Reading Comprehension for Science Articles – Critical Analysis

This comprehensive literature unit on scientific article analysis will turn your students from being passive readers into critical thinkers! True scientific literacy—being able to evaluate evidence critically—has become the most important skill of our time due to the overwhelming amount of information and misinformation in today’s society.

This unit is a complete, no-prep 5-day lesson plan that will help students in middle and high school understand how to break down scientific articles. With this unit’s help, students will learn how to look at methodological procedures; how to find biases; how to tell the difference between correlation and causation; and how to develop evidence-based arguments—all of which are necessary for success in AP classes, as well as in college!

This unit is appropriate for the following classes: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics and as a cross-curricular project with ELA. This resource also correlates with the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (Engaging in Argument Based on Evidence) and other Common Core Literacy standards.

Included in this unit:

1. Educator & Student Master Guide (47 pgs) : Part 1 consists of an in-depth detailed core instructional guide for teachers on Scientific Reading Theory. Core principles and concepts included: IMRAD (scientific structure) ; Hierarchy of Evidence ; Identifying Fallacies

Part 2 consists of constructing 10 scaffolded, grade level appropriate worksheets using High-Interest/Relevant scientific reading materials. Examples include:

Anatomy of an Abstract

Isolation of Variable and Control

Critique Methodology

Interpret Data & Statistical Literacy

Correlation vs. Causation

Identify Bias/Conflict of Interest

Synthesize Competing Hypotheses

Peer Review Simulation

Part 3 consists of teacher support systems:

3 Visual Professional Anchor Charts/Posters (anatomy of a scientific argument, source credibility matrix, interrogating empirical graphics)

Comprehensive Answer Key (all 10 worksheets)

5-Day Implementation/Teaching Plan: step-by-step plan to facilitate complete unit implementation successfully

Will enable your students to read as scientists, question as reporters, and think as researchers; providing the necessary tools to assist in developing their confidence/skepticism towards the scientific world.

How Parents and Schools Appreciate It:

Teaches Skills for the 21st Century: Instead of teaching through rote memorization, this unit prepares students to learn to think critically. Students learn to use the problem-solving skills needed for success in college and their future career paths.

Teaches Digital and Media Literacy: In this age of "fake news" and false claims, the unit provides students with tools to evaluate the credibility of scientific information they see online, including news headlines and social media posts.

Prepares Students for Academic Challenge: The analytical skills that students develop (being able to analyze dense texts, understand research design, and base their opinion on credible evidence) give students a solid head-start into AP science classes and university studies.

Comprehensive Teaching Tools for Teachers: The unit is a complete unit, and includes everything that teachers need to implement student learning. Each teacher will find all of the information and teaching materials necessary, along with a comprehensive teacher guide, ready-to-publish worksheets, visual aids, and answer key; which will save every teacher dozens of hours on the preparation and planning of each lesson.

Audience:

The Target Audience includes:

Primary: Grades 8-12 Science (On Level); High School AP or Honors Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Physics

Secondary: Gifted or Advanced (Grades 6-7-Science), as the concepts may be difficult for Sixth-grade students who are not Advanced or Gifted; nevertheless, students classified as Advanced will do well.

Cross-Curricular: High School ELA/ELA or Media Literacy planer interested in adding analysis of non-fictional/informational text to their plan.

Copyright/Terms of Use:

This Book is the property of Syed Hammad Rizvi, and it is provided as a resource for you to use in a personal and single classroom only. You cannot alter, redistribute or sell any part of this resource. Thereby, any part of this resource cannot be placed on the Internet where all can access (e.g., downloaded).

If you would like to share this resource with colleagues, please purchase additional licenses from Teachsimple. Thank you for abiding by these terms.

Syed Hammad Rizvi, thank you for bringing you (with a smile) this product.