LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

English III

Goal 3: The learner will demonstrate increasing sophistication in defining issues and using argument effectively.

Objective 3.03. Use argumentation for:
- interpreting researched information effectively.
- establishing and defending a point of view.
- addressing concerns of the opposition.
- using logical strategies (e.g., deductive and inductive reasoning, syllogisms, analogies) and sophisticated techniques (e.g., rhetorical devices, parallelism, irony, concrete images).
-developing a sense of completion.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Selecting evidence to support an argument
This is a strategy lesson to teach students how to select evidence from a text to support an argument for an essay. It was designed to take two class periods and is comprised of three mini-lessons; these lessons include teacher modeling strategy to large group, student practice with strategy in small groups, and student practice with strategy individually on what will ultimately be the essay that they write.
Format: lesson plan (grade 11 English Language Arts)
By Caroline Sain.

Resources on the web

That's not fair! Examining civil liberties with the U.S. Supreme Court
In this lesson, high school students work in collaborative groups to explore the issue of civil liberties by conducting Internet research on related court cases of their choosing. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 11 English Language Arts)
Provided by: IRA/NCTE
Reader response in Hypertext: Making personal connections to literature
This multi-genre lesson that focuses on setting, plot, and metaphor, uses novels that contain a strong sense of place, focus on closeness of characters, and are metaphorical in character. In this lesson students will demonstrate their... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
The pros and cons of discussion
In this lesson, students have the opportunity to discuss the degree to which everyone is treated equally in society. Students study the concepts of satire and utopia while reading Kurt Vonnegut's “Harrison Bergeron”. This lesson offers a variety... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Propaganda techniques in literature and online political ads
Students improve visual literacy and analysis skills in this lesson designed to introduce techniques of propaganda found in literature and multi-media in popular culture. After developing an understanding of the methods authors and advertisers use to produce... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Information Skills)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Persuading an audience: Writing effective letters to the editor
In this lesson designed to develop persuasive writing skills, students evaluate letters to the editor from a variety of newspapers. Student identify common characteristics found in these letters and discuss the importance of purpose and audience in persuasive... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Finding Common Ground: Using Logical, Audience-Specific Arguments
In this lesson that explores persuasive and argumentative writing, students compose their thoughts about their position on a hypothetical situation and the arguments they would use to convince their audience. Then, students consider the opposite point of... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9 and 11–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Copyright infringement or not? The debate over downloading music
This lesson takes advantage of students’ interest in music and audio sharing as part of a persuasive debate unit. After assessing their own opinions on the matter, students investigate the controversial topic of downloading music from the Internet. Students... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Communicating on local issues: Exploring audience in persuasive letter writing
This lesson from ReadWriteThink presents students with the task of researching and taking a position on a local issue. Focusing on process writing, students brainstorm, plan and evaluate persuasive writing products with their peers. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink