Language Dives Lesson

For this lesson I am combining resources from ThoughtCo and EL Education. In a document that
describes how EL Education defines a language dive, they had a list of Language Dive Anchor questions
that are used to guide the lessons. Ideally, the mentor sentences (also known as Juicy Sentences,
anchors, or exemplars) are taken from any text being used in class. I forgot to bring home a copy of a
text so I looked for some examples to use online. ThoughtCo had grouped complex sentences by the
purpose of their conjunctions. For example, when and after are conjunctions that show time. I thought
this grouping was useful so I summarized the questions.

ThoughtCo Complex Sentences

Showing contrast or surprise: although, even though, and though are conjunctions that show
contrasts between perspectives, or something that was unexpected.
• Although I felt he was wrong, I decided to trust him.
• Sharon started looking for a new job even though she was currently employed.
• Though I couldn't understand a word, we had a great time!
Showing Cause and Effect: the conjunctions because, since and as, are used to show cause and effect.
• Since you need some help, I'll come over this afternoon.
• Henry felt he needed to take some time off because he had been working so hard.
• The parents paid for extra lessons as the children were very gifted.
Expressing Time: subordinating conjunctions that show time include: when, as soon as, before, after
and by.
• By the time you get this letter, I will have left for New York.
• I used to play a lot of tennis when I was a teenager.
• We had a wonderful dinner after she had arrived.
Expressing Conditions: the conjunctions if, unless, in case that, are used to express conditions.
They won't come next week unless you ask them to do so.
In the case that he isn't available, we'll look for another consultant.

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An EL Education language dive lesson has three parts: deconstruction, reconstruction, and
practice. Their lessons are driven by the questions at the end of this lesson (a sort of Appendix).
The sentence “Although I felt he was wrong, I decided to trust him.”

Deconstruction
• “What is the meaning of this sentence? Why do we think that?”
• “How can we say this sentence in our own words?”
• “Can we divide this sentence into two or more sentences? What do we have to remove or
change?”LL
• Can we chunk this sentence into groups?
Reconstruction
• “What does this chunk tell us? Why do we think that?”
• “How can we say this chunk in our own words?”
• “Can we act out the chunk? Can we sketch the chunk?”
Practice
 Can you write a sentence that fits this pattern?
Although I felt______, I decided to ______.

Appendix: Questions We Can Ask during a Language Dive Anchor Chart

Questions about the sentence

• “What is the meaning of this sentence? Why do we think that?”

• “How does the sentence add to our understanding of the guiding question?”

• “How can we say this sentence in our own words?”

• “Can we divide this sentence into two or more sentences? What do we have to remove or change?”

• “Can we say this sentence in a different order? How?”

• “What other questions can we ask that will help us understand this sentence?”

Questions about the chunks

• “Who or what is this chunk about? What is the person or thing doing in this chunk?”

• “What does this chunk tell us? Why do we think that?”

• “How can we say this chunk in our own words?”

• “Can we act out the chunk? Can we sketch the chunk?”

• “Why did the author write this chunk?”

• “What if we remove _____ in this chunk? Does it still make sense? Why do we think that?”

• “What if we replace _____ in this chunk with _____? How does that change the meaning?”

Questions about words

• “What do we think this word means?”

• “What is the translation of this word?”

• “Is there a familiar word or affix in this word? How does that help us understand the unfamiliar
word?” • “What are some synonyms of this word? How are they different in meaning?”

Questions about the Language Dive

• “How can we use this sentence structure in our speaking and writing?”

• “Does the language in this sentence remind you of the language or chunks in other Language Dives?
How?”