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Handout
Curated OER

Thesis Statement + Projected Plan = Introduction

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Set up your writers for writing strong introductions with a formula for putting together supported thesis statements. This reference page breaks the process down and provides an example of how to compose a thesis statement, develop a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Secondary Sources: The American Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners who have a grasp on the events of the Revolutionary war view clips from five different films as secondary sources. They take notes on each clip thinking about historic inaccuracies. They then view parts of the film The Patriot...
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Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

Let Us Start The Lettuce Club (Or Not): Writing A Thesis Statement

For Teachers 9th Standards
Let us be frank! Writers learn that crafting a thesis statement is not that difficult if one peals back the layers. After watching several videos about the elements of a thesis, class members read the article "Lettuce Club helps students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing Persuasion Papers: Thesis Statement

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Using a "Hamburger" essay outline and actual hamburger buns, you will demonstrate the role a thesis plays in a persuasive essay. This is a simplistic visual representation of how an argumentative paper should be composed and not an...
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Lesson Plan
Prestwick House

Writing Arguments in Response to Nonfiction

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Emotional appeal or argument? That is the question. An informative lesson helps your class recognize the difference between a logical argument and an emotional appeal and learn how to craft an argumentative response. Writers develop a...
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Activity
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

WWII Position Paper

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
There are some historical events that may warrant greater reflection and more in-depth analysis, and the decision to intern Japanese-Americans in the United States during World War II, as well as to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and...
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Activity
Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Focus on writing argument essays with your high schoolers. The lesson suggested here focuses on The Jungle, by Sinclair Lewis; however, the idea could be adapted for other texts. Check out the quick quiz provided at the end of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Argumentation and Logic

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners recognize inductive and deductive reasoning and analyze common fallacies in critical thinking.  In this argumentation and logic lesson, students use role playing activities and specific instances of inductive and deductive...
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Worksheet
1
1
E Reading Worksheets

Persuasive Writing - Introductory Paragraph Review

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Master a well-organized thesis statement with a short activity for a persuasive writing unit. Young writers read five different introductory paragraphs about various topics, find the main ideas addressed in each thesis statement, and jot...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convey Ideas in Writing

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Use the platforms of the 2004 presidential candidates to bring persuasive writing to your class. Young voters identify the three issues most important to them in the election and research the issues and candidates' positions. They write...
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Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Persuasive Essay: Environmental Issues

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young environmentalists learn how to craft a persuasive essay about an environmental issue they consider important. After studying the components of a persuasive essay and examining a student model, writers brainstorm possible topics and...
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Unit Plan
1
1
New York City Department of Education

Grade 11 Literacy in Social Studies: Research Paper

For Teachers 11th Standards
The lesson guides young academics through the steps in producing a 10-page research paper on any topic in American history. Historians begin by formulating a thesis and gathering resources, then move on to creating an outline, and end...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Maryland Department of Education

The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 13: Unit Culmination - Symposium

For Teachers 10th - 11th Standards
To conclude a unit on the concept of diversity in world literature, class members conduct a symposium on "African Literature in Global Perspectives." In order to earn a spot on the panel, individuals craft an original thesis that...
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Activity
National Endowment for the Humanities

A Defense of the Electoral College

For Students 9th - 12th
Each presidential election year, the debate about the electoral college rages. Michael C. Maibach's "A Defense of the Electoral College" offers young political scientists an opportunity to examine a reasoned argument for why the...
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Organizer
1
1
McGraw Hill

Writing Prompts, Student Rubrics, and Sample Responses

For Students 7th Standards
Whether you are teaching mainstream, advanced, or intervention language arts classes, you will find something helpful in a thorough writing packet. It includes prompts, rubrics, responses, helpful hints, graphic organizers, and many...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal or Social Tragedy? A Close Reading of Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students complete close reading activities to analyze Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome. In this literary analysis lesson, students analyze key quotations from Ethan Frome and respond to contemporary reviews of the text. Students use textual...
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Handout
1
1
Ohio Literacy Resource Center

Arguing with Aristotle Ethos, Pathos, Logos

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Introduce your classes to the Art of Rhetoric with a lesson that focuses on Aristotle's persuasive appeals and how they have been used, both ethically and unethically, to influence opinion.
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Handout
1
1
Odegaard Writing & Research Center

Strong Body Paragraphs

For Students 6th - 12th
Here's a handy, seven-step guide to crafting good paragraphs in support of a claim. The steps are clearly explained and examples provided.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Constitution And Federal/State Relationship

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the Constitution for references to the relationship between state and federal governments. They examine Supreme Court cases for examples of the division of government between state and federal powers.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: The Writing Center: Thesis Statements [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a five-page PDF handout on how to write strong thesis statements for argumentative essays with examples.
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Thesis and Support in the Persuasive Essay (English I Writing)

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] A learning module that teaches students about thesis statements and supporting details in an argumentative essay in five mini-lessons: Introduction, Choosing a Topic,...
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Unit Plan
University of Sydney (Australia)

University of Sydney: Module 3 Unit 1: Planning Your Essay

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This unit index contains links with to guide students through the process of planning a multi-paragraph argumentative essay. Students will learn how to interpret the essay question, develop a writing plan, thesis, writing the argument,...
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Write a Persuasive Text With a Clear Thesis

For Students 7th - 9th
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] A learning module that teaches students how to focus on a thesis in an expository text in four lessons: Introduction, Opening Statement: Your Thesis, Maintaining Your Thesis...
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Handout
Harvard University

Harvard University: Strategies for Essay Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This website provides a series of links to detailed information about each segment of how to write an academic essay from how to read the assignment to the final edits. Use the links to the right. W.9-10.1a claims/intro/org, W.9-10.2a...