Integrated Approach to Language Arts

A command of the mother tongue is an important aspect of a student’s academic training and development. From a child’s early speech development to complex analytical skills later, language forms the basis for learning. The ability to read, think, and write hinges on a student’s grasp of words and proficiency with language.

Taking a multi-faceted approach to language arts training equips the student with a comprehensive understanding of language. We recommend on the following three areas to form a strong foundation.

Spelling & Vocabulary – Beginning early on, spelling is taught as part of a reading/phonics program. As the student learns to read more words, his or her vocabulary grows, providing a rich palette of words and phrases to draw from when writing.

Reading – Literacy involves more than merely learning the phonetic rules to sound out words. It means comprehending the meaning of the words and the messages being conveyed. Through active reading, the student’s mind encounters the written worlds and ideas of others. Choosing an array of fiction and non-fiction literature that is age appropriate engages the imagination, develops critical thinking, and expands horizons.

Writing – While writing is a facet of language arts, it is also the culminating activity of the spelling/vocabulary and reading components. Here, the student is finally equipped to express his or her original thoughts in written form. Critical thinking is sharpened as the student articulates his or her ideas on paper and analyzes the work of others in literature. Teaching grammar in the context of good writing connects the mechanical elements to the ultimate goal of communication: sharing a message with others. Students learn that applying proper grammar is simply a tool to increase clarity, efficacy, and readability of the intended message.

Standardized Testing Preparation

For many students, spring is the time for standardized testing. From annual reviews to college entrance exams, test taking is often part of the educational process. Tests are intended to measure a student's knowledge base in the general education categories, such as math, language arts, and science. However, tests do not always measure knowledge and may instead merely measure the student's test taking ability. Just as you prepare your student with the knowledge to answer the questions, it is important to equip your student with the testing strategies needed to surpass the test. Here are five time tested strategies for standardized test taking.

1. Study guides and practice questions. Each test has its own particular flavor. Familiarizing yourself with the test's sections and the types of questions to expect can reduce uncertainty and improve the chances of choosing the correct answer. Practice questions for each section including essay questions can often be found on the official testing website. For instance, the SAT publishes previously used test questions on its website at http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice

2. Timed practice sessions. Many standardized tests have time limits for each section. This creates a sense of pressure for the test taker that can be prepared for by using a timer during practice sessions. For timed essay portions, begin by setting a timer to see how long it takes the student to write a 5-paragraph essay. Then reduce the time by 5-10 minutes until the student  reaches the allotted time limit.

3. Process of Elimination. Whether the questions are true/false, multiple choice, or essay answers, students can use the process of elimination to narrow down potential answers. By determining which answers are definitely wrong, students may have an easier time choosing the right answer.

4. Answer ALL Questions. Questions left blank are automatically counted as incorrect. Students should manage the time they have to give an answer for each question. Even if the answer the student chooses is wrong, it is better to have the possibility of a right answer than a guaranteed penalty for leaving it blank.

5. Breathe. Taking tests, especially ones that are timed, creates a lot of pressure that can cause the student to become flustered and have trouble thinking clearly. Taking some deep breaths to get focused again will help the student process the information faster and recall the answers more accurately.

Essay Writing

Essay writing is the cornerstone of academic composition. Like all writing styles, essays follow a specific form. Some have described essay form like a hamburger with a top and bottom bun holding in the meat. The introduction is like the top bun, decorated with sesame seeds and inviting the reader to take a bite. The body of the essay is the meat. It contains the substance of discussion, explanation, description, and analysis. Finally, the conclusion holds everything together like the bottom bun of the hamburger. Similar to the introduction, the concluding paragraph summarizes the main ideas and leaves the reader with a final thought.

When writers try to tackle an essay, they are often overwhelmed by the blank page. The key is to know how to "eat" the essay, one bite at a time!

1. Choose a winning topic - Brainstorm ideas, then pick your favorite one. Topics should be interesting, appropriate for the audience, and meaningful to you.
 
2. Plan your points - A basic five paragraph essay should have an introduction, three main points in the body (one paragraph each), and a conclusion.
 
3. Gather information - Using the library, encyclopedias, credible internet sources, and personal interviews, learn all you can about your topic.
 
4. Arrange the information - Use note cards to record and arrange the information in a logical way. Focus on the information that supports your three main points.
 
5. Write the introduction - Spend some time creating an attention-grabbing opening sentence that makes the reader eager to learn more. Then, offer a preview of your three main points.
 
6. Write the body - Write one paragraph for each of your main points, include the facts you’ve learned. Remember to give credit to the people, books, or websites where you found the information.
 
7. Write the conclusion - The conclusion should mirror the introduction. Tie everything together by reviewing your main points and reminding the reader of why your topic is important or interesting.
 
8. Connect paragraphs with transitions - A transition sentence tells the reader how the information in one paragraph is related to the information in the next paragraph.
 
9. Read and revise - You’re almost done! Read your essay OUT LOUD to catch any errors. Check punctuation and spelling. Rework any sentences that sound awkward or confusing.
 
10. Polish it off - The final step is a polished presentation! Now that you’ve chosen, planned, gathered, arranged, written, and revised, it’s time to take the finished essay and type it or write it in your best handwriting.

Analyzing Literature

The literary analysis is a foundational facet of language arts instruction, especially as students begin to advance from concrete topics (think book report) to abstract ones (literary analysis). As the cornerstone of writing about literature, the literary analysis is an essay that summarizes and analyzes one aspect of a book, poem, or other classic narrative. There are typically three main flavors when it comes to literary analyses: plot analysis, character analysis, and theme analysis. Each of these focuses on a different aspect of the story and the elements used within it.

Plot Analysis - The plot of the story includes the actions or events that move the story forward. The student may analyze how the author created and maintained suspense or how the choices of the main characters affected the outcome of the narrative. The student should also examine what events lead to the climax and how the internal and external conflicts are resolved. For instance, in the story The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson, the duckling is ostracized which motivates him to take a journey. Along the way he encounters external conflicts of harsh weather and hunger as well as internal conflicts of loneliness and questions about belonging. These conflicts are resolved when the journey ends with the realization that the duckling is really a swan.

Character Analysis - The character analysis should focus on just one character in the story. The role of the character within the narrative should be examined. Is the character the hero/heroine or the villain? Why is the character important to the story? The student should analyze how the character changes (dynamic character) or why the character remains the same (static character). Using quotes from the character or about the character is an especially effective way to present and then analyze the character. A character analysis of the White Witch in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe would reveal a complex villain and rich symbolism.

Theme Analysis - Analyzing the theme of a story can be more difficult unless the theme is easy to identify. For instance, a charitable theme is easily spotted in Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The analysis might include the juxtaposition of Tiny Tim's poor but happy family with Scrooge's wealth and apparent misery. In this case, the main character, Scrooge, is transformed when the lessons of the theme have been learned. That is, when charity enters Scrooge's heart, he becomes a new man. The theme of charity is displayed through the main characters and the acts of the Christmas ghosts who teach the readers about the importance of charity.

One challenge many students face when writing a literary analysis is the temptation to merely summarize the story. The analysis should include a very brief summary of the basic story (1-3 sentences), but the main content of the essay should focus on analyzing the elements. An analysis goes beyond merely reporting the facts to interpreting what the elements mean, how they interact within the story, and how the reader may be influenced as a result. Students will practice both observation skills and critical thinking to craft a well-written literary analysis. Incorporating quotes from the book to support the main points adds interest and credibility to the analysis.

Writing Assessment

Many parents struggle with assessing their children's writing, balancing the subjective and objective sides of the craft. There are many approaches to writing assessment, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. When choosing an method of assessment, it is important to consider the age and skill level of the student, the academic goals of the assignment, and the nature of the piece (creative, research-based, structured, personal, etc.). Below is an overview of three popular assessment strategies.

Basic Scale - The Basic Scale usually rates the piece on a simple scale of 1-5 or A-E (1/E is low and 5/A is excellent). Each level of the scale may have a description of what is expected for each rating. This system is simple and easy to implement. It provides general feedback for the student and allows the parent to measure progress. It is most appropriate for simple writing assignments and younger students who do not need to be overwhelmed by details.

Categorical Assessment - This method breaks the writing assignment down into overall categories such as Form, Content, and Mechanics. Each category addresses a different facet of the written work. For example, Form covers organization, paragraph structure, transitions, etc., while the Mechanics category includes spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Point values may be assigned per category so the student earns points for good work in each area (i.e. - a 100 point assignment may be broken down as Form = 33 points, Content = 34 points, and Mechanics = 33 points for an easy percentage). The Categorical Assessment provides a moderate amount of detail in feedback and shows the student what areas he or she needs to improve. Yet, it is still fairly simple and easy to apply.

Grading Rubric - The Grading Rubric is the best approach for complex assignments that require a significant amount of assessment to ensure the requirements have been met. A rubric usually consists of a grid with point values assigned to each aspect of the assignment. The student receives a copy of this grid with points filled in and comments based on how well the paper fulfilled each requirement. This assessment strategy is most appropriate for older students who can benefit from a significant amount of feedback and classes with multiple students completing the same assignment to establish fairness.

At Write Foundations, our writing coaches use the Categorical Assessment to provide a structured form for grading all assignments while keeping the feedback straightforward and easy to understand. In addition to assigning points to the categories of Form, Content, and Mechanics, each coach offers corrections and comments within the text of the paper highlighting what the student did well and what needs more work.