Class members choose a current social, political, environmental, or economic problem presented in Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America, research this problem and a variety of suggested solutions, before drafting an argument for the solution they find most compelling.

Concepts

debate, problem solving techniques

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Invite members of the school's speech and debate clubs to model rhetorical devices and argument construction, as well as appropriate and inappropriate refutation

Classroom Considerations

• The activity presumes speakers have experience presenting their ideas to an audience and are familiar with rhetorical devices

Pros

• The five-page packet includes an overview of the activity, a list of suggested topics found in the text, and links to related sites, worksheets, and a rubric

Cons

• No models are provided for how to respond appropriately to the suggested solutions

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.9-10.5 RI.9-10.8 W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.1.b W.9-10.1.c W.9-10.1.d W.9-10.1.e W.9-10.4 W.9-10.5 W.9-10.10 SL.9-10.1.c SL.9-10.1.d SL.9-10.4 SL.9-10.6 L.9-10.1.a L.9-10.6