Syllogisms, deductive validity, and the principles of inductive probability for evaluating evidence-based claims. Targets common logical fallacies and the construction of sound, persuasive arguments.
Compares Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate formats, preparing students for competitive environments.
Teaches students how to find, evaluate, and cite credible evidence to support their arguments.
Explores logical reasoning and common logical fallacies that undermine debate arguments.
Introduces the Claim-Warrant-Data model of argumentation and basic structures for building a persuasive case.
Focuses on non-verbal communication, vocal variety, and overcoming stage fright to establish a professional presence.
A summative assessment where students solve and create multi-step logic puzzles and LSAT-style games based on verbal analogies.
Investigates false equivalence and other logical fallacies in real-world data and media, applying analogy skills to information literacy.
Connects coding concepts to linguistics by having students design flowcharts and 'rules' to solve for unknown terms in complex analogies.
Explores analogies through the lens of space and time, using diagramming to visualize movement between terms and sequences.
Introduces formal logic notation (A:B :: C:D) and maps word relationships onto these structures, emphasizing the importance of order and symmetry in verbal reasoning.
A peer review session where students map out the logical validity of each other's essays, acting as 'judges' to ensure conclusions follow necessarily from premises.
Synthesis lesson where students draft a position paper structured entirely around the logical forms learned in previous lessons. The focus is on structural integrity and logical necessity.
Using Disjunctive Syllogisms to present alternatives and prove a conclusion by process of elimination. Students apply this strategy to persuasive speechwriting.
Exploring the Hypothetical Syllogism to create sustained, coherent chains of reasoning. Students practice linking conditional statements to build complex, multi-paragraph arguments.
Introduction to Modus Ponens and Modus Tollens as fundamental structures for persuasive writing. Students learn to identify these forms in professional editorials and draft their own logical blueprints.
In this application lesson, students take text containing formal fallacies and rewrite it. They must alter the premises or the conclusion to make the argument formally valid, understanding the difficulty of maintaining truth while fixing structure.
Students draft their own syllogisms regarding current events or school policies and peer-review them for structural validity.
Students use Venn diagrams to test the validity of categorical syllogisms, mapping premises to see if conclusions follow necessarily.
Students examine the distinction between valid structural logic and sound factual truth, learning to identify arguments that are logically correct but factually false.
Students deconstruct categorical syllogisms into their component parts: major premise, minor premise, and conclusion, and practice standardizing language.
An instructional unit focusing on TEKS E2.8A, teaching students to analyze author's purpose, audience, and message within a variety of texts using nuanced verbs and rhetorical context.
A study of Act 1, Scene 4, where Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio prepare to crash the Capulet ball. Students will analyze Mercutio's vivid Queen Mab speech, Romeo's persistent melancholy and prophetic dreams, and the tension between whimsical fantasy and dark reality.
A study of Act 1, Scene 3, introducing the Nurse and Lady Capulet's proposal of marriage to Paris. Students will analyze the Nurse's coarse humor, Lady Capulet's extended metaphor of Paris as a book, and Juliet's initial stance on marriage and obedience.
A study of Act 1, Scene 2, where Count Paris asks for Juliet's hand and Romeo and Benvolio discover the Capulet party through a chance encounter. Students will analyze the dynamics of parental choice, the role of chance, and the poetic language used to describe the ladies of Verona.
An intensive study of the opening scene and prologue of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Students will analyze the mechanics of the ancient grudge, the characterization of the principal families, and the specific poetic techniques used to establish Romeo's unrequited love for Rosaline.
A tiered persuasive writing lesson designed for mixed-grade or scaffolded classrooms (9th-11th). Core concepts like Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are taught alongside advanced techniques like Kairos and Steel Manning, allowing students of different levels to collaborate and learn from one another.
An advanced lesson for 11th graders that builds upon basic rhetorical foundations. Students explore Kairos (the opportune moment), identify logical fallacies, and tackle complex ethical and societal issues through a high-fidelity architectural blueprint organizer.
A comprehensive lesson for 9th graders on mastering the art of persuasion, focusing on rhetorical appeals, claim development, and addressing counterclaims. Students will use a structured graphic organizer to architect their own arguments on school-related topics.
A comprehensive lesson for grades 9-12 on media literacy, source evaluation, and identifying bias. Students develop critical thinking skills to navigate the modern information landscape while practicing responsible decision-making.
A comprehensive assessment focusing on Act III of '12 Angry Men', emphasizing text-dependent analysis and critical vocabulary. Students explore themes of prejudice, the burden of proof, and the psychological dynamics of the jury room.
Students draft their argumentative essay using a guided framework and review their work against the GED rubric.
Students evaluate which argument is "better supported" and create a structured outline for their extended response.
Students learn to deconstruct the GED RLA prompt and use an Evidence Tracker to identify claims and support in two opposing viewpoints.
A lesson focused on identifying and inferring implicit cause and effect relationships within informational texts, specifically designed for 11th-grade English learners preparing for standardized assessments.
A comprehensive guide to teaching structured debate, focusing on argument construction, rebuttal strategies, and persuasive delivery for middle and high school students.
A 45-minute lesson where students showcase their media literacy investigations through screencasts, engage in peer evaluation using a professional rubric, and reflect on their growth as digital fact-checkers.
A lesson focused on helping students write a structured three-paragraph essay connecting a self-chosen topic to scientific principles.
A deep dive into the construction of strong body paragraphs and the art of the counterargument and refutation.
A lesson focused on understanding the structural components of an argumentative essay through a hands-on sorting and sequencing activity.
An ELL Level 1 adapted lesson for Chapter 4 of The Great Gatsby, focusing on romance vs. obsession through the lens of 'Red Flags' and 'Green Flags'. Includes vocabulary scaffolding, visual aids, and a creative meme project.
A high school English 3 lesson focused on Eric Schlosser's 'Food Product Design' from Fast Food Nation, exploring rhetorical craft, argumentative evaluation, and industrial food science.
A lesson focused on analyzing complex social situations involving respect and translating those analyses into persuasive or argumentative essays. Students will evaluate different perspectives and build logical arguments.
A high-intensity 90-minute workshop designed to move students from a score of 6 to 8 on the Texas English I Argumentative ECR by focusing on quote integration, thorough development, and sophisticated organization. Students analyze a passage on the 4-day school week and practice drafting a high-scoring response.
A 90-minute intensive workshop designed to help students transition from a basic score (3) to a top-tier score (6) on the Texas English I Argumentative ECR. The lesson focuses on evidence integration, transitions, and counter-arguments using the controversial topic of four-day school weeks.
A comprehensive 90-minute workshop designed to move Texas English 1 students from a score of 0 to 3 on the Argumentative ECR rubric. Students focus on building defensible thesis statements and selecting high-impact text evidence using a 'blueprint' approach to writing.
A 90-minute differentiated writing workshop designed to move students up the Texas English 1 EOC argumentative writing rubric through targeted stations. Students analyze samples, use tiered graphic organizers, and engage in peer review centered on the 'Value of Community Service' prompt.
A 90-minute intensive workshop designed to help students climb the STAAR English 1 EOC Argumentative Writing rubric. Students decode score points, analyze evidence-based arguments, and practice targeted revisions to level up their writing from basic to advanced.
A comprehensive one-week final summative project for The Maze Runner, featuring a choice board with six creative and analytical options, a detailed rubric, and a teacher pacing guide.
A pair of 20-minute, student-led stations focused on analyzing and drafting high-quality reasoning for the STAAR ECR.
A comprehensive guide for English 1 students to master the art of crafting precise, high-scoring thesis statements for both Argumentative and Informational EOC writing prompts using a structural 'blueprint' approach.
A 70-minute lesson on the 'Foo Fighters' phenomena and pilot logs, analyzing how the 'unexplained' triggers a shift from logic to superstition in text structure.
A 70-minute lesson on The Diary of Anne Frank, analyzing epistolary structure as a tool for personal reflection and psychological resilience in the face of constant fear.
A 70-minute lesson on Executive Order 9066, analyzing how bureaucratic and legalistic structures can mask fear and justify mass exclusion.
A 70-minute lesson focusing on FDR's 'Day of Infamy' speech, analyzing how a leader uses structural contrast and periodic sentences to transform public fear into national resolve.
Students will learn the essential components of a Public Service Announcement, focusing on persuasive techniques and crafting a compelling call to action to drive social change.
