Comparing Texts
Prior Knowledge
Students will have already been versed in using LexTutor and will have experience generating a keyword list, however in this activity students will be using the compare function similar to the keyword list function. Using knowledge of the English language students will be identifying synonyms, and should compare and contrast two texts that are on the same subject, only written for different reading levels.
Reading
Chatterji S & Diptesh C. (2012, December). An Efficient Technique for De-Noising Sentences using Monolingual Corpus and Synonym Dictionary. Retrieved December 5, 2013, from http://www.aclweb.org/anthology/C/C12/C12-3008.pdf
TLWBT
Activity Development
Students will need to look at two articles found on the NewsELA website. Here students can pick any article of their choosing and then compare that article at two different reading levels. After students find the article of their choosing they should copy and paste the text into LexTutor's compare function.
The worksheet explains that students are to find an article and compare the article in two different reading abilities. By comparing the texts students should be looking for synonyms between the two texts, specifically words that may carry more meaning than the synonymous word form. Also in comparing the texts students will also be asked to look at words that they believe should not be unique to each word list. Some words may appear more complex in the lower reading level while words in the advanced reading level may appear in a basic form. The goal of this activity will be to have students thinking about word form and word usage.
Similar to looking at synonymous words, students will also look phrases that appear similar. Like words that may convey the same meaning, phrases can carry higher or lower levels of textual information. Students should examine the phrases between each text and make distinctions as to what is unique, what could be applied in the other reading and what should be shared between the two texts.
The end goal should have students thinking about synonyms for their word usage and thinking about the level of the intended audience. By looking at two texts at different levels, word choice should become apparent and should begin to think about their word choice in their own writing. This activity will not transfer directly to the students writing, however thinking about word choice should carry over into the students future writing and editing.
Reflective Notes:
Using NewsEla is a great tool for comparing two texts since it automatically edits for readers ability. The goal is for students to begin thinking about word choice and synonymous words. In writing it becomes really easy to use the same word over again as well as forget about the number of words that are available to use. Looking at phrases conveyed this idea only because words like carnivore would be supplemented by meat eater. This is a good activity for looking at two texts through comparison to show how word choice effects the delivery and readers comprehension.
By looking at synonymous words and phrases, students should begin thinking about their own word choice. This activity short and could probably be completed in the same day as the Comparing Two Texts for Word Choice, however in comparing two texts students can really get in depth which could take longer. There is not part of the activity gets into using the tools in LexTutor, so there is room for adjustment for further analysis other than just the word choice, but using those tools may have been too advanced for the activity. The end result in getting students thinking about word choice and how it effects the delivery of content, is demonstrated in this activity well and carries over to the next activity seamlessly.
Students will have already been versed in using LexTutor and will have experience generating a keyword list, however in this activity students will be using the compare function similar to the keyword list function. Using knowledge of the English language students will be identifying synonyms, and should compare and contrast two texts that are on the same subject, only written for different reading levels.
Reading
Chatterji S & Diptesh C. (2012, December). An Efficient Technique for De-Noising Sentences using Monolingual Corpus and Synonym Dictionary. Retrieved December 5, 2013, from http://www.aclweb.org/anthology/C/C12/C12-3008.pdf
TLWBT
- Look at two texts on the same subject and analyze word choice
- Use LexTutor and compare two texts by using the keyword too
- Locate synonyms between two texts and identify similarities in content
- Have Fun.
- Access to LexTutor (http://www.lextutor.ca/text_lex_compare/)
- Access to NewsEla (http://www.newsela.com/)
- Use of individual Computers
- Worksheet on Comparing Texts
Activity Development
Students will need to look at two articles found on the NewsELA website. Here students can pick any article of their choosing and then compare that article at two different reading levels. After students find the article of their choosing they should copy and paste the text into LexTutor's compare function.
The worksheet explains that students are to find an article and compare the article in two different reading abilities. By comparing the texts students should be looking for synonyms between the two texts, specifically words that may carry more meaning than the synonymous word form. Also in comparing the texts students will also be asked to look at words that they believe should not be unique to each word list. Some words may appear more complex in the lower reading level while words in the advanced reading level may appear in a basic form. The goal of this activity will be to have students thinking about word form and word usage.
Similar to looking at synonymous words, students will also look phrases that appear similar. Like words that may convey the same meaning, phrases can carry higher or lower levels of textual information. Students should examine the phrases between each text and make distinctions as to what is unique, what could be applied in the other reading and what should be shared between the two texts.
The end goal should have students thinking about synonyms for their word usage and thinking about the level of the intended audience. By looking at two texts at different levels, word choice should become apparent and should begin to think about their word choice in their own writing. This activity will not transfer directly to the students writing, however thinking about word choice should carry over into the students future writing and editing.
Reflective Notes:
Using NewsEla is a great tool for comparing two texts since it automatically edits for readers ability. The goal is for students to begin thinking about word choice and synonymous words. In writing it becomes really easy to use the same word over again as well as forget about the number of words that are available to use. Looking at phrases conveyed this idea only because words like carnivore would be supplemented by meat eater. This is a good activity for looking at two texts through comparison to show how word choice effects the delivery and readers comprehension.
By looking at synonymous words and phrases, students should begin thinking about their own word choice. This activity short and could probably be completed in the same day as the Comparing Two Texts for Word Choice, however in comparing two texts students can really get in depth which could take longer. There is not part of the activity gets into using the tools in LexTutor, so there is room for adjustment for further analysis other than just the word choice, but using those tools may have been too advanced for the activity. The end result in getting students thinking about word choice and how it effects the delivery of content, is demonstrated in this activity well and carries over to the next activity seamlessly.