LEARN NC

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

English IV

Goal 3: The learner will be prepared to enter issues of public concern as an advocate.

Objective 3.02. Organize and deliver an argument so that an intended audience respects it by:
- wording the claim clearly.
- specifying reasons in support of the claim that are likely to be convincing.
-- adopting an appropriate tone and stance toward the issue.

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

The Trial of Hamlet
In this lesson students have the chance to research courtroom procedure to try Hamlet for the murder of Polonius. Then, with some students in the roles of characters from the play, the class will conduct the trial of Shakespeare's most famous anti-hero.
Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 English Language Arts)
By Ross White.

Resources on the web

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
From Friedan forward—considering a feminist perspective
Students write letters expressing their views on an important and potentially controversial topic—feminism. After students have read “We” by Mary Grimm, they analyze certain quotes from the piece and participate in a small group discussion... (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