Section 4: Overview

Developing an Argument: How Do We Feed a Growing World?

We will continue to plan and develop an argument in response to the Task Questions: What are the most pressing challenges facing the future of the global food system? How should we go about addressing those challenges? We will gather evidence from previous texts and from new research related to our position and counterarguments against that position. We will each develop a final set of argumentative claims and counterclaims, which will be the building blocks (premises) of our argument, and organize evidence for each claim.

• Lesson 1:

  We will study a model argument to see how one scholar has worked with a team of scientists to establish a research-based case for his position about how the world can increase food production while also reducing harm to the environment.

• Lesson 2:

  For each of our claims and counterclaims, we will organize evidence from the unit materials and research that can be used to support a claim or respond to others’ claims that we intend to counter.

• Lesson 3:

  We will review all of the research and planning we have done to prepare for writing our final arguments, specifically the renditions of the Delineating Arguments Tool and Organizing Evidence Tool. We will write a multiparagraph summary, or synopsis, of our proposed arguments.

• Lesson 4:

  We will review feedback on the Section Diagnostic. We will use the feedback to make revisions to our work.

• Lesson 5:

  We will share the analyses we have made about our independent reading texts and make connections to the unit. We will plan a final product to share our experiences from reading independently and the knowledge we have gained.