Lesson 1
We will practice our rhetorical analysis skills.
Lesson Goals
Can I evaluate the relevance and credibility of information, ideas, evidence, and reasoning presented in texts?
Texts
Core
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- “The Internet Doesn’t Need Civility, It Needs Ethics,” Ryan M. Milner and Whitney Phillips, Motherboard by Vice, November 20, 2018
Materials
Tools
Editable Google Docs
Activity 1: Read – Listen
We will preview the Evaluating Arguments Tool before reading the article for this lesson.
Review the Evaluating Arguments Tool. What are you being asked to find as you read? Review the key terms and questions addressed in the tool and ask for clarification on any areas that are unclear.
This tool requires you to evaluate an argument by providing textual evidence of certain elements and then rating the relative strengths of the argument.
Activity 2: Read – Write
We will read the article “The Internet Doesn’t Need Civility, It Needs Ethics” and will determine the main argument made by the author.
Prior to completing the Evaluating Arguments Tool, we need to determine the argument made by the author. While reading, consider the overall argument being made.
The title introduces the idea that the Internet is in need of ethics, not civility. How does the article itself support that claim? In the margins, note your initial reactions to the claims made in the article.
Activity 3: Write
We will begin completing the Evaluating Arguments Tool, focusing on text-based observations.
After reading the article, return to the Evaluating Arguments Tool. Each element requires you to focus your evaluation with guiding questions. Use these questions to direct your attention as you make text-based observations.
Activity 4: Write
We will complete the Evaluating Arguments Tool.
The final step of the Evaluating Arguments Tool requires you to make judgments on the relative strengths of the elements in the article. For each element, consider each of the text-based observations you made in the previous activity and identify if it is a weakness of the argument (-), an acceptable part of the argument (✓), or a strength of the argument (+).
Activity 5: Write
We will reflect on our ability to move forward in Future lessons with the skill of evaluating arguments.
Evaluating arguments is something you have been practicing throughout this unit. How prepared are you to practice this skill and evaluate additional arguments in new texts?
Consider the following questions and write down your responses on the back of your Evaluating Arguments Tool.
Can you better show your ability to use this skill?
Do you still need assistance? Could you help a peer with this skill?
What additional support is needed to aid in your mastery of this skill?
Share some of your responses with the class during discussion.