“Read This” published in The Sheet written by Mike McKenna

1. “Read This” published inThe Sheetwritten by Mike McKenna

7. As you are reading… think about(and for homework, you will need to address these in your paragraph too) • What the author is trying to argue/prove (What is his thesis?) • The support he offers to try to prove his argument • The REASON he is writing the article • To whom is he writing? (not “Who is he writing to?”)

8. Let’s read it!!!

9. As you are reading… think about • What the author is trying to argue/prove (What is his thesis?) • The support he offers to try to prove his argument • The REASON he is writing the article • To whom is he writing? (not “Who is he writing to?”)

10. Rhetorical Precis The art of using language effectively and precisely

11. Before…

12. This article is arguing about how teachers need to allow students to read what they want. The author says he hated to read and it is the fault of his teachers. He wants teachers to let kids read what they want to. He is writing to the people of Mammoth and to people everywhere. thesis

13. This article is about how teachers need to allow students to read what they want. The author says he hated to read and it is the fault of his teachers. He wants teachers to let kids read what they want to. He is writing to the people of Mammoth and to people everywhere. support

14. This article is about how teachers need to allow students to read what they want. The author says he hated to read and it is the fault of his teachers. He wants teachers to let kids read what they want to. He is writing to the people of Mammoth and to people everywhere. reason

15. This article is about how teachers need to allow students to read what they want. The author says he hated to read and it is the fault of his teachers. He wants teachers to let kids read what they want to. He is writing to the people of Mammoth and to people everywhere. audience

16. This article is about how teachers need to allow students to read what they want. The author says he hated to read and it is the fault of his teachers. He wants teachers to let kids read what they want to. He is writing to the people of Mammoth and to people everywhere.

17. With help from CSU and Santiago High… • Much higher level of writing!!!

18. Rhetorical Precis The art of using language effectively and precisely

19. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing). First, the author states that _______________________; then He/she adds that _____________________________; finally, he/she concludes by saying ___________________________. __________________________’s apparent purpose in writing (Author’s last name) this article is to _____________________________________ in order to _______________________________________. His/her intended audience seems to be __________________ because ___________________________________________.

20. 5th sentence - Although ________________, (introduce the “counterargument” to your belief) (author’s name) is (correct/incorrect) in his argument based on my (experiences, observations, or readings) (choose one); follow with explanation sentence(s).

21. Although __________ (introduce the “counterargument” to your belief), (author’s name) is (correct/incorrect) in his/her argument based on my (experiences/observations or readings); explain in a sentence.

22. The first sentence… FULLY introduces the article and summarizes the thesis (or argument) that the author is trying to prove

23. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing).

24. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing). First, the author states that ________________________; then He/she adds that _________________________; finally, he/she concludes by saying __________________________________. __________________________’s apparent purpose in writing (Author’s last name) this article is to _____________________________________ in order to ____________________________________. His/her intended audience seems to be ___________________ because ___________________________________________. Mike McKenna’s newspaper article Read This! July 30, 2005

25. In Mike McKenna’s newspaper article “Read This” (June 30, 2005), he suggests that more Americans would enjoy reading if they were allowed to read more “high interest” books as young students.

26. Second sentence… • Is a COMPLEX rhetorical sentence that summarizes at least three arguments that the author uses to support his/her thesis.

27. Some support he uses… • Personal experience with reading and teachers • Only 60% of fourth graders can read at grade level • By the age of 65, half of our senior citizens are illiterate • When kids read high interest books like Harry Potter their reading scores go up!

28. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing). First, the author states that _________________________; then he/she adds that _______________________________; finally, he/she concludes by saying ____________________.

29. In Mike McKenna’s newspaper article “Read This” (June 30, 2005), he suggests that more Americans would enjoy reading if they were allowed to read more “high interest” books as young students. First he states that he learned to hate reading as a kid because his teachers forced him to read books in which he wasn’t interested; then he goes on to say that 40% of fourth graders are reading below grade level already and that half of American senior citizens have become functionally illiterate because they hate to read; he continues to state, though, that high interest books like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have created a love for reading again and have helped to increase reading levels in 8th grade students by “an average of about 5%”.

30. Third sentence… • Clarifies WHY the author is writing the article and WHAT he hopes to accomplish or gain by having people read it

31. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing). First, the author states that _________________________; then he/she adds that _______________________________; finally, he/she concludes by saying ____________________. __________________________’s apparent purpose in writing (Author’s last name) this article is to _____________________________________ in order to _______________________________________.

32. In Mike McKenna’s newspaper article “Read This” (June 30, 2005), he suggests that more Americans would enjoy reading if they were allowed to read more “high interest” books as young students. First he states that he learned to hate reading as a kid because his teachers forced him to read books in which he wasn’t interested; then he goes on to say that 40% of fourth graders are reading below grade level already and that half of American senior citizens have become functionally illiterate because they hate to read; he continues to state, though, that high interest books like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have created a love for reading again and have helped to increase reading levels in 8th grade students by “an average of about 5%”. McKenna’s apparent purpose in writing this article is to make people think about the importance of allowing students to read books in which they are interested, in order to help raise reading levels and keep people reading.

33. Fourth (and final) sentence… • Makes a statement as to WHO the intended audience of the article might be and WHY you believe this is the intended audience

34. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing). First, the author states that _________________________; then he/she adds that _______________________________; finally, he/she concludes by saying ____________________. __________________________’s apparent purpose in writing (Author’s last name) this article is to _____________________________________ in order to _______________________________________. His/her intended audience seems to be __________________ because ___________________________________________.

35. In Mike McKenna’s newspaper article “Read This” (June 30, 2005), he suggests that more American’s would enjoy reading if they were allowed to read more “high interest” books as a young students. First he states that he learned to hate reading as a kid because his teacher’s forced him to read books in which he wasn’t interested; then he goes on to say that 40% of fourth graders are reading below grade level already; he continues to state, though, that high level books like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have created a love for reading again. McKenna’s apparent purpose in writing this article is to make people think about the importance of allowing students to read books in which they are interested, in order to keep people reading. His intended audience seems to be people who work with children, because he is trying to get students to “just keep reading”.

36. In Mike McKenna’s newspaper article “Read This” (June 30, 2005), he suggests that more Americans would enjoy reading if they were allowed to read more “high interest” books as young students. First he states that he learned to hate reading as a kid because his teachers forced him to read books in which he wasn’t interested; then he goes on to say that 40% of fourth graders are reading below grade level already and that half of American senior citizens have become functionally illiterate because they hate to read; he continues to state, though, that high interest books like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have created a love for reading again and have helped to increase reading levels in 8th grade students by “an average of about 5%”. McKenna’s apparent purpose in writing this article is to make people think about the importance of allowing students to read books in which they are interested, in order to help raise reading levels and keep people reading. His intended audience seems to be the citizens of Mammoth, as well as people who work with children, because he discusses local Mammoth events and seems passionate about trying to get students to “just keep reading”.

37. In ___________________’s _______________________ (Author’s full name) (genre) “___________________________” (___________________), (title of article) (date) he/she (argues, claims, asserts, suggests, or another verb) that _________________________________ (finish with the author’sthesis statement, i.e. what they are arguing). First, the author states that ________________________; then He/she adds that _________________________; finally, he/she concludes by saying __________________________________. __________________________’s apparent purpose in writing (Author’s last name) this article is to _____________________________________ in order to ____________________________________. His/her intended audience seems to be ___________________ because ___________________________________________. Mike McKenna’s newspaper article Read This! July 30, 2005

38. This year, I need you to add… YOUR PERSONAL OPINION!!! i.e. Add a “Thesis” of your own…

39. Although __________ (introduce the “counterargument” to your belief), (author’s name) is (correct/incorrect) in his/her argument based on my (experiences/observations or readings); explain in a sentence.

40. 5th sentence - Although ________________, (introduce the “counterargument” to your belief) (author’s name) is (correct/incorrect) in his argument based on my (experiences, observations, or readings) (choose one); follow with explanation sentence(s).

41. Using an “occasion/position” statement…

42. 5th sentence - Although (the “counterargument” to your belief), (author’s name) is (correct/incorrect) in his argument based on my (experiences, observations, or readings);

43. 5th sentence - Although (the “counterargument” to your belief), (author’s name) is (correct/incorrect) in his argument based on my (experiences, observations, or readings); being forced to read off a given list in Mrs. _______’s class year resulted in me not reading much at all. If I had been given the opportunity to read what I wanted, I may have actually learned something.

44. In Mike McKenna’s newspaper article “Read This” (June 30, 2005), he suggests that more Americans would enjoy reading if they were allowed to read more “high interest” books as young students. First he states that he learned to hate reading as a kid because his teachers forced him to read books in which he wasn’t interested; then he goes on to say that 40% of fourth graders are reading below grade level already and that half of American senior citizens have become functionally illiterate because they hate to read; he continues to state, though, that high interest books like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have created a love for reading again and have helped to increase reading levels in 8th grade students by “an average of about 5%”. McKenna’s apparent purpose in writing this article is to make people think about the importance of allowing students to read books in which they are interested, in order to help raise reading levels and keep people reading. His intended audience seems to be the citizens of Mammoth, as well as people who work with children, because he discusses local Mammoth events and seems passionate about trying to get students to “just keep reading”. Although many English teachers may disagree with me, McKenna is correct in his argument based on my observations; in the past when I tried to force students to read off a given list it resulted in utter failure. The majority of my students will happily read for leisure reading time if they are allowed to read what they want to read; this is much better for everyone involved.