K12 Reader
My "Uninvention"
Is there anything in the world you wish could be "un-invented"? If so, why would the world be a better place if your choice did not exist? Your young writers and historians will be excited to respond to this writing prompt and share...
BW Walch
Vending Machine Bans Increase in Schools Nationwide
Does a ban on vending machines infringe on student rights, or do school officials have an obligation to monitor foods sold on school grounds? Your class members will explore the educational, health, and financial issues related to...
Curated OER
Dulce et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen
It is entirely fitting and proper that Wilfred Owen’s powerful “Dulce et Decorum Est” is the poem used for an exercise in close reading, discussion, analysis, and argumentative writing. Class members discuss focus questions in pairs,...
Google
Beginner & Intermediate 5: Evaluating Credibility of Sources
Convey how to determine appropriate and credible online sources with a series of three lessons. After completing the lessons, class members will know what kinds of sources to use, how to identify credible sources, and how tone and style...
Curated OER
A Way with Words
How do facts and opinions impact the news? After reading "How to Cover a War" from the New York Times, middle schoolers evaluate the claims in the article. They also consider the media's responsibilities in reporting during wartime....
TV411
Learn the Steps to Clear Essay Writing!
Introduce your young writers to the five-paragraph expository essay format with a four-page worksheet that uses color codes to model for writers how to craft the essay. Although designed to prepare writers for the GED, the approach can...
Curated OER
Telling Our Stories of Giving - Writing to Persuade
After identifying the parts of a persuasive piece of writing, young writers explore different prewriting activities for the persuasive essay. They have the option to write a news article, personal narrative, or persuasive essay to...
Other
Pde: Sas: Identifying and Understanding Use of Testimonials in Advertising
In this lesson, 8th graders analyze and compare the propaganda techniques used in informational texts, with a particular focus on the use of testimonials. Includes links to recommended resources, scaffolding suggestions, and an...
Other
The Critical Thinking Community: Tactical and Structural Recommendations
16 brilliant suggestions for creating critical thought in the classroom.
Other
Critical Thinking Community: Remodeling Lessons Grades 6 9
Learn to re-model your lesson plans to include room for critical thought and higher levels of learning. Re-modeled lessons cite specific critical thinking strategies. Wonderful examples include "Human Migration," "Integrated Grammar,"...
![De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Think Clearly: Analyze Support a Position[pdf] Graphic](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Think Clearly: Analyze Support a Position[pdf] Graphic")
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Think Clearly: Analyze Support a Position[pdf]
This Center for Urban Education resource provides a downloadable worksheet. Students will read a nonfiction article and then write about scaffolded prompts that will help them determine the strength of evidence presented in the argument.
University of Sydney (Australia)
University of Sydney: The Write Site: Evaluating Your Evidence
This essay resource teaches students how to select the type of evidence that best lends weight and credibility to their topics and how to organize the evidence effectively. A chart is provided as a quick reference. Click on pages 2-4 at...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Write a Persuasive Text That Supports a Position
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] You will learn to write a persuasive text that responds to the views of others by using evidence that differentiates between fact and opinion to support your viewpoint.
University of Sydney (Australia)
The Write Site: Why & How to Use Sources
This University of Sydney reference explains the importance of using reputable sources in academic writings. Then the site provides steps to follow to assist students with using bibliographic sources. Click on the sections list to...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Use Evidence to Show How a Writer Supports
This Center for Urban Education resource provides a downloadable graphic organizer for students to use when analyzing the evidence that authors use to support a claim. RI.9-10.5 ideas/claims developed. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.8
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Organizing Your Argument
This Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab) explains how to organize information in an argumentative essay. Several examples are provided to show how each piece of evidence is elaborated.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Rebuttal Sections
This Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab) provides information related to writing an argumentative essay. This guide explains to develop the rebuttals section.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Writing Explanation Pt. 2: Crafting a Well Written Explanation
In this module, students will write an explanation about climate change based on the claims, evidence and reasoning they identified in the Writing Explanation Part 1: Claims, Evidence and Reasoning.
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 3: Building an Argument
In this module, students will explore how claims, counterclaims, evidence and reasoning are used to write an effective argument. Students will read texts that discuss the climate change debate.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Writing Explanation Part 2: Well Written Explanation
In this module, students will write an explanation based on the claims, evidence and reasoning about climate change that they identified in Writing Explanation Part 1: Claims, Evidence, Reasoning.
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...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: A Summary of "Writing Next"
What does research tell us about effective teaching techniques to help adolescents develop their writing skills? This article summarizes Writing Next, a 2007 study of adolescent writing instruction.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Boundless Communications: Credibility Appeals
In this Boundless Communication, students will learn about the importance of credibility in public speaking. There are four sections: defining credibility, types and elements of credibility, building credibility, and ethical usage....