Expository Profundity

Finding increased comprehension in Content and Expository Text

Profundity is

a theoretical construct (developed by Sargent, Huus and Anderson- 1970) intended to direct thinking at the HS level to identify a theme or themes of a story.

The Profundity Scale is used in Michigan to implement MDE LA GLCE’s assessing complex, enduring understandings.

Two Profundity Scales

are explicit teaching tools to develop deep thinking in:

Narrative readings

Expository readings (a distinct skill in Content reading)

Expository Profundity Scale

This is a stair step process taking the reading to deeper levels of comprehension and thinking while reading non-fiction.

1. Literal Plane

The reader recalls facts, details and sequences the information.

The reader notices concepts of text and connects prior knowledge. (MAKING CONNECTIONS)

2. Summary Plane

The reader summarizes major ideas from the text. (SUMMARIZES)

The reader predicts or confirms by searching for “right there” clues in the text.(PREDICTING)

The reader is able to explain how he knows using text.

3. Schema Plane

The reader questions and related new information to prior knowledge to enhance understanding.

DETERMINES IMPORTANCE/relevance, CONNECTS text to self, reads between the lines (INFERS), offers opinion.

3. Schema Plane

The reader questions and related new information to prior knowledge to enhance understanding.

DETERMINES IMPORTANCE/relevance, CONNECTS text to self, reads between the lines (INFERS), offers opinion.

4. Concept Plane

Reader identifies critical attributes and relevant information and accuracy to get meaning.

DRAWS CONCLUSIONS, DETERMINES IMPORTANCE

At this plane, reader should be identifying discrepancies, recognizing bias, interpreting data, COMPARING/CONTRASTING

5. Universal Plane

Reader is connecting text to world with universal truths, theories, principles, social implications.

(SYNTHESIZING) Reader is offering personal solutions, taking action, modifying thinking.

Why bother with Profundity?

It is an explicit series of strategies to take students from simple to abstract.

It starts by reducing complicated things to simple principles.

It allows for the realization that 2 different ideas can share attributes.

It transforms thinking into themes and universal truths.

Why bother with Profundity?

It is an explicit series of strategies to take students from simple to abstract.

It starts by reducing complicated things to simple principles.

It allows for the realization that 2 different ideas can share attributes.

It transforms thinking into themes and universal truths.

“The lessons learned, theme, or universal truth is generative and can be used to change your world view, make connections to your life, and to solve problems.”

Elaine Weber, Barbara Nelson, Jeff Beal 2002