Section 5: Overview

Culminating Task

We will use a collaborative, criteria-based writing process to produce a final written argument or, alternatively, an argumentative presentation.

• Lesson 1:

  Based on the planning and drafting we have done and considering the audience and purpose for our argument, we will each draft a paragraph that will be used to present and explain our positions and determine where to best place the paragraph in our arguments.

• Lesson 2:

  For each of our claims and counterclaims, we will draft 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.

• Lesson 3:

  We will complete the initial draft of our final argument, developing an introduction that will move readers from the topic and position to a conclusion that will summarize our final thoughts or suggest a response to our issues.

• Lesson 4:

  We will learn more about how to promote unity and coherence in an argument and revise our drafts to improve their organization and logic and to make careful connections and transitions among ideas.

• Lesson 5:

  We will do final revisions and edits to our argumentative essays, considering the expression, grammar, and usage issues that have been a focus in the unit.

• Lesson 6:

  We will share our arguments with other students, reflect on what we learned, and preview possible connections of this unit to the Grade 12 Application Unit.

• Lesson 7:

  In a culminating activity, we share the knowledge we have gained and the connections we have made by reading our independent reading texts.