Relevant Details

TEACHER RESOURCE Relevant details selecting the information or facts that are significant or targeted 4 useful for a specific research question and purpose adaptable Objectives: • learn to distinguish important from unimportant details, based on a Primary research question and purpose; Intermediate 4 Middle 4 • appreciate the need to select relevant details thoughtfully. Senior Use the following activities to introduce the research strategy 62

Introduce ➤➤ Invite students to watch the Paris Crew Historica Moments video available at https://www.

the strategy historica-dominion.ca/content/heritage-minutes/paris-crew. This video features the Canadian rowing team that brought international sports fame to Canada by becoming unlikely world champions when they defeated European crews in the 1867 Paris Exposition regatta.

➤➤ After viewing the video, twice if necessary, ask students to identify its purpose. Suggestions may include: to inspire national pride, provide historic information about rowing in Canada, Relevant details encourage belief in unlikely heroes, or offer a glimpse of Canadian sports heroes.

➤➤ After watching the video again, ask students to identify the important information conveyed in the video. Remind students to look for visual and oral information, including narration and character dialogue. Record student ideas.

➤➤ Discuss the challenges of producing such a video—one that is less than a minute long, highly engaging, and yet provides sufficient context and information that the event is understandable to a wide audience.

➤➤ Provide students with a copy of The Paris Crew (Activity Sheet A). Invite students to review the

The Paris The Paris Cr was Crew ACTIVITY SHEET ﬁ rst was sheet and highlight information that did not appear Ross—threeknown the ﬁ as rst rowing

Relevant details Relevant the ew A won ﬁ shermen Saint team their John to ﬁ rst race and Four bring in a lighthouse-keeper. Robert international In 1853. Fulton, 1867, In 1865, recognition for Canada they from Samuel in the video. With elementary students, review the the was became New Hutton, to Saint Canada.

Saint John a new hometownBrunswick—formed Geor nation. John Four ge Price, The crew provided to compete Confederation heroes the by the and Elijah When $6,000 in Europe, had winning rowing

62 the Saint they just become the team commented, John needed the New provincial and information as a class. Discuss with students how Four for the Brunswicka reality title. caps, “with arrived trip. . they their Maritimers governmentWhen more were fl in Paris the than in striking esh-coloured they highly chance The one were and came English of the contrast jerseys, regarded valued the people team rowed without a coxswain—theEuropean tope the sport criticized their dark as “country of of their competitors neat cloth rowing. the creator of the video may have determined which rowing competitors.”trousers, bumpkins.” style and leather But when and was described Their braces One newspaper John the competitors homemade and Four New rson in char as a bright defeated Brunswick were “Chinese boat pink full minute ge of directingsurprised the rowers.puzzle weighed Paris’ crew 50 which they defeatedahead famouss Geslingcrews from took Oxf when painted kg details were relevant. of the to the they green.” world. Crew water saw English in the Following team in a close competition, Canadian to race. their win the the The amazing world The next scoffi entire championshipday ng to world, victory ord and Cambridge, made sportsthey headlinesstopped. point however , the crossed The Canadians.out that crew title. the Saint the , did was nicknamed Their fi nish United not accept unlikely line in a six-mileIn race, 1868, confi the States a their the Paris victory ➤ Paris Crewdid took not title Crew, , in enter as world around the ➤ Based on the discussion, introduce the following The rming the Paris Crew’ the champions. a name competition members on America’ that stuck. respect of The to the s best crewbut could Americans instilling nationalthe new pride rowingand connecting peopl s status as world rowing champions country team , the certainly were were Ward brothers,have and beat themquick of Canada. Canadian beaten From Their the criteria for selecting relevant details: 1863 victory heroes. race until They . lost 1876,when helped brought Fame and dueinto to the New Brunswick Spo e from coast toform coast. a fl ooded they the collectiveinternational boat. disbanded, In identity fame 1956, the Paris of and the Paris Crew Canadians, rts Hall of FameCrew in 1972.remained • important to the research topic or question: was inducted undefeated, into Canada except ’s Sports for one Hall of References: details that are key to understanding hhttp://wwwttp://en.wikipedia.or .cshof.ca/accessible/hm_profi

g/wiki/Paris_Crew le.php?i=194 the topic or question you are hoping to Relevant details

address; 4

➤➤ Review with students the following clues that can help identify important information: • prominent location—important information is often located in the title, first and/or last paragraph, headings, topic sentences, and summary;

Relevant details 1 © The Critical Thinking Consortium TEACHER RESOURCE

• use of repetition—important points are often made several times; • interesting facts—information that stands out as being particularly interesting because it is unusual, exaggerated, bigger than life, surprising, or unexpected.

➤➤ Suggest to students that research can be conducted for a variety of purposes. For example, students might research an assigned topic to argue a point, defend a position against criticism, create a broad overview, or provide a light-hearted perspective. Discuss with students how to determine the extent to which details contribute to the research purpose. Examine the Relevant details information conveyed in the Paris Crew video and identify how the information contributes to the video’s purpose.

Practise the strategy ➤➤ Use one of the following activities to practise the strategy:

Option #1: Explain to students that the 1988 Olympic Winter Games held in Calgary included several unique and

In 1988, Michael Edwards was the an unlikely athlete. He wore thick glasses thaEddie the Eagle ACTIVITY SHEET colourful competitors. One was a Jamaican bobsled team no fi nancial support. fi rst and only person to com B 62 Eddie was born in 1963 and started downhill ski t fogged up when he skied, he was 20 pounds ove ski team. pete for Britain in Olympic ski jumping. E jumping In 1986, that had never seen snow before competing in Calgary. might he moved to make be a to New the borrowedcheaper Y sport ork to ing when he was 13. In 1984, he almost made boots to compete ddie was In 1987 do. Eddie rweight, and he had Eddie fi t. When in North was the only applicant from Britain, Eddiehe w practised America. represented went using Another was the participation of Michael Edwards, who back borrowed When Britain to England, he ran Eddie in the equipment. out the British downhill was world he practised of mone a He y, closest novelty ski-jumping by had Eddie competitor at as able to compete in the 1988 Olympicjumping to wear thought soaring. Many referred tothe him as inept. Fine championships six . His Olympics. over pairs ski nickname busses, of socks became known as Eddie the Eagle, Britain’s first and His lack and without “the was 62 But the Eagle” of skill ranked snow fans was was fi fty-fi . admired his courage,loved his sense of adventure, an obvious. Wi fth. Eddie! form was notironic Eddie’ He nter Games. Because Thousands reference placed last he Eddie of to his in thought fans s fi jumping all his only ski jumper. Eddie became the 1998 Olympics’ Simply going to the Olympic Games at all wa chanted rst concern. He just wantedevents, to land s he style. exemplifi his name He far his sense of humouras was behind ed the he launched not his Eddie Olympic graceful became spirit—a , or his spirit,himself which led him to follow hi or However from afely Relevant details the most true the . mocked , not famous s a gold medalamateur for Eddie. ski jump. “most-loved” loser, and he received more interview everyone sportsman, the athlete Perhaps changed. Olympics. was of they thrilled the 1988 competing became knownAthletes as the “EddieShortly the Eagle withRule.” Eddi Olympic s dream had after Eddie. because . to fi the Ski Winter he nish in 1988 offi Games loved In the top Olympics cials his spite half said and created sport. requests than any other athlete at the games. Provide of its at ended, his performance at the disapproval international the a lot closing rules of interest ceremonies:of competitionscontrolling was Eddie, e’s Olympic days were over not in ski Eddie’ the who good jumping. “people International in order qualifi for s fame set to ed the sport Tonight brought new Olympic compete for the and Show, goals, . in games Eddie the Eagle advertising campaigns, co-hostedhim great a BBC rad created Committee the were students with a copy of (Activity became Olympics.

Calgary a success. new president sponsor He world This for to take for had records, referred the part Eagle a huge and to cross-Canada in the Airlines, “non-victory” one him starring Steve Coogan, was madetwentiethResear about his li has kindly io show wrote even in his relay channiversary topic/question a parade ﬂ own speech Sheet B) and Rating details (Activity Sheet C). leading , and earned book,a law Ratingdegree. Inin Februar details like recorded his an up to of the home eagle.ACTIVITY SHEET References: the 2010 games, a town, ” Resear song Olympic and was in appeared

hhttp://archives.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/topics/1322-8081/ttp://en.wikipedia.ordetails Relevant ch purposefe. Finnish, Winter asked on The C http://www Games. to serve y 2008, Eddieparticipated returned to http://www In 2009, as a torchbearer in Assign students individually or in pairs one of a ﬁ .infoplease.com/spot/winter g/wiki/Eddie_%22The_Eagle%22_Edwards lm called in Winnipeg .bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/content/articles/2008/02/13/eddie_the_eagle_feature.shtml Eddie the Eagle

-olympics-eddie-eagle-edwards.htmlDetails ,

the following research tasks: Relevant details

Important to the topic/questioRating the ndetails

5 not very important • Was the 1990 “Eddie the Eagle Rule” rule Contributes to the re © slight contributionThe Critical Thinking Consortium search purpose valuable

Important to the topic/question fair? powerful contribution not very important Contributes to the re

slight contribution search purpose valuable

• Create a sports card profile of Eddie the Eagle. Important to the topic/question powerful contribution not very important Contributes to the re

slight contribution search purpose valuable

• Does Eddie represent the true spirit of the Important to the topic/question powerful contribution not very important Contributes to the re

Olympic Games or did his performance make slight contribution sear ch purpose valuable

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not very important powerful contribution fun of the games? Contributes to the re

slight contribution search purpose valuable

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powerful contribution not very important Relevant details Option #2: Provide students with access to Contributes to the re slight contribution search purpose valuable

6 the article, Stone Age cultures survive tsunami powerful contribution

© The Critical Thinking Consortium waves, available at http://www.nbcnews.com/ id/6786476/#.U7RtkqgoxzA. Assign students one of the following research tasks: • Create a profile of these Stone Age people, explaining how they could escape a tsunami. • Evaluate the responses of modern people to these Stone Age tribes. • How similar/different are these Stone Age people from present-day humans?

➤➤ Discuss the underlying purpose of each of these research questions (inform, evaluate, compare). Provide students with a copy of Rating details (Activity Sheet C). Instruct students to gather and rate the details that would be most relevant for their research question and purpose.

Relevant details 2 © The Critical Thinking Consortium TEACHER RESOURCE

Reinforce the strategy ➤➤ Introduce Relevant details (Student Resource). Review

each of the elements: purpose, strategies, practice sample, Relevant details selecting the information or facts that are signiﬁ useful for a speciﬁ and self-assessment rubric. Encourage students to refer to STUDENT RESOURCE c research question and purpose

Purpose cant or this chart when using the strategy in the future. This strategy helps me include details that add important information and Instructions further the purpose of my • Identify research. convince,the purpose generate interest,inform, report of a your human i provide research. • Think of the kind of de a broad Are overview you trying • In nterest story, provide to amuse, For a sample use of the the tails that would be important to in-depththe topic. important.sources , or create empat entertain, strategy you information, 62 , see the next page paragraph, This are using, information look hy? made more thanand once or it stands out asfor bei the summary is the often information • Review of found your in that key to thethe assigned details topic and cont source. the title, seems Often ﬁ rst most you ﬁ an and/or nd from ng particularlyimportant interesting. your last research point ribute most powerfully to your purpose is Assessing my ability to judge “r and select Relevant details those that are

Accomplished Identify details that are important to the topic/question: Good elevant details”

I can easily identify many 62 details that pr important information Basic ovide I can identify some details about my topic or that pr question. ovide important information, but I have Struggling I can identify obviously tr Determine contribution to researchouble withpurpose complex or important information, diffi cult examples. but I am often confused I need help identifying any I can easily determine when a lot of details ar important information. how signifi provided. cantly details will contribute to the I can determine how : e purpose of my r signifi cantly some details esear will contribute to the ch. I can determine how purpose of my r signifi cantly the most esear obvious details will ch. I need help to determine contribute to the purpose how signifi of my r esear will contribute cantly to mydetails am often confusedch, but by I Relevant details resear complex or diffi ch purpose. examples. cult

Relevant details ➤➤ Invite students to use this strategy to create a 30-second snapshot (e.g., written profile, video) of an Olympic athlete or an Olympic sport. Brainstorm possible purposes for the snapshot such as promoting participation in the sport, fostering determination, encouraging an increase in funding support for athletes. Encourage students to use Rating details (Activity Sheet C) to select the most relevant details for their purpose.

Apply the strategy in ➤➤ Encourage students to use this strategy in everyday situations, including the following: everyday teaching • finding out about people, places, and issues; • researching a variety of points of view; • creating a defence or argument to support your position; • researching a product; • promoting an event.

Assess use of ➤➤ Encourage students to refer to the rubric found in Relevant details (Student Resource) when the strategy self-assessing their understanding of this literacy strategy. • Allow students opportunities to apply the strategy two or three times without evaluation. • Guide students in interpreting and using the rubric to assess their own responses. • Encourage students to use the rubric whenever they use this strategy.

➤➤ To use the rubric for teacher evaluation of student work, remove the first person (student) reference from each descriptor.

Relevant details 3 © The Critical Thinking Consortium ACTIVITY SHEET A

The Paris Crew

The Paris Crew was the first rowing team to bring international recognition to Canada. The crew was first known as the Saint John Four. Robert Fulton, Samuel Hutton, George Price, and Elijah Ross—three fishermen and a lighthouse-keeper from New Brunswick—formed the rowing team and won their first race in 1853. In 1865, they became hometown heroes by winning the provincial title. Relevant details In 1867, Canada was a new nation. Confederation had just become a reality. When the chance came for the Saint John Four to compete in Europe, the New Brunswick government and the people of Saint John provided the $6,000 they needed for the trip. Maritimers highly valued the sport of rowing.

When the Saint John Four arrived in Paris they were regarded as “country bumpkins.” One newspaper commented, “with their flesh-coloured jerseys, dark cloth trousers, leather braces and bright pink caps, they were in striking contrast to their neat competitors.” Their homemade boat weighed 50 kg 62 more than one of the European competitors and was described as a “Chinese puzzle painted green.” The English criticized their rowing style and competitors were surprised when they saw the Canadian team rowed without a coxswain—the person in charge of directing the rowers.

But when the New Brunswick crew took to the water in competition, the scoffing stopped. The Saint John Four defeated Paris’s Gesling Crew in a close race. The next day they crossed the finish line a full minute ahead of the English team to win the world championship title. Their unlikely victory, in which they defeated famous crews from Oxford and Cambridge, made sports headlines around the world. Following their amazing victory, the crew was nicknamed the Paris Crew, a name that stuck.

The entire world, however, did not accept their title as world champions. The Americans were quick to point out that the United States did not enter the competition but could certainly have beaten the Canadians. In 1868, the Paris Crew took on America’s best crew, the Ward brothers, and beat them in a six-mile race, confirming the Paris Crew’s status as world rowing champions.

The members of the rowing team were Canadian heroes. They brought international fame and respect to the new country of Canada. Their victory helped form the collective identity of Canadians, instilling national pride and connecting people from coast to coast.

From 1863 until 1876,when they disbanded, the Paris Crew remained undefeated, except for one race lost due to a flooded boat. In 1956, the Paris Crew was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.

References: http://www.cshof.ca/accessible/hm_profile.php?i=194 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Crew

Relevant details 4 © The Critical Thinking Consortium ACTIVITY SHEET B

Eddie the Eagle

In 1988, Michael Edwards was the first and only person to compete for Britain in Olympic ski jumping. Eddie was an unlikely athlete. He wore thick glasses that fogged up when he skied, he was 20 pounds overweight, and he had no financial support.

Eddie was born in 1963 and started downhill skiing when he was 13. In 1984, he almost made the British downhill ski team. In 1986, he moved to New York to compete in North America. When he ran out of money, Eddie thought ski jumping might be a cheaper sport to do. Eddie practised using borrowed equipment. He had to wear six pairs of socks 62 to make the borrowed boots fit. When he went back to England, he practised by jumping over busses, without snow.

In 1987 Eddie represented Britain in the world ski-jumping championships and was ranked fifty-fifth. Because he was the only applicant from Britain, Eddie was able to compete in the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.

Eddie was a novelty at the Olympics. His lack of skill was obvious. He placed last in all his events, far behind his closest competitor. His nickname “the Eagle” was an ironic reference to his jumping style. He was not graceful or Relevant details soaring. Many referred to him as inept. Fine form was not Eddie’s first concern. He just wanted to land safely.

But the fans loved Eddie! Thousands of fans chanted his name as he launched himself from the ski jump. Perhaps they admired his courage, his sense of adventure, his sense of humour, or his spirit, which led him to follow his dream.

Eddie thought he exemplified the Olympic spirit—a true amateur sportsman, competing because he loved his sport. Simply going to the Olympic Games at all was a gold medal for Eddie.

Eddie became the most famous athlete of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games and created a lot of interest in ski jumping. However, not everyone was thrilled with Eddie. Ski officials said his performance was not good for the sport and mocked the Olympics. Shortly after the 1988 Olympics ended, the rules controlling who qualified for the games were changed. Athletes had to finish in the top half at international competitions in order to compete in the Olympics. This became known as the “Eddie the Eagle Rule.” Eddie’s Olympic days were over.

In spite of its disapproval of Eddie, the International Olympic Committee president referred to him kindly in his speech at the closing ceremonies: “people set new goals, created new world records, and one has even flown like an eagle.”

Eddie’s fame brought him great success. He had a huge “non-victory” parade in his home town, appeared on The Tonight Show, became a sponsor for Eagle Airlines, wrote a book, recorded a song in Finnish, participated in advertising campaigns, co-hosted a BBC radio show, and earned a law degree. In February 2008, Eddie returned to Calgary to take part in the twentieth anniversary of the games, and was asked to serve as a torchbearer in Winnipeg for the cross-Canada relay leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In 2009, a film called Eddie the Eagle, starring Steve Coogan, was made about his life.

References: http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/topics/1322-8081/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_%22The_Eagle%22_Edwards http://www.infoplease.com/spot/winter-olympics-eddie-eagle-edwards.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/content/articles/2008/02/13/eddie_the_eagle_feature.shtml

Relevant details 5 © The Critical Thinking Consortium ACTIVITY SHEET C

Rating details

Research topic/question

Research purpose Relevant details

Details Rating the details Important to the topic/question

not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose 62 slight contribution powerful contribution

Important to the topic/question

not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution

Important to the topic/question

not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution

Important to the topic/question

not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution

Important to the topic/question

not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution

Important to the topic/question

not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution

Relevant details 6 © The Critical Thinking Consortium STUDENT RESOURCE Relevant details selecting the information or facts that are significant or useful for a specific research question and purpose

Purpose Instructions 62 This strategy helps me • Identify the purpose of your research. Are you trying to amuse, entertain, include details that add convince, inform, provide a broad overview, provide in-depth information, important information and generate interest, report a human interest story, or create empathy? further the purpose of my • Think of the kind of details that would be important to the topic. research. • In the sources you are using, look for the information that seems most important. This information is often found in the title, first and/or last

paragraph, and the summary of your source. Often an important point is Relevant details made more than once or it stands out as being particularly interesting. For a sample use of the • Review the details you find from your research and select those that are strategy, see the next page. key to the assigned topic and contribute most powerfully to your purpose.

Assessing my ability to judge “relevant details”

Accomplished Good Basic Struggling

Identify details that are important to the topic/question:

I can easily identify many I can identify some details I can identify obviously I need help identifying any details that provide that provide important important information, important information. important information information, but I have but I am often confused about my topic or trouble with complex or when a lot of details are question. difficult examples. provided.

Determine contribution to research purpose:

I can easily determine I can determine how I can determine how I need help to determine how significantly details significantly some details significantly the most how significantly details will contribute to the will contribute to the obvious details will will contribute to my purpose of my research. purpose of my research. contribute to the purpose research purpose. of my research, but I am often confused by complex or difficult examples.

SAMPLEuse of the strategy

Rating details

Relevant details Research topic/question Create a sports card profile of Eddie the Eagle Research purpose Inform readers about who Eddie was and what he did

Details Rating the details Important to the topic/question Unaccomplished ski jumper who represented 62 Britain in the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose Calgary slight contribution powerful contribution Fans loved him Important to the topic/question not very important valuable He was funny and entertaining Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution Important to the topic/question Didn’t have any money not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution Important to the topic/question Became the most famous athlete of the 1998 winter games not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution Important to the topic/question Officials changed the qualification rules for Olympic participation as a result of his not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose performance slight contribution powerful contribution Important to the topic/question Became successful because of his popu- not very important valuable larity Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution Important to the topic/question Will be a torchbearer in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games relay not very important valuable Contributes to the research purpose

slight contribution powerful contribution