Argumentative Writing Unit and Lesson Plans with Debates for Middle School

Teaching argumentative writing in your middle school ELA class is now broken down step-by-step in a scaffolded and differentiated argumentative writing unit. This unit includes 23 done-for-you lesson plans and daily teacher lesson slide presentations with all content and examples broken down. 

Each lesson is quick and easy to set up and I have done ALL the work for you. You could even leave these lesson plans for subs. Look at your daily lesson plans and pull up the accompanying teacher slides and you have everything you need. 

Here's what's included:

• Argumentative Writing Unit: 23 Lesson Plans
• 22 teacher slide presentations to accompany each lesson (PDF and digital) 
• Daily Lesson Plan pacing guides, prep breakdown, and nonfiction articles information 
• Printable and digital argumentative reference pages for students
• Digital argumentative student writing notebooks
• Editable argumentative grading rubrics

Your students will actually learn how to craft arguments for debates and in writing through each of the lessons by giving them an issue, an essential question, and two positions to choose from. 

The lessons build up in difficulty to eventually have students write a full-on argumentative essay. 

The unit starts with students learning all about collecting, sorting, and ranking evidence and then they move on to participating in debates with their classmates in partnership and/or whole class scenarios. 

Students take their notes and information from the debates and turn them into flash-draft position papers.

In between debates and writing you will use the teaching presentation to teach students specific argumentative writing concepts like checking for credible sources, blending quotes, thesis statements, counterclaims, relevant evidence and logical reasons, transition words, and more. 

Each lesson plan and set of teaching slides are broken down step-by-step for teachers and each example is broken down with explanations for students.

Prep is quick and easy... Just print the student pages, gather the materials listed, review the lesson plans, display the teaching slides, teach the lesson, and you're ready for middle schoolers who can think, discuss, and write critically about real-life issues.

The 23 lesson plans are:

1. Argumentative Lesson Day One: Collecting, Sorting, and Ranking Evidence
2. Argumentative Lesson Day Two: Debate One- Taking a Position
3. Argumentative Lesson Day Three: Argumentative Flash Draft One
4. ArgumentativeLesson Day Four: Debate Two- Switching Your Position
5. Argumentative Lesson Day Five: Elements of an Argumentative Paper
6. Argumentative Lesson Day Six: Argumentative Flash Draft Two
7. ArgumentativeLesson Day Seven: The Counter Argument
8. Argumentative Lesson Day Eight: Debate Three- Taking a Position
9. Argumentative Lesson Day Nine: Credible Sources- Learning + Practice
10. Argumentative Lesson Day Ten: Argumentative Flash Draft Three + Thesis Statements
11. ArgumentativeLesson Day Eleven: Logical Reasoning and Relevant Evidence
12. Argumentative Lesson Day Twelve: Debate Four- Taking a Position
13. ArgumentativeLesson Day Thirteen: Argumentative Flash Draft Four
14. Argumentative Lesson Day Fourteen: Outlining an Essay- Claims and Curating Credible Sources
15. Argumentative Lesson Day Fifteen: Outlining an Essay- Thesis Statements + Organizing Reasons and Evidence Logically
16. Argumentative Lesson Day Sixteen: Argumentative Essay Introductions + Demonstrating Understanding
17. Argumentative Lesson Day Seventeen: Argumentative Essay Body Paragraphs + Transitions Mini-Lesson
18. Argumentative Lesson Day Eighteen: Argumentative Essay Drafts- Blending Quote + Clarifying Relationships Between Claims + Reasons + Evidence Mini-Lesson
19. Argumentative Lesson Day Nineteen: Argumentative Essay Drafts- Counter Argument Mini-Lesson
20. Argumentative Lesson Day Twenty: Argumentative Essay Conclusions
21. Argumentative Lesson Day Twenty-One: Editing vs. Revising
22. Argumentative Lesson Day Twenty-Two: Publishing Final Drafts
23. Argumentative Lesson Day Twenty-Three: Writing Celebration!

The explicit argumentative concepts taught are:

1. Author's Purpose
2. Crafting an Argument 
3. Elements of Argumentative Writing
4. Thesis Statements
5. Counterclaims
6. Credible Sources
7. Logical Reasons
8. Relevant Evidence
9. Transition Words
10. Blending Quotes
11. MLA Formatting
12. Editing vs. Revising 

TEACHERS LIKE YOU HAVE SAID THIS ABOUT MY WRITING UNIT…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Samantha S. says, "This resource has made teaching narrative writing to my 7th graders a breeze! I love how each day is laid out and set up so students learn a little bit about narrative writing and build their own narratives step-by-step. I made a couple of changes to some of the mentor text examples, as I am using this in conjunction with literature circle novels and I wanted it to match what my students are currently reading. Overall, I have felt so organized using this, and most importantly, my students have been engaged! "

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Insightyfully Designed Academics says, "This was one of the first products of yours that I have purchased, and I'm SO beyond glad that I did. I love everything about it--ESPECIALLY how you've included the lesson plans, and examples of completed work. I've never been more pleased with a TPT purchase in my life. Thank you!"

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Love My Classroom. says, "I'm new to teaching 8th grade and honestly I had no clue what I was doing when I first read that I was supposed to teach Literary Analysis starting that my second week with the kids. I was feeling overwhelmed and saw that you had posted this resource that same day. Answer to prayer?? Anyhow, it's been a LIFESAVER to me as you have been teaching me step by step how to lead my kids through this unit. We've used the lessons in the order that you mentioned, the kids are using the notebook pages as reference, and I'm showing your slides. They are getting it. Just the bite-sized portion every day that they need. Thank you so much! "

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