| As a history teacher my students must deal with | | | | the Two Column Opinion-Proof chart can be a |
| lots of opinions. As I tell my students, "There are | | | | great tool to improve reading comprehension as |
| not always right and wrong answers in social | | | | well. |
| studies...what is important is how you back up, or | | | | A two column chart can be easily set up by |
| support, your answer." | | | | having students fold a piece a paper in half |
| By having students make an argument and | | | | vertically (hot-dog style). Have students label the |
| support their argument, they are not only | | | | left column "Opinion" and the right column "Proof". |
| addressing higher order thinking skills, but it is also | | | | The teacher can then assign an opinion or have |
| a great way to spark student interest in a topic. | | | | the students choose an opinion for themselves |
| As teachers know, sparking student interest in a | | | | and write it down in left column. Students must |
| topic is extremely important, but can also be a | | | | then support their opinion in right column using |
| great challenge. | | | | whatever resource or resources the teacher |
| Fortunately, it is sometimes the simplest teaching | | | | chooses such as textbook reading, internet, video, |
| strategies that can provide students with the | | | | or newspaper. |
| most success. A great, and simple, teaching | | | | Not only does this teaching strategy help improve |
| strategy to help students support their opinions | | | | comprehension and spark student interest, but |
| with facts is known as the Two Column | | | | students can then use their Opinion-Proof charts |
| Opinion-Proof Chart. This simple teaching strategy | | | | to write persuasive essays, newspaper editorials, |
| will address higher order-thinking skills as well as | | | | letters, or even set up classroom debates. |
| spark student interest in a topic. Not only that, by | | | | |