What is AXES?Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Elkhart Central High School

"Simple Four" Correlation

S = Synthesis

So what?

Basic Example

A = The most important part of the interview is to be sincere and tell the truth.

X = In the article, it states, “Be honest with your answers” (Interviewing Skills 1).

E = When one is honest and sincere, one gains trust from the interviewer. It shows his/her true character.

S = It’s good to be truthful in life so that people will find one credible. In all cases, but especially in an interview, honesty will pay off in the end.

What Is AXES?A= Assertion (Sentence 1) This is the main

claim/argument of the paragraph.

Example: Using the AXES format will improve critical thinking skills across the content areas at Elkhart Central High School, which will ultimately affect our economic viability on both a local and global scale.

X = eXample (Sentence 2) A quote/paraphrase from a source to support the assertion.

Example: While it may seem like critical thinking skills andglobal market success are distant relatives,"formulaic argumentative writing has been found to improve both analysis and inferenceskills," both of which have been deemed"essential“ by the 2011 Department of Laborcommercial survey (Example Citation 28).

E = Explanation (Sentence 3-4) Explanation of what the example proves; this is the analysis of what the example means.

Example: This means that students who learn the AXES format will notonly dramatically improve their abilities in decoding complextexts, but they will also be able to more thoroughly explain theimportant aspects of these texts for specific purposes. Because these skills also transcend disciplines, once students learn them,they can apply them in all their classes and workplaces,regardless of areas of specialization.

S = Synthesis (Sentence 5-6 ) This is the "So What" of the paragraph. Why is

this important? How does it relate to real life?

Example:

This is especially important in light of recent predictionsforecasting a disproportionate number of skilled laborpositions to skilled laborers in the near future. If somethingdoes not change, we may find ourselves relying heavily onoverseas laborers, which will ultimately weaken our globalmarket competitiveness. With practices like AXES paragraphingin place, however, schools will be better prepared to meet theseincreasing societal demands, and with continued practice anddedication to excellence, our country will remain the worldleader it is today.

Sample writing:

Rebecca is correct they will need 30 feet of fencing. Rebecca calculated the perimeter of the garden, the distance around it, by adding all the sides of the garden together: 10+10+5+5 = 30 (perimeter formula). Jose calculated the area of the garden by multiplying the length times the width. Using the correct formula to determine the amount of fencing is important because this ensures they purchase the correct amount of fencing. If they buy too much they may not be able to return it or will have to spend extra time going back to the store to return the extra fencing. Calculating the correct amount of fencing the first time saves them time and possibly money.

AssertioneXampleExplanationSynthesis

Math AXES

Jose and Rebecca want to fence in their garden so that their dog Daisy can’t get in and dig up the vegetables. They measure their rectangular garden and find that it is 10 feet wide by 5 feet long. They each quickly calculate how much fencing they will need to buy. Jose determines that they will need 50 feet of fence while Rebecca figures out that they will need 30 feet of fence. Who is correct? How much fencing will they need to buy? Explain how you determined your answer and why it matters.

Administrative AXES Feedback Form Date ______________ Check all that apply. Which type of feedback did you provide for your AXES writing this month?

Notes for Teachers•Bring it up. Back it up. Wrap it up.

• Avoid "I" statements ("I think," "I believe") unless using personal anecdote/testimony because these statements weaken the argument.

•"You're grounded." vs. "I think you're grounded.“

• Avoid "you" statements ("It would make you think that...").

•If students fall between columns on the rubric, (e.g. all but one-two bullet points), use the lesser column score for Oscar, but feel free to use a (.5) half score (2.5, 3.5, etc.) for your grade book.

• Use proper in-text citation (APA or MLA can be found at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/).

•Flag phrases like “This means…” to begin the “E” (Explanation), and “This is important because…” to flag the “S” (Synthesis).

• Introduce quotes (In Theorem XYZ, we note that, “…”) if they are not embedded.

• Avoid assumptions that can't be proven ("Everyone knows...“ “It’s obvious that…).

• The "Example" is the evidence of the assertion. This can be a theorem, timeline, graph ("Fig. 9"), etc. The evidence is not limited to text.