Building an Argument Unit

Chances are, your students can use some support with their argument writing.

Whether they need foundational strategies like help to create "quotation burgers" and highly structured basic introductions, complex strategies like addressing counter-argument and adding more of their own voice, or help for editing and improving their argument writing once they've got a draft, you'll find argument resources available here to guide them.

Choose what will best support your students where they are. 

WATCH THE WORKSHOP

Penny Kittle on Writer's Notebooks

In this workshop, learn how Penny Kittle uses modern mentor texts in combination with writer's notebooks to teach writer's craft. You'll see how to help students examine craft moves from a distance (the drone view) and up close. 

Looking for a new way to engage writers? 

Try The Writing Makerspace

The writing makerspace can help inspire detailed and imaginative creative writing, help students vault over writer's block, and even provide structure and ideas for argument writing. 

In the Writing Makerspace section of The Lighthouse, you'll find an introductory video from Angela Stockman, who invented the concept, as well as projects and materials to help you start your own. 

The Emotions Posters

Display these colorful posters to remind students to choose specific descriptors for emotions. Their characters can be grumpy, despondent, and uptight instead of "sad."

The Color Posters

Display this poster set to guide students in choosing specific, bright words to describe color in their writing. Why have a green leaf if it's really sage? Why would the sunset look orange if it's actually a rusty drip at the edge of the sky?

The Avoid "To Be" Posters

This poster set reminds students how much more interesting striking verbs are than repeated use of "to be." "She was swimming" doesn't do it justice, if Elena was actually "splashing through the waves like an angry seahorse."