Student Data
After reading the article at the level they chose, and discussing similar questions with other students at their table, students individually wrote the answers to the following questions on a Google Doc in class.
After reading the article at the level they chose, and discussing similar questions with other students at their table, students individually wrote the answers to the following questions on a Google Doc in class.
Focus Students
Manny was absent the day of the Research Lesson
Directions: Choose which level you want to read, and try your best to understand what the writer is talking about. Then answer the questions.
Which level did you choose?
Difficult
What argument is the writer trying to make?
That people should open up more about their feelings because it would be better instead of trying to guess based on little tendencies and facial expressions.
How can you tell he’s trying to make that argument? Use examples from the text.
Evidence from the text includes the following sentences. Many aspects of human behavior that we might think of as unusual or strange are actually quite common, though they're not often openly discussed. The second sentence is, “We can't always assume that others share our deepest thoughts and feelings, which can lead to feelings of isolation and misunderstanding.”
Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Why or why not?
I agree that people should open up about their feelings but only if they want to because some people don’t want to open up or can’t open up because of their own personal reasons.
Directions: Choose which level you want to read, and try your best to understand what the writer is talking about. Then answer the questions.
Which level did you choose?
medium
What argument is the writer trying to make?
There is no such thing as normal
How can you tell he’s trying to make that argument? Use examples from the text.
The idea of what is "normal" doesn't always match up with the reality of human experiences
Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Why or why not?
Yes because we all feel and experience things differently
Other Students
Directions: Choose which level you want to read, and try your best to understand what the writer is talking about. Then answer the questions.
Which level did you choose?
Pro
What argument is the writer trying to make?
The concept of normalcy limits what we think of when we think of an average person. A lot of stuff we find weird about ourselves is pretty normal for everyone to experience and feel weird about. The only way we can stop that feeling of isolation is by reaching out to each other to better understand what is actually normal, and not just what we're told is normal. By thinking of other people like us, we can also recognize that A) our society's sense of normalcy is deeply flawed, and B) because of this, each of us are not abnormal for having universal human experiences.
How can you tell he’s trying to make that argument? Use examples from the text.
The text has a vast amount of sentences I could use to illustrate this point, but a few that stuck with me were:
“Any idea of the normal currently in circulation is not an accurate map of what is customary for a human to be.” This shows me that the author takes issue with the current concept of normalcy. He says later, “The journey to self-knowledge needs to begin with a better map of the
terrain of normality.” This shows the crux of his argument, that seeing yourself as normal starts by seeing others as normal as well.
Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Why or why not?
I agree wholeheartedly with the argument, and thought the author presented it in a succinct and thoughtful way. If we want to treat ourselves and others as human, and not uniquely flawed or all the same, we must deconstruct what we deem normal, and think about why those traits have become the default.
Directions: Choose which level you want to read, and try your best to understand what the writer is talking about. Then answer the questions.
Which level did you choose?
Easy
What argument is the writer trying to make?
We are all different and we can't tell how each other are feeling.
How can you tell he’s trying to make that argument? Use examples from the text.
“Everyone is different, and we all have feelings like being happy, sad, or angry. Sometimes we feel shy or worried, and that's okay.” thats the author openly telling us what he thinks.
Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Why or why not?
I do agree with him. Why i agree i because i think everyone is different and we might not get each other.
Directions: Choose which level you want to read, and try your best to understand what the writer is talking about. Then answer the questions.
Which level did you choose?
Advanced
What argument is the writer trying to make?
I think the writer is trying to say that people feel emotions and its okay to feel the, but some people may not find it ti be alright since nobody really talks about the effects of mental health
How can you tell he’s trying to make that argument? Use examples from the text.
“The presumption that others share our deepest vulnerabilities is precarious, leading to a sense of isolation and incomprehension.” This sentence shows that people could be ashamed of their feelings because they don’t really talk about, and possibly think their feelings aren't valid
Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Why or why not?
I do agree with it because it is pretty common that people feel this way