Lesson 2

Lesson Goals

Texts

Materials

Tools

• The American Dream of Homeownership: Culminating Task Checklist

• Organizing Evidence Tool

• Vocabulary Journal

Reference Guides

• Academic Discussion Reference Guide
• Argument Reference Guide
• Avoiding Plagiarism Reference Guide
• Connecting Ideas Reference Guide
• Integrating Quotations Reference Guide

Editable Google Docs

• The American Dream of Homeownership: Culminating Task Checklist

• Organizing Evidence Tool

• Vocabulary Journal

Activity 1: Read – Discuss – Write

We will review and finalize our claims and counterclaims in light of the position paragraphs we drafted.

As a class, discuss the terms unity and coherence as they relate to writing an argument and how connections and transitions among ideas contribute to those desired characteristics.

Reread and review the sequence of claims and counterclaims you have previously developed, considering their relationship to your position paragraph.

Consider one or more of the arguments you have previously read and how that argument connects and unifies its claims.

Revise any of your claims or their sequence, considering connections and transitions among ideas as well as the overall unity and coherence of your argument.

Activity 2: Write

For each claim or counterclaim, we will write one or more paragraphs that present and explain the claim and then develop and support it by citing evidence from our research or other arguments.

Using your Organizing Evidence Tool as an outline, draft one or more paragraphs for each of the claims and counterclaims you will develop in your argument. For each claim, consider the following questions:

1. How will you state the claim in a clear and concise way?

2. How will you explain what your claim means and how it connects to your issue and position?

3. What information, examples, or statistics will you use and cite to support the claim?

4. Are there any quotations from other writers you want to integrate directly or paraphrase in your writing?

Review your Vocabulary Journal. Ensure you use at least four terms from your journal in your draft paragraphs.

Be sure to provide parenthetical citations for the sources of information and quotations you use.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss

We will learn how to provide parenthetical citations for the sources of information and quotations we use.

Step 1

Individually, read through pages 1-3 of the Integrating Quotations Reference Guide and then respond to the following questions in a whole-class discussion.

1. What are the two ways in which you can cite evidence in a sentence?

2. Why is citing evidence important? How does it support your credibility as a writer?

3. What is included in the parentheses after you cite your evidence? What is that information linked to?

Step 2

Now look through the rest of the reference guide. As you draft your body paragraphs for your argument, you will want to think strategically about how you want to present your evidence through either quoting or paraphrasing. It will be important to cite all your evidence with parenthetical citations no matter how you include the evidence. Use the Integrating Quotations Reference Guide for support.

Activity 4: Read – Discuss

With editing partners, we will read, review, and discuss our draft paragraphs, considering again our purposes and intended audiences.

Engage in a peer review with a writing partner, using the Culminating Task Checklist to inform your discussion.

Activity 5: Write

For homework, we will finish drafting or redrafting the bodies of our arguments.

For homework, revise the body paragraphs of your argument, including the paragraph that presents and explains your position based on feedback from your editing partner and on your own reflection on the goals and expectations of the Culminating Task.