Are American young people prepared to become tomorrow's leaders in technological innovation, or does an obsession with being cool sidetrack essential skills? That is the question freshmen and sophomores must address in a performance task assessment. After analyzing the arguments in two essays, individuals craft their own argumentative essay in response to the prompt.

Concepts

argumentative writing, arguments, counterarguments, persuasive arguments, evidence, supporting evidence, rhetorical devices, main ideas, reading comprehension

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

english language arts

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• While designed as an assessment, the packet may also be used to introduce argumentative writing and persuasive techniques
• Include in a health unit focused on self-esteem

Classroom Considerations

• Writers need to have studied persuasive techniques, rhetorical devices, how to structure arguments, and how to formulate counterarguments
• Requires individual copies of the two articles and of multiple worksheets

Pros

• The 59-page packet includes the prompt, the two articles, worksheets, and the assessment rubric

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.9-10.2 RI.9-10.3 RI.9-10.5 RI.9-10.6 RI.9-10.8 W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.5 W.9-10.9.a SL.9-10.1.a