In this lesson, students explore environmental issues that are relevant to their own lives, self-select topics, and gather information to write persuasive essays. Students participate in peer conferences to aid in the revision process and evaluate their essays through self-assessment. Although this lesson focuses on the environment as a broad topic, many other topics can be easily substituted for reinforcement of persuasive writing.

In this lesson, students refine and revise their supporting evidence and make arguments using the Taking Sides protocol.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the six Steps to Writing a Position Paper. They will work in partners to identify the tasks within each step.

Poets achieve popular acclaim only when they express clear and widely shared emotions with a forceful, distinctive, and memorable voice. But what is meant by voice in poetry, and what qualities have made the voice of Langston Hughes a favorite for so many people?

In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this speech through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

This activity can be adapted among grade levels, and involves students practicing describing objects by their properties.

This article discusses ways to use technology to guide students through brainstorming activities and organization of ideas.

Inclusion is an important concept in that it promotes equity and equality in the classroom. Students learn to work together despite their differences, capitalizing on their strengths and minimizing their deficits. Students within the school will be educated about the importance of inclusion, collaborating to complete activities and advocating for a school-wide inclusion program that involves all students, teachers and administrators.

In this lesson, students will write a literary argument essay about Bud, Not Buddy. The task is labeled a literary argument because students argue whether Bud uses his rules to survive or thrive, and use evidence from the novel to support their position.

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 6th Grade English Language Arts. 

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 6th Grade ELA.

In this lesson, students are introduced to the question that will inform their essay: How does Bud use his rules: to survive or thrive?

The selection is about Ghana, an ancient culture that was one of Africa’s great trading empires in the third century A.D. Gold mines, extensive trading, and advanced farming villages all contributed to the rise and success of Ghana. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments. Includes printable copies of text.

In this lesson, students will conduct research on two cities and present their information in an essay.

In this lesson, students will evaluate the model essay and begin to draft their own essays.

In this article, questions about the value of a zoo lead to informational text, research-based writing, and critical thinking.

In this activity, students use persuasive writing to influence others regarding prejudicial issues.