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Is Seeing Believing...Or Decieving
Seventh graders investigate media protrayal of railroad trespassing incidents. They write a legal action letter against one of the media companies.
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Pros and Cons of Hydroelectric Power
Students develop arguments for and against the construction of hydroelectric power plants. Poll the groups to determine which view dominates in the class and students write a summary of their conclusions.
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Media Literacy Unit - Part 4
Seventh graders study how advertisers use techniques to sell their products. In this persuasive media instructional activity, 7th graders analyze media messages to find the advertiser's purpose. They examine different advertising...
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Creating an Instructional Manual
Ninth graders create an instructional manual about using a mechanical device. In this technical writing lesson, 9th graders create a PowerPoint presentation that includes the step by step process of how to use the mechanical device.
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In Search of Caesar's Ghost
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, their scripts include roles, lines and stage directions. Students...
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Is Every Color in the Rainbow?
Students discuss whether all colors are in the rainbow. In this physics lesson, students defend their ideas and present persuasive arguments to support them.
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Animals in Research - Right or Wrong?
Learners research animal testing in scientific research. They role-play a research scientist, teacher, animal rights activist, or cosmetics manufacturer, and develop an argument for or against animal testing.
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Long-Term Goals
Students set long-term and short-term goals. In this character education lesson, students determine whether goals that they write for themselves are long-term or short-term.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. vs. Malcolm X
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. In this African-American history lesson, 11th graders read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...
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The Wyandotte Constitutional Convention: The Issue of Suffrage
Seventh graders discover details about the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention. In this Kansas history instructional activity, 7th graders tackle civil rights concerns as they draft persuasive speeches to secure the rights of young...
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Mock Environmental Summit
Learners increase understanding of human impact on Earth's sytems and the climate. They develop persuasive and critical skills as writers and presenters. They become familiar with political decision making processes.
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The future of Affirmative Action
Eleventh graders explore the term Affirmative Action. In this US History lesson, 11th graders create a presentation that will determine the future of federal affirmative action programs. Students write a speech that will be...
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Doing What's Right
Students hold a class discussion. In this integrity lesson, students discuss the definition of integrity and read various handouts about what it means to do what's right. Students write a reflection in their journals.
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What Are Legal Briefs?
Twelfth graders read examples of legal briefs and identify their components. Using the text, they develop a list of the components necessary for a brief and which ones they are going to use in the mock court activities. They also...
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The Purpose and Power of Persuasion
Seventh graders are introduced to and discuss the power of persuasion. After reading text, they identify the author's purpose, perspective and argument. They write their own fiction and non-fiction texts and develop a perspective after...
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In Defense of Elitism
Learners identify the key components of an argument essay. They differentiate between claims based on facts, opinions, beliefs,and prejudice. Students develop skills of critical thinking in this lesson.
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Wildcat Dumping Site
Students research facts about illegal dumping sites and write an editorial exposing the effects of the site from their point of view and persuades readers to take action. Students brainstorm ideas that could be included in the editorial,...
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Procedures of the Court
Learners examine the role of the Michigan Supreme Court. They diagram the procedure one must follow to bring a case before the Court. They discuss the order of business for oral arguments as well.
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Video-Conferencing
Middle schoolers write a paper on the impact of video-conferencing in an area of their choice. The paper should discuss pros and cons to this technology and include a clear description of what video-conferencing is.
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Genetic Engineering
Learners will apply their knowledge acquired from two guest speakers to writing a three hundred-word essay on either the pros or cons of genetic engineering. They will try to persuade the reader of their essays to agree with their stance...
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Supreme Court
Eleventh graders explore the redistricting process. In this American Government lesson plan, 11th graders examine the electoral map. Students write an essay posing an argument for the redistricting process.
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Innocents Lost
Students use discussion and writing to express their views about the causes, circumstances and impact of the shooting of a six year old girl by a classmate.
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Your Next Class Trip
Learners write a persuasive argument to their principal to take their class trip to a destination of their choice. They must transfer the written argument into a website. They also focus on what it takes to plan a trip.
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Stewardship Letter
Students write a persuasive letter. In this stewardship lesson, students discover the basic format for a formal letter and some effective persuasive techniques. Students write a letter to bring about change in the way...