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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inner Circle/Outer Circle Debate Strategy

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Arranged in facing concentric circles, half the class discusses an issue. The other half of the class takes notes which are then used to fuel a class discussion and to prepare editorial opinions on the topic at hand. So much emphasis is...
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

Yeah, But...

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Impress upon your young learners the importance of formulating counter arguments based on facts and not opinions. This resource is meant to strengthen arguments designed in a previous lesson plan, but could also be used as a stand-alone...
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Handout
Curated OER

Corporal Punishment

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Nineteen states legally permit school officials to physically punish children. Scholars learn more about the topic as they use the website to prepare for a class debate or discussion. Pupils read background information and discover the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thoughts to the President

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students write a persuassive paragraph to the President stating their opinion on a topic. To do this, they start the message with a topic sentence such as "War is _____." The blank should contain a word or phrase expressing the student's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MLA Citation practice

For Teachers 9th
Do your writers have a hard time properly citing their sources in MLA style? Use this SMART board activity to practice these skills in a fun, interactive way. After debating a topic in class (the lesson uses "random drug testing in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Delivering a Persuasive Speech

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students demonstrate the appropriate classroom public speaking and listening skills that would be necessary to influence or change someone's mind or way of thinking about a topic. They define the elements of persuasion and recognize the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defending Great Literature

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students defend Mark Twain and the study of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn using persuasive techniques, appropriate word choice, and correct letter format, in response to a fictional letter by an upset parent.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School discipline includes paddling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars debate the pros and cons of paddling in schools. Students investigate the policy in their corporation. If young scholars disagree with the policy, students write an editorial that helps your readers find ways to make the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: GloFish - Illuminating Essays

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students research the genetically-engineered GloFish and write essays expressing their views about the subject. They evaluate the pros and cons of genetic engineering.Students may also hold a debate about genetic engineering.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: Persuasion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the characteristics of persuasive writing. They identify arguments, supporting details, and discuss how to reorganize and present information in more effective ways. Students compose their own essays and discuss their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating the "Perfect" Horse

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine horse biology and breeds while investigate the relationship between horses and riders. They research and analyze information found online in order to determine how to produce an all-purpose horse. They write position...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Computer Debates

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners research controversial Internet technology issues concerning security, privacy, and intellectual property. They formulate and present various perspectives on these issues in a mock television panel discussion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Move the Crowd: The Persuasive, Powerful Rhetoric of Mark Antony -Folger Shakespeare Library

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore a close reading of the speeches of Brutus and Mark Anthony in 3.2. They identify the effects of the rhetorical appeals used. Students explore the variety of ways in which Anthony might have delivered the speech....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crisis Management

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners research the issues facing President Bush and write short political commentaries predicting what course the president take. For homework, they write editorials stating what they think the president should do to best serve the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Powers That Be

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate past energy legislation, then write letters to Congress from the perspective of citizens trying to influence the original passage of these bills. Each small group does their research using a website imbedded in this...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heaven or Ground Hog Day?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover the ideas of enlightenment by reading historical poetry. In this philosophical lesson plan, students read poems by Sir Walter Scott and Sergeant Joyce Kilmer while discussing the themes of the writing with classmates....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stocking Up For The Next Millennium

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Look back on the inventions, concepts, cultural items, and literary contributions of the past one hundred years. Young historians will compose a presentation based on the research they do in favor of one thing that should withstand the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shakespeare's Othello and the Power of Language

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students explore the basis of Iago's persuasive power by analyzing Shakespeare's use of rhetoric and figurative language. In this Othello lesson, students analyze Iago's rhetoric in monologues and dialogues with other characters....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dispute Over Slavery in Kansas Territory

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze primary sources on slavery from Kansas Territory. In this Civil War lesson, students evaluate the antislavery and pro-slavery arguments and summarize key points. Students write a persuasive paper from the antislavery...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking at French Decorative Arts: Makers of Nothing, Sellers of Everything

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars imagine they are a 'marchand-mercier' (or salesman) and write a persuasive letter to sell French items. In this art analysis lesson, students identify the role of a 'marchand-mercier' and write a three-paragraph letter to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Future - Nuclear Power?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students comprehend that there are risks involved with using nuclear power. They write persuasive paragraphs for and against nuclear power. Students analyze the environmental issues and risks with nuclear power.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sculptural Space

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students analyze the needs for outdoor sculpture and create their own example. In this sculpture lesson, students discuss the sculptural and architectural elements of site-specific sculpture. Students work in teams to select a space for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Search of Caesar's Ghost

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collaborate in small groups to choose a scene that they write in place of a scene in Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar". In this dramatic expression lesson plan, their scripts include roles, lines and stage directions. Students...