Great mentor texts for Junior/Intermediate Social Studies and History students can be found in issues of Kayak Magazine: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids.
Below is a mentor text I chose. I like its presentation of the
Essential Question, evidence given for both sides of the debate, and
terrific use of visuals in the form of infographics:
Using the conventions of non-narrative writing styles described by Shelley Peterson in her book Writing Across the Curriculum (2008), I would identify this mentor text as an article, the intention of which is to inform or explain to the reader, the negative and positive effects of the War of 1812 on Canada and on the United States and present the reader with information to decide for themselves who came out of that war as the defeated and who came out as the defeater.
Kayak Magazine’s December 2012 issue is dedicated to the history of the War of 1812. This particular article summarizes the effects on both sides, after presenting a variety of other articles on particulars of the war. This article, and the issue in general, would be a valuable contribution to teaching Grade 7 History, Strand B: Canada, 1800-1850: Conflict and Challenges. The text gives valuable information on the topic that would spur debate and discussion on the question “Who won the war of 1812?” and it would also serve as a mentor text for how to present information on a topic through text and infographics in a way that allows a reader to learn and form an opinion.
The infographics for the Canadian and American experiences through plus and minuses is particularly effective. They summarize the information clearly, the images and colour make it easy to identify which side the infographic is referring to, and it provides an example of how to summarize complex information in a clear and concise manner.
I hope to be able to use this mentor text one day in a classroom setting.
Using the conventions of non-narrative writing styles described by Shelley Peterson in her book Writing Across the Curriculum (2008), I would identify this mentor text as an article, the intention of which is to inform or explain to the reader, the negative and positive effects of the War of 1812 on Canada and on the United States and present the reader with information to decide for themselves who came out of that war as the defeated and who came out as the defeater.
Kayak Magazine’s December 2012 issue is dedicated to the history of the War of 1812. This particular article summarizes the effects on both sides, after presenting a variety of other articles on particulars of the war. This article, and the issue in general, would be a valuable contribution to teaching Grade 7 History, Strand B: Canada, 1800-1850: Conflict and Challenges. The text gives valuable information on the topic that would spur debate and discussion on the question “Who won the war of 1812?” and it would also serve as a mentor text for how to present information on a topic through text and infographics in a way that allows a reader to learn and form an opinion.
The infographics for the Canadian and American experiences through plus and minuses is particularly effective. They summarize the information clearly, the images and colour make it easy to identify which side the infographic is referring to, and it provides an example of how to summarize complex information in a clear and concise manner.
I hope to be able to use this mentor text one day in a classroom setting.
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