Minds On
Exploring an oral text
We are going to explore a video entitled “What is a Documentary?”
Before the video begins, record your thoughts to the following questions:
- What do you think this video will be about?
- What clues are you using to determine this?
Now access the following TVO video entitled “What is a Documentary?” to find out if your thoughts about the video are related to its content.
Consider the following question after examining the video:
- What strategies did you use during the video to understand the message that was shared?
Record these strategies using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
During this learning activity, we will be focusing on how we understand information shared in an oral text.
We will also identify what strategies we are using before, during, and after exploring the oral text to help us understand and clarify the meaning of what we just learned.
Action
Task 1: Supporting your opinions or points
When stating an opinion or making a point about information that has been shared in a text or video, you need to be able to support your opinions or points with evidence from what you just explored.
A simple way to understand this is to “prove it and explain it.” Explore the following chart for some sentence starters to help you state an opinion or make a point:
| Prove it! | Explain it! |
|---|---|
| According to the text/video… | The evidence shows… |
| The text/video states… | This makes me think… |
| One example from the text/video states… | The evidence suggests… |
| The author states… | This proves… |
| Based on what the text says… |
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
Return to the video from the Minds On section. Let’s practice the “prove it and explain it” sentence starters with the “What is a Documentary?” video.
Respond to the following question using ONE prove it statement and ONE explain it statement.
- What was the message of this video?
If possible, share your responses with a partner. Were your responses similar?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Task 2: Putting the strategies to work!
As learners, there are strategies that we use before, during, and after exploring an oral text (or written text) so that we understand the information that is shared and the meaning of the text. The following is a checklist that outlines these strategies.
Complete Exploring Oral Text Checklist in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Exploring Oral Text Checklist.
Next, you are going to choose a few strategies from each section of the checklist as you explore the following short documentary episode. Record these strategies using a method of your choice.
Before exploring the video, examine the following image and short title page description as you ask your “Before exploring” questions from the checklist.
The image is the title page of the documentary series called Main Street Ontario. This is the episode that focuses on Guelph, Ontario. The image is The Bookshelf Café from the street. There is a car in front of the café and a few people by the door of the café. The short description of the episode is below the image of the Bookshelf Café. It states, “When The Bookshelf first opened in 1973, downtown Guelph was vibrant and full of well-established shops. Businesses came and went, but The Bookshelf grew to include a café, followed by a cinema and event space. Four decades later, it continues to be a vital community hub and an inspiration for local artists and authors.”
Now, determine which “During exploration” strategies you will use as you examine the following episode from the TVO documentary series Main Street Ontario entitled “Guelph.”
After the video, determine which “After exploring” strategies you will use to measure your understanding of the information that was shared during the video.
Consider the following questions to reflect on the strategies that you chose and used.
- How did the “before” strategies help you prepare for the video?
- How did the “during” strategies help you as you explored the video?
- How did the “after” strategies help you reflect on the information shared in the video?
- Which strategy or strategies were most effective for you? Why?
- Choose one “prove it” and one “explain it” sentence starter to share one piece of information from this documentary.
Consolidation
Exploring a text of your own
You have now learned about comprehension strategies and how to support your opinions about different texts. Find a text of your own to explore. It could be a video, a documentary, an article, an e-book/audiobook, a poem, or an audio recording.
Share an opinion you have about the information learned in this text, then support your opinion by using the “Prove it! Explain it!” method. Demonstrate your understanding of new information. Share what strategies you have used to help you understand the text.
Use the checklist to determine the strategies that you will use before, during, and after the oral text to help you understand the information being shared and the meaning of the text.
Complete Exploring Oral Text Checklist in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Exploring Oral Text Checklist.
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel…
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.