Action Research Study: Effects of Multiple Intelligences Based Instruction on Students’ Attitudes and Achievement--Appendix K

Appendix K

American schools have traditionally favored those students who excel in the linguistic and analytical arenas because these skills are highly valued in our culture. Unfortunately, this traditional approach leaves certain students behind to stumble blindly through an educational system that ignores their unique abilities. This action research study seeks to show that instructional activities that incorporate the multiple intelligences can improve students' attitudes toward learning and students' academic achievement in English class.

"To Build a Fire" Essay Assignment

Directions:

1. Before reading “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, you completed the Wilderness Survival Opinionnaire. After reading and discussing the story, you completed the same opinionnaire a second time. Look over both opinionnaires to see if your answers have changed.

2. Write a 5-paragraph essay in which you compare and contrast your two Wilderness Survival Opinionnaires and support your opinions with textual evidence from “To Build a Fire.” Choose one of the following:

If your answers changed: Pick out three statements for which your answers changed. For each statement, explain what your opinion was before reading the story, then explain how and why your opinion changed after reading the story and discussing it in class. Provide supporting evidence from the story to explain your changed opinion.

If your answers did not change: Pick out three statements. For each statement, explain what your opinion was before reading the story, then explain why your opinion did not change after reading the story and discussing it in class. Provide supporting evidence from the story to explain why your opinion did not change.

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Action Research
   Introduction: Multiple Intelligences
   Method
   Results
   Discussion
   Conclusions

Expectations:

Your essay should demonstrate a well-developed understanding of the story with each opinion effectively supported by textual evidence.
Your essay should have a well written introduction with a clear thesis statement.
Your essay should have a body consisting of three well written paragraphs which contain topic sentences and smooth transitions.
Your essay should have a well written conclusion that sums up your thoughts.

Adapted from Johannessen (1994). The call of adventure: Jack London's "To Build a Fire." Notes Plus, 12 (1), 11-15.

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Go to Wilderness Survival Opinionnaire (Appendix J)
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The author is a writer, a former English teacher, and the mother of three boys. She spends her time writing and teaching others to write. Visit articles.TheWritingTutor.biz for more articles or TheWritingTutor.biz for other writing and educational resources for young authors, teachers, and parents. Visit writing_editing_service.TheWritingTutor.biz for a description of writing and editing services provided by the author.

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Multiple Intelligences Action Research

Appendix K

"To Build a Fire" Essay Assignment