INTRODUCING 4-SQUARE THOUGHT PROCESS

Whole Group

(Including the Bell Ringer, this is an approx. 55 min. lesson.)

Essential Question

How can we design a thought process that will enhance the effectiveness of

the support we use in our writing?

Whole Group – 40 min. 4-Square Thought Process

Organizing Our Thoughts to Enhance Our Writing

OverviewSetting the Purpose (Goal, Process) – 5 min.

Teacher Think-aloud – 5 min.Examining the Prompt – 3 min.

4 Square Thought Process – 15 min.Wrap-Up (Writing the Paragraph) – 10 min.

*That leaves only 2 min. transition time between segments.

The Goal:

• To extend thinking beyond the initial, shallow response

• To encourage the use of concrete, specific details as support

• Where possible, to encourage the use of “efferent” (text-based) support

• Ultimately, to remove the 4-square graphic, but have the depth of thought remain

The Basics

• Students formulate an answer or response.• Then they ask themselves the following

questions about their answers/stances:– So?– Then?– For example?– Can I extend/clarify my examples or drive home

the point?

So? /Then?

Specific Detail -

So?/Then?

Specific Detail -

Example ExampleEx

Expand Example or Drive Home the Point

Statement

The initial graphic organizer looks like this.

Teacher Think-Aloud

So? /Then?*makes it easier to do better

Specific Detail - *info at finger tips – maps, bios, facts, etc.

So?/Then?*more prone to do work

Specific Detail – *internet makes easier to do more faster—research, create graphics

Example *My mother –weeks of checking out books to do research paper Me- 4 hours on internet

Expand Example or Drive Home the Point*internet is a key tool for academic success

Stance:Schools should encourage internet use

Example

Going from thinking (planning) to responding

So? /Then?*makes it easier to do better

Specific Detail - *info at fingertips – maps, bios, facts, etc.

So?/Then?*more prone to do work

Specific Detail – *internet makes easier to do more faster—research, create graphics

Example *My mother –weeks of checking out books to do research paper Me- 4 hours on internet

Expand Example/ Anecdote or bring home the point) *internet is a key tool for academic success

Stance:Schools should encourage internet use

Schools should encourage internet use. Internet makes it easier to accomplish tasks. It provides information at our fingertips, such as maps, biographies, statistics, etc. When faced with multiple assignments and a limited amount of time, students are prone to do what can be done quickly and efficiently, whether accessing research or creating graphics. In my mother’s time, it took weeks of checking out library books to do a research paper. Today, internet allows us to do the same amount of research in four or five hours. Hence, internet is a key tool for academic success.

Let’s try it.First, let’s examine the prompt.

• Prompt: (add your own FCAT style prompt here)

• Examine the prompt:• What is the general topic? This helps you start to think

of everything you know about the subject.

• What is the think task? This makes you hone in on a specific area of the general topic.

• What type essay are you to write? What is your clue in the prompt?

• Who is your audience? If one is not stated, then imagine who might be interest in this topic? This will help you determine your “voice.”

• What is your actual writing task?

Nowwwww, we can plan.Let’s work together to complete the 4-Square Thought Process.

Prompt: So? /Then?

Specific Detail -

So?/Then?

Specific Detail -

Example ExampleEx

Expand Example or Drive Home the Point

Statement

Wrap-Up

• Using the 4-Square planning tool, write your one paragraph response to the prompt.

• Make sure that you have answered all of the thinking questions (so, then, for example, bring it home).

• Be prepared to share. (Even be prepared for a peer review of your work.)

• Turn in your 4-Square organizers and your paragraphs before leaving class. Don’t worry. you will be seeing these again!