short paragraph summarizing their evaluation of the text. #### 5. **Conclusion (5 minutes)** - **Review & Recap:** - Summarize the key components of critical evaluation. - Allow students to share insights or lingering questions. - **Homework Assignment:** - Assign an extended text for students to evaluate for the next class. They should write a one-page critique. #### 6. **Assessment:** - **Formative:** - Monitor group discussions and individual evaluations to gauge understanding. - Collect and review written paragraphs to assess students’ ability to critically evaluate texts. - **Summative:** - The homework assignment will serve as a more comprehensive assessment of students' critical evaluation skills. ### Differentiation Strategies: - **For Advanced Students:** - Provide more complex texts and ask them to look for deeper layers of meaning and argumentation. - **For Struggling Students:** - Offer simpler texts and additional support, such as guided reading sessions or graphic organizers to help identify main ideas and supporting details. ### Follow-Up: - In future lessons, continue to incorporate critical evaluation by analyzing a variety of texts, including fiction and non-fiction, visual media, and speeches. - Encourage students to apply these skills in other subjects and real-world scenarios. By the end of the lesson, students should have a foundational understanding of how to read texts critically and be better equipped to apply these skills in academic and everyday contexts.