Arguments and Claims
This Download Includes:
1. Google Slides: 9 slides to guide your students through the activity. Links to the story and witness statements are embedded in the slide.
2. Original Short Story: 4 page story based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears
3. 5 Witness Statements: First hand accounts of what happened from Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear, the Forest Ranger, and Goldilocks. This will help your students with evidence for their opening argument.
4. 6 Step Guide: This Google Slides guide helps your students develop their argument, claim, and reasoning before they write the opening statement. It includes prompts and areas for students to type their responses.
5. Checklist: Google Forms Checklist to help with the editing and revising process.
Delivery: Google Slides, Docs, Forms. PDF versions also available
Give your students practice and choice with this engaging arguments and claims activity. Students will read an original story based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, analyze witness statements, and then determine if Goldilocks should be prosecuted for her actions. Students will take on a lawyer role and write an opening statement based on their claim. My middle school ELA students loved this activity!
This is the first step to get your students to read critically and analytically. With this mini lesson, you will teach your middle school students what an argument and claim is, how to find it, and how to analyze the evidence. It is a great starting off point for an argument and claims unit!
What's included in this download:
1. Google Slides Presentation: 10 creative and colorful slides that will help your students understand the basics of argument and claims.
2. Vocabulary and Definitions: Introduces and explains- Argument, Claim, Counterclaim, relevant evidence, and conflicting evidence. There is also a Quizziz vocabulary practice embedded into the slides!
3. Whole Class Practice Article: Read the article, The Penny Should Be Eliminated, together. The Google slides will guide you through how to model how to analyze the text for word choice, claim, counterclaim, and evidence. (Answer key Included)
4. Student Practice: This can be used independently or with a partner. Students will read the article, Show Them The Money, and follow the quest activities. Quest activities can be completed digitally on the google slides or on paper.
Quest 1: Analyzing the article for positive and negative words
Quest 2: Determine the author's claim and how it was developed
Quest 3: Determining the author's reasons for their claim.
Quest 4: Analyzing the counterclaim
Quest 5: Determining if the overall article was effective.
5. Answer Key and Instructions: Find your instructions, links, and answer key all on one PDF document.
Delivery: Google Slides Links, PDF Copies