Sophia Learning
Sophia: Argumentative Essays
This tutorial focuses on argumentative essays, longer writings on a well-researched topic with the writer arguing one side of the topic, free of fallacies, and providing several claims. A short YouTube clip of Monty Python shows the...
CPALMS
Cpalms: Lafs.8.sl.1.3
Choose from among lesson plans, assessments, and original student tutorials to teach how to analyze a speaker's arguments.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Writing Explanation Part 1: Claims, Evidence and Reasoning
In this module, students will explore how claims, evidence and reasoning are used to write an effective explanation. Students will read an article that addresses the question, "Should Congress consider comprehensive climate change laws?"
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Writing Explanation Part 1: Claims, Evidence and Reasoning
In this module, students will explore how claims, evidence and reasoning are used to write an effective explanation. Students will read an article that addresses the question of whether climate change is now confirmed after record high...
Yale University
Detective Fiction: Focus on Critical Thinking
Through the use of reading crime fiction, this lesson plan helps to refine critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies which are important for the development of 21st century skills.
University of California
University of Cal: Critical Thinking in an Online World
This article discusses why and how to encourage the development of critical thinking skills for students conducting research on the Web. The author even presents an overview of a project that you could adapt to your class.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Deductive Reasoning
This free encyclopedia site from Wikipedia gives a definition and examples of deductive reasoning. It also has links to related terms and topics.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Persuasive Essay Worksheets
A collection of assignments related to persuasive writing are provided on this site. Scaffolded assignments related to writing an effective introduction and identifying both sides of an issue are included. Exemplar persuasive essays with...
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: Evaluate Arguments and Claims
This article will help you evaluate informational text to determine whether an author's argument is supported by evidence or not. Click on Model to see a model with explanations and then click on Practice.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Prose Constructed Response Organizer [Pdf]
This resource provides a downloadable graphic organizer designed for preparing a constructed response that must compare two sources that make the same claim: two articles or an article and a video.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: Improve an Argument [Pdf]
This resource provides a downloadable worksheet. Students will read a nonfiction article and then answer scaffolded questions that will help them determine the strength of evidence presented in the argument. Then students will provide...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Can Contrast and Evaluate Fact, Opinion [Pdf]
This site provides a poster that will guide students as they contrast and evaluate facts and opinions. Guiding questions and student prompts are provided.
Web Center for Social Research Methods
Research Methods Knowledge Base: Deduction and Induction
This site provides a good explanation of deductive and inductive thinking.
Other
Persuasive/argumentative Essay vs. Opinion Writing
This lesson plan teaches students that writing a persuasive or argumentative essay for class is the same as writing an opinion article for their local newspaper. The lesson plan includes showing students examples of opinion writings and...
Other
That's a Good Question
While the specific questions proposed here relate to physical therapy, the method of designing good questions that is taught can be used universally. The author teaches a pattern of asking "What" "Why" and "How" to develop successively...
Other
Wsu: Improving Your Argument
Students writing persuasive essays run the risk of using inaccurate or illogical reasoning. This site by Weber State University provides pointers to help eliminate this problem. Several dos's and don'ts are given, as are 14 common...
Other
Speaking Effectively: Supporting the Talk
This substantial section focuses on supporting the main points of your speech or presentation. Find out how to avoid faulty reasoning and irrational appeals.
Brown University
Brown University: Critical Writing and Thinking
Resource explains exactly what critial writing and thinking are, questions to help you think critically, paper writing tips, troubleshooting, and more.
National Health Museum
Access Excellence: Integrating Critical Thinking Skills
This site from Access Excellence explores how, as an educator, you can incorporate critical thinking skills into the classroom. Content focuses on how to cover content so that students can grasp information, engage with the teacher, read...
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District: Logical Fallacies [Pdf]
A slide show explaining different types of fallacies in persuasive texts including personal attack, bandwagon, appeal to authority, and many more. Then try to find the fallacy in several examples; answers and explanations provided.
Quia
Quia: Fact or Opinion?
This is a 30 question quiz on separating fact from opinion. Students read the statement and select fact or opinion. Java plugin is required.
iCivics
I Civics: Games: Argument Wars
Games in which players act as lawyers arguing head to head before a judge about real Supreme Court cases.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: Evaluate Support for a Claim[pdf]
This resource provides a downloadable worksheet to use after reading a nonfiction text. Students will evaluate an author's support for a claim by answering the questions and prompts provided on the worksheet.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Fact and Opinion Lessons
In this learning module, students will learn more about the differences between facts and opinions. A PowerPoint presentation and related activity are provided to reinforce the topic of facts vs. opinions. This module is designed to...