"Effect Analysis" Article Reader's Response

 Link to Article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/education/01math.html?ref=education

Works Cited:

Hu, Winnie. "Making Math Lessons as Easy as 1, Pause, 2, Pause..." Editorial. New York Times 30 Sept. 2010. The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 30 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.

Reader's Response to Article:

 "Making Math Lessons as Easy as 1, Pause, 2, Pause..." is an interesting cause and effect analysis article. The article discusses methods of teaching mathematics and why some schools have switched the method from their previous to Singapore's method. This method stresses teaching the three-step process of concrete, pictorial, and abstract along with slowly introducing mathematics ideas and spending adequate time on each idea. American schools have been trying out new methods for teaching mathematics for years now. Some school introduces a method and when it does not improve the test scores the school moves on to a new method. If the new method works other schools may adopt that method. 

The article itself is a strong effect analysis, because it describes the consequences/benefits for the students that attend schools that have adopted Singapore's method. Some benefits the article describes include student's having a better understand of mathematics basics and therefore, a solid foundation for mathematics. In addition students are less likely to forget materials, more likely to score higher standardized test scores, and more likely to score higher in anecdotal reports. However, some caution that the consequences out balance the benefits. This program is expensive to put into place in schools as the program means new textbooks, new workbooks, and additionally training for teachers. A school that tried the program said it did not work, because the teachers themselves did not have enough of a solid foundation in math that Singapore's method requires. 

What makes this article successful? This article is successful mainly due to its structure. The introduction of the article captures the audience by stating that Americana's method is more fast past than this new mathematics method that is being tried out. If the reader is a parent, teacher, or student studying to a teacher this article already captures your attention in the first sentence. Then the author brings in a quote to explain what she means by slow paced method. Winnie than discusses the background of the slow paced method, which gives her credibility by having a quote and facts. Next,  Winnie ties in the slow paced method into American schools again, which is a smart way of making sure the reader knows this topic does effect them in America. The body of the article discusses the background of American mathematics and the strive to find a teaching method that raises Americans math skills. Winnie paraphrases what teachers and principles have said that is positive, but also the negative aspects of this new method. This is good so the author does not appear bias, because if the author appeared bias his or her credibility is lowered in the eyes of the reader. Along with the positive and negative effects of the new math method is the foundation of the method. Without this in this part of the structure the reader would not understand why the effects are what they are. Winnie concludes the article by talking about what an American school did the week before the article was written and ends with a student's quote.  

The article was a successful effect analysis due to the structure and clearly laid out effects of the new math method.