A comprehensive lesson designed to help middle school students master the art of writing strong, argumentative thesis statements through a blueprint-themed instructional approach.

A comprehensive lesson for middle schoolers on mastering the art of the argumentative hook, covering four distinct strategies to grab a reader's attention and bridge to a strong claim.

A lesson exploring the famous case of Phineas Gage to understand the connection between brain structure and personality, meeting Oregon learning standards for reading informational text.

A focused 30-minute exploration of Macbeth's moral decay and psychological collapse across Act II, Scene 2 and Act III, Scene 4. Students analyze the immediate aftermath of regicide and the public appearance of Banquo's ghost to determine if Macbeth is fit for the crown.

This lesson focuses on Chapter 4 of Frederick Douglass's narrative, analyzing how specific accounts of murder illustrate the inhumanity of slavery and the corruption of the Southern legal system. Students analyze key lines and imagery to identify Douglass's central claims about the lack of justice and value placed on enslaved lives.

An analysis of Chapter 8 'Moscow', focusing on the introduction of Uncle Anoosh and the influence of political ideology on personal identity and Marji's concept of heroism.

A summative assessment unit comparing the historical case of Phineas Gage with modern neuroscience regarding the adolescent brain, focusing on reading comprehension and comparative analysis.

Students evaluate multiple viewpoints on a topic and construct a persuasive essay supported by evidence from the text.