Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: Compare and Contrast Lesson: Opposing Points of View in History

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
After reading/listening to the picture book I am the Dog I am the Cat by Donald Hall in which two characters have opposing viewpoints, students are asked to look deeply at opposing viewpoints of real people just before the Revolutionary...
Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: Responding to Comparison/conrast: 5 Voice Storyboard: Perspect [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this PDF lesson young scholars study a topic on which people tend to have differing opinions; they create five dialogue bubbles that would represent five different viewpoints: one in complete support of the topic, one completely...
Lesson Plan
Lumen Learning

Lumen: Writing Skills: Formula for Refutation and Rebuttal

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson focuses on the formula for refuting and rebutting counterarguments including accurately representing opposing viewpoints, using a respectful, non-incendiary tone, using reliable information, using qualifying words to aid...
Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: Mob's Voice vs. Hero's Voice

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this lesson, the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is used to get students to explore point of view and issues related voice in writing and social justice. This lesson requires the students to analyze and discuss the...
Website
Other

Harvard University: Justice With Michael Sandel

For Students 9th - 10th
Justice with Michael Sandel is a twelve-part university-level course about justice, equality, democracy, and citizenship that Harvard University has opened to the public. Using a video-lecture format, Justice gives viewers turns to...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Issues: Persuasive Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This lesson focuses on persuasive writing including what it is and is not and the components of persuasive writing. It features links to guides including Purdue Owl: "Logic in Argumentative Writing" and Study Guides and Strategies:...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Was the 'Whole Thing a Lie' or a 'Noble Crusade' [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Read the opposing viewpoints of General Westmoreland, U. S. commander in Vietnam during the troop escalation, and Sgt. Donald Duncan, a Vietnam veteran, who became one of the first critics of the U.S. Vietnam policy. Was the Vietnam War...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hamilton and Jefferson the Men and Their Philosophies [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton played a huge role not only in crafting important documents in U.S. history, but also by serving as secretaries in George Washington's first cabinet. Read about their diametrically opposing...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Conflicting Newspaper Accounts (Civil War Lesson Plan) [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Multilayered lesson plan that begins with analysis of a series of photographs of the battle of Antietam and ends with writing an account of the battle in the style of a nineteenth-century war correspondent from opposing perspectives of...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Writing a Persuasive Essay

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this lesson students research opposing viewpoints on controversial issues and develop their own position papers. Though primarily for English classes, this lesson could be easily adapted for an interdisciplinary unit with social...
Handout
Other

Suny: Conventions of Writing Papers About Literature

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A professor's excellent explanation of how to write a professional sounding essay. Covers all aspects of an essay, and detailed examples give information on exactly how to write the essay.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Do Animals Have Feelings?

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not animals feel various emotions. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Are Public Curfews Fair?

For Teachers 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating public curfews for teens. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Book Battles

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not some books should be banned from school libraries. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: News Debate Snowed Out!

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether schools should or should not have snow days. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Taking Out the Trash Talk

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text that argues whether trash talking should or should not be banned from professional sports. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Drilling for Alaska

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about drilling for oil in Alaska. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in comparing and contrasting.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Time to Think

For Teachers 6th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the possibility of making the school day longer. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in comparing and contrasting.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Weight Debate

For Teachers 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not schools should send reports home about students' body mass index (BMI). A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Battle Over the Pledge

For Teachers 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not the Pledge of Allegiance should be said in schools. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Looking Up to the Stars

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether stars have a duty to be role models or not. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: News Debate: Atten Hut!

For Teachers 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating restrictions to military recruiting in high schools. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Sweet Life

For Teachers 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating the health risks of artificial sweeteners. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: News Debate: Sew Long?

For Teachers 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether home economics courses should or should not be taught in schools. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.