English 4 CP: 2/21/14 (Periods 2,4,6 only)

Activities:

• The arguments assignment
• Each student will brainstorm a list of items they argue or could argue about. Minimum 15.
• Each student will pick an argument topic from their own list.
• Student will write the opening argument for their point of view on their topic.
• Students will partner with one other student. They will work in pairs.
• Students will trade papers with their partner.
• Each student will take the opposite point of view on their partner's paper. That way student A will argue against student B on student B's. Student B will argue against student A's point of view on student A's paper.
• Students will trade their papers back and forth for a minimum of five exchanges.
• Students will try to win their argument with logic and reasoning. Emotional techniques are forbidden. This is a thinking assignment not an emotional assignment.
• After students have completed the five or more exchanges:
• they will write a summary of the argument on their own paper.
• They will identify the strongest one or two arguments on their paper, and explain why those arguments were strong.
• They will turn in their paper.