Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing an Argumentative Essay: Analyzing the Model Essay

For Teachers 7th Standards
Models and exemplars help pupils learn. Scholars read a model argumentative essay to prepare for an upcoming writing assignment. As they read, they work with partners to complete a worksheet analyzing the essay's structure. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing an Argumentative Essay: Crafting a Claim

For Teachers 7th Standards
As scholars prepare to craft their essays based on Katherine Paterson's Lyddie, they learn about using compelling reasons in their writing. Next, they develop a claim about whether Lyddie should sign a petition to speak out against...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Scaffolding to Essay: Using Details to Support a Claim

For Teachers 7th Standards
Show me the evidence. Writers analyze the Command of Evidence row of the rubric for A Long Walk to Water essay. Pupils work in pairs to determine how the writer of a model essay meets the demands of the rubric. They then use a Forming...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment: Claims, Interactions, and Structure in “Is Money Affecting Your Social Status?”

For Teachers 7th Standards
It's not about the money. Scholars use the text Is Money Affecting Your Social Status? to complete their end-of-unit assessments. After finishing the assessment, they discuss how the text relates to their working definition of identity...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit 3 Assessment: Using Strong Evidence

For Teachers 7th Standards
Young poets view a model two-voice poem while discussing capitalization and punctuation. Pupils also complete an end-of-unit assessment about using strong evidence to support a literary analysis. 
Activity
PBS

Who Knows Best

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Finding an expert in a given field when conducting research can be a challenge. This guide provides step-by-step directions as well as links to resources that help young sleuths find the authorities and experts they need. As a bonus, two...
Activity
PBS

Predicting/Making a Hypothesis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
As an introduction to the hypothesis and testing method of investigation, young history detectives engage in a special investigation of a family artifact. After watching a short video that demonstrates the method, they develop a...
Activity
PBS

Testing The Hypothesis

For Teachers 6th - 12th
After choosing one experiment from the four they conducted in the previous lesson, young investigators analyze the evidence they collected to determine if it proves or disproves their original hypothesis.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Evaluating an Argument: The Joy of Hunting

For Teachers 8th Standards
After listening to "Interview with an Organic Farmer," class members identify the claim the farmer makes in his interview. They use lined paper to create a four-square organizer for relevant evidence, sufficient evidence, irrelevant...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Informational Essay Planning: Studying the Essay Prompt and Gathering Evidence

For Teachers 8th Standards
Using a Gathering Evidence note-catcher, readers record evidence in A Mighty Long Way and Little Rock Girl 1957. They then use the evidence to analyze and discuss different mediums with their peers. Lastly, they look at a writing prompt...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing the Power of Different Mediums: A Mighty Long Way

For Teachers 8th Standards
Weigh the pros and cons. Class members continue sharing their thoughts on media and events by watching the video John Chancellor Reports on the Integration at Central High School. They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of gaining...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Mediums: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Speech

For Teachers 8th Standards
Text, speech, phone call. Scholars discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using speech and written text to express ideas. They use an Analyzing Mediums graphic organizer to analyze speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. They then...
Lesson Plan
National Woman's History Museum

Creating a Historical Thesis Statement

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
A strong thesis statement not only identifies the subject of an essay but also presents a claim that must be supported with evidence. After researching how nursing has evolved in the United States since the Colonial era, young writers...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Preparation for Performance Task: Practicing Presentations

For Teachers 8th Standards
Practice makes progress. Working in pairs, presenters rehearse and refine their presentation skills before the big day when they pitch their film choices. Rehearsing also allows for refining prompt cards based on peer feedback and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing the Central Claim and Supporting Claims: “The Shakespeare Shakedown”

For Teachers 8th Standards
Scholars continue to analyze Simon Schama's article "The Shakespeare Shakedown." They participate in a jigsaw discussion to identify the author's argument and supporting claims. Pupils also write objective summaries of the text.
Assessment
California Education Partners

My Librarian is a Camel

For Students 4th Standards
A two-part assessment challenges scholars to gather information from reading then write an opinion piece. In part one, learners read, take notes, and answer text-related questions. In part two, participants use their new-found knowledge...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Grade 11 ELA Module 2: Unit 2, Lesson 8

For Teachers 11th Standards
Using the resource, pupils consider how the author structures her argument in "An Address by Elizabeth Cady Stanton." Scholars complete a written response to identify one of Cady Stanton's claims and analyze how she uses reasoning and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Grade 11 ELA Module 1: Unit 2, Lesson 24

For Teachers 11th Standards
How do central ideas build on each other in Shakespeare's Hamlet? Scholars begin the first part of an end-of-unit assessment. They complete a Central Idea Evidence Collection Tool worksheet to prepare for a writing activity to discuss...
Unit Plan
Odell Education

Making Evidence-Based Claims: Grade 9

For Teachers 9th Standards
Sorry, Charlie. Scholars take a close look at Apology by Plato. Activities analyzing the text help pupils understand, make, organize, and write about claims. Learners work in groups, complete claim tools, and evaluate thinking by filling...
Unit Plan
Odell Education

Making Evidence-Based Claims Literary Technique: Louise Erdrich and Tim O’Brien

For Teachers 11th Standards
Take a ride in The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich. Students read the story and discuss whether a car is really a character. After carrying out several activities using graphic organizers and tools for making their claims in The Red...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Grade 10 ELA Module 4, Unit 2, Lesson 21

For Teachers 10th Standards
Which character bears responsibility for the tragedy in Shakespeare's Macbeth? Scholars participate in a gallery walk and complete a Quick Write to support their claims about which character is to blame.
Unit Plan
Odell Education

Making Evidence-Based Claims: "The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Scholars dig deep into the text of W.E.B. Du Bois The Souls of Black Folk and analyze his position that black people must be aware of how they see themselves as well as how the world sees them. The instructor and readers work through the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Grade 10 ELA Module 3: Unit 2, Lesson 5

For Teachers 10th Standards
Have you ever argued for the sake of argument? Scholars dig into what makes a compelling argument. They learn to create evidence-based arguments using a teacher-led model. Once finished, they use an evidence-based checklist to guide...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Grade 10 ELA Module 3: Unit 2, Lesson 11

For Teachers 10th Standards
It's time to prove it! Scholars now must ensure that all claims are based on evidence. Learners write detailed claims for each inquiry path using several evidence-based claims tools. At the end of the lesson plan, pupils respond to a...