Developing Pre-AP Skills in the Classroom
Going Beyond Comprehension to Develop Analysis and Synthesis Skills
Once you have taught comprehension and interpretation skills, you will face the challenge of scaffolding opportunities for students to develop the more advanced critical thinking skills of analysis and synthesis, both of which are vital in the world of Pre-A.P.
Students Must Develop Analysis Skills
Analysis is an important Pre-A.P. skill that encourages students to break a larger concept down into its component parts. Because students often identify with characters, teachers can use character analysis to help students more easily access this skill. Use the protagonist in To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout Finch, as an example. The following questions will help students develop analysis skills by analyzing a familiar character.
- Why do you think Scout dislikes school?
- How important to her is her relationship with Jem?
- How does her interactions with her father illustrate they have a close relationship?
- Why might Scout be considered a “tomboy”?
- What are some reasons that Scout is fascinated with the Boo Radley house?
- How might Scout’s new friendship with Boo Radley at the end of the novel change her perception of people who are “different”?
Synthesis Skills are VItal
When students synthesize information, they bring together disparate bits of knowledge they’ve accumulated and create something new with it. Individual projects or collaborative group work present exciting and fun opportunities for students to synthesize information.
Ideas for Synthesis
Pretend you are Scout Finch. Create a scrapbook of her summer memories. Decorate it with photos or illustrations that would represent special moments to her. Be sure to add captions to each illustration.
Work in a group to create a speech Atticus might give to the neighbors describing his views on prejudice. Try to identify at least three key points that Atticus would likely want to make. Prepare to present this speech to the class. Select one person as a speaker, another as a writer, and the remaining members of the group to design visual aids.
Write a song that Boo Radley might sing to Scout when they are sitting on the porch together. What style of music would he use? What might the chorus be?
Remember, the key to promoting advanced critical thinking in your students is through consistent practice. Although time constraints may restrict you from always following through with this idea, it’s important that you try to incorporate extension activities into every unit.
Ask yourself to identify the ratio of teacher talk versus student expression in each class. In order for students to further their critical thinking skills, they need to express their thoughts, both verbally and in writing, on a regular basis. Self-expression can feel risky to high school students, but with regular practice they will grow more comfortable.
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