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.
This lesson provides intensive remediation on core literacy skills using high-interest texts centered on fear and superstition. It includes mentor texts in four genres, revision and editing practice, and a final cold-read assessment.
The culminating project where students research a controversial sports figure and produce a persuasive investigative podcast script and recording.
Students master the art of the interview, learning to craft hard-hitting questions and analyze verbal cues to uncover the 'truth' behind the athlete's persona.
An exploration of how media framing, headlines, and persuasive language can transform an athlete's public image from hero to villain and back again.
Students define the traits of sports heroes and villains, exploring how narrative archetypes are applied to real-world athletes to create compelling stories.
A two-day investigation into Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'The Danger of a Single Story,' focusing on how personal anecdotes build a central claim about power and perspective. Day 1 focuses on text analysis and evidence collection, while Day 2 is dedicated to synthesis and analytical writing.
Drafting the final introduction and conclusion (bookending the paper), peer reviewing the full paper, and final polishing using the rubric.
Drafting the second body paragraph, focusing on institutional changes and the breaking of systemic barriers.
Students research and draft their first body paragraph, focusing on the historical context of their sports moment.
Brainstorming significant moments, defining specific criteria for "significance," and analyzing the 'Four Days in October' 30 for 30 documentary as a case study.
A lesson focused on mastering the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) framework through investigative practice and sentence structure analysis.
This lesson focuses on helping students move beyond simple one-to-one cause and effect relationships to explore multiple, cascading, and long-term effects of a single event. It uses the 'Ripple Map' visual to help students trace consequences.
This Grade 8 ELA lesson guides students through RI.8.8 by analyzing the structural integrity of arguments regarding mandatory community service. Students will evaluate claim strength, assess evidence quality, and identify logical fallacies using an architectural blueprint theme.
A detective-themed introduction to Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) using short mystery scenarios to develop critical thinking and argumentative writing skills for junior high students.
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.
A 60-minute lesson on analyzing author's point of view using the text "The 4th R: Real Life," featuring a word splash, carousel activity, and choice board.
Concluding the novel and launching the final Cultural Identity Project.
Formal assessment of chapter 8 using the Image Analysis CER format.
Exploring chapters 4-6 through a theme-focused gallery walk to transition from thematic topics to thematic statements.
Deep dive into chapters 1-3 with a focus on character development and initial CER application in short responses.
Introduction to graphic novel terminology and the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) framework for literary analysis.
A one-hour deep dive into Terry Bisson's 'They're Made out of Meat,' focusing on point of view, dramatic irony, and themes of prejudice through an alien-themed lens.
Students will investigate how social media algorithms and editorial bias shape their understanding of reality. Through headline analysis and a simulation activity, 9th graders will develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate a digital information landscape.
Students dive into the world of marketing to master the rhetorical triangle: ethos, pathos, and logos. They will design a professional product poster and write a compelling pitch that combines product backstory with targeted sales tactics.
A 10-15 minute introductory lesson for 9th-grade students on navigating the information ecosystem, focusing on the differences between books, databases, and websites.
A final look at John Proctor's ultimate choice, the resolution of the play, and a comprehensive assessment of themes and motifs.
An exploration of the rising tensions in the Proctor household and the escalation of the witch trials in the Salem court.
An introduction to Puritan Salem, the historical context of McCarthyism, and the initial outbreak of hysteria in Act 1.
This lesson introduces 8th-grade students to the Claim-Evidence-Analysis (CEA) writing framework, focusing on how to construct objective arguments and effectively connect evidence to claims.
A comprehensive makeup packet for students to recover credit for a unit on The Crucible. It explores the historical context of McCarthyism, the play's themes of hysteria and reputation, and its classification as a tragic allegory.
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 comprehensive 9th-grade lesson on logical reasoning and argumentation. Students learn to build sound arguments using premises and conclusions while identifying common logical fallacies to strengthen their persuasive writing and speaking skills.
Students will learn the fundamental differences between deductive and inductive reasoning, evaluating the strength and certainty of arguments through video analysis and creative writing.
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.
