Core Ready Lesson Sets for Grades 6-8: A Staircase to Standards Success for English Language Arts, The Power to Persuade: Opinion and Argument

Created specifically for middle school teachers, Pam Allyn’s dynamic Core Ready Program provides a complete toolkit for navigating and thriving with the core standards. In it teachers see clearly how to take complex concepts of the literacy standards and turn them into practical, specific, everyday instruction. The series is organized around the author’s Four Doors to the Core: The Journey to Meaning: Comprehension and Critique The Shape of Story: Yesterday and Today The Road to Knowledge: Information and Research The Power to Persuade: Opinion and Argument   Each book in the series includes powerful reading, writing, speaking, and listening sets; assessment rubrics; support for ELLs and diverse learners; and tips for doing high tech variations for literacy instruction for grades 6, 7, and 8.   Visit http://pdtoolkit.pearson.com to purchase access to the PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series. The PDToolkit access does not come with the print book.   PDToolkit for Pam Allyn's Core Ready Series is a supplemental online subscription-based resource that provides the tools that educators need to implement the Common Core Standards effectively, fluidly, and successfully. The PDToolkit, together with the texts, provides the tools you need to ensure a standards-aligned year of joyful, effective, research-based literacy curriculum.

Table of Contents:
About the Author iii About the Core Ready Series iii Acknowledgments iv Welcome xii Walk Through a Lesson Set xv FAQs About the Core Ready Lesson Sets xxiv   Grade 6 The Obligation of Citizenship: Comparing and Contrasting Speeches and Biographies 2 Introduction 3 Common Core State Standards Alignment 4 Core Questions 5 Lesson Set Goals 5 Choosing Core Texts 6 Teacher’s Notes 7 Questions for Close Reading 8 Building Academic Language 8 Recognition 9 Complementary Core Methods 9 Core Connections at Home 10   Reading Lessons 11 The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Reading Instruction at a Glance 12 Lesson 1 Readers define the genre of biography and summarize sample texts. 13 Lesson 2 Readers analyze how an individual is portrayed through the details of a biography. 16 Lesson 3 Readers integrate information about a person from a biography with information from a speech delivered by the same individual. 20 Lesson 4 Compare how the same event is presented in a speech and a biography. 22 Lesson 5 Readers determine the author’s purpose and explain how it is conveyed in the text. 25 Lesson 6 Readers trace the argument in a persuasive speech. 27 Lesson 7 Readers evaluate the strength of an argument by determining how a claim is supported by reasoning and evidence. 29 Lesson 8 Readers analyze how a persuasive speech is organized and how each section advances the argument. 32 Lesson 9 Readers examine the meaning and impact of words and phrases on historic speeches. 34 Lesson 10 Readers use multimedia components and visual displays to clarify and enhance the message of a famous speech. 37   Writing Lessons 40 The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Writing Instruction at a Glance 41 Lesson 1 Writers define the elements of argument writing. 42 Lesson 2 Writers identify a topic on which to compose a persuasive speech. 45 Lesson 3 Writers plan to research their argument topic in search of evidence and reasons to support a claim. 47 Lesson 4 Writers research their argument topic in search of evidence and reasons to support a claim. 49 Lesson 5 Writers draft persuasive speeches. 52 Lesson 6 Writers compose effective introductions and conclusions. 56 Lesson 7 Writers revise and edit their speeches using a checklist of requirements. 57 Lesson 8 Writers include multimedia components to use in presenting persuasive speeches. 60 Lesson 9 Writers practice the delivery of persuasive speeches. 62 Lesson 10 Writers present their speeches and evaluate the soundness of others’ arguments. 64 Glossary 67   Grade 7 Becoming Active Citizens: Debating and Comparing Points of View 68 Introduction 69 Common Core State Standards Alignment 70 Core Questions 71 Lesson Set Goals 71 Choosing Core Texts 72 Teacher’s Notes 73 Questions for Close Reading 73 Building Academic Language 73 Recognition 74 Core Connections at Home 74   Reading Lessons 75 The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Reading Instruction at a Glance 76 Lesson 1 Readers examine four types of argumentative texts. 77 Lesson 2 Readers identify elements of argumentative text. 79 Lesson 3 Readers evaluate the strength of a written argument in an editorial. 82 Lesson 4 Readers trace and evaluate the argument in a blog post. 85 Lesson 5 Readers analyze how authors of argumentative text refute counterclaims. 88 Lesson 6 Readers identify how ideas, individuals, and events interact in cause and effect relationships. 91 Lesson 7 Readers examine how emphasis of evidence shapes point of view in a text. 93 Lesson 8 Readers analyze how word use affects the meaning and tone of an argumentative text. 96 Lesson 9 Readers examine the purpose, point of view, and effectiveness of a social media post. 99 Lesson 10 Readers evaluate and compare the effectiveness of argumentative texts. 101   Writing Lessons 104 The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Writing Instruction at a Glance 105 Lesson 1 Writers select issues for argumentative texts and write claim statements. 106 Lesson 2 Writers research to gather information, carefully considering the credibility and accuracy of sources. 109 Lesson 3 Writers refute counterclaims in argumentative text. 114 Lesson 4 Writers establish tone through purposeful word choice. 116 Lesson 5 Writers establish a formal style in their argumentative text. 118 Lesson 6 Writers include the elements of argumentative text in an editorial or blog post. 121 Lesson 7 Writers craft a concluding statement that supports a claim in argumentative text. 123 Lesson 8 Writers revise and edit their blog posts and editorials, adding transition words to create cohesion between the claim, reasoning, and evidence. 125 Lesson 9 Writers craft a persuasive social media post. 128 Lesson 10 Writers publish argumentative texts for an authentic audience. 130 Glossary 133   Grade 8 Becoming Global Citizens: The Power of the Spoken and Written Word 134 Introduction 135 Common Core State Standards Alignment 136 Core Questions 137 Lesson Set Goals 137 Choosing Core Texts 138 Teacher’s Notes 140 Questions for Close Reading 140 Building Academic  Language 140 Recognition 141 Complementary Core Methods 141 Core Connections at Home 142   Reading Lessons 143 The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Reading Instruction at a Glance 144 Lesson 1 Readers synthesize information from across a text to determine a central idea. 145 Lesson 2 Readers identify the claim and relevant evidence in an argumentative text. 147 Lesson 3 Readers identify the elements of argumentative text. 150 Lesson 4 Readers identify cause and effect relationships in argumentative text as a strategy for supporting a claim. 153 Lesson 5 Readers determine the meaning of technical vocabulary in an argumentative text. 155 Lesson 6 Readers identify three classic argumentative techniques. 158 Lesson 7 Readers navigate a web page using key features to find key information. 160 Lesson 8 Readers draw important conclusions from information presented visually. 163 Lesson 9 Readers evaluate the use of alternate media to present an idea. 165 Lesson 10 Readers evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using film to present information. 167   Writing Lessons 170 The Core I.D.E.A. / Daily Writing Instruction at a Glance 171 Lesson 1 Writers explore the relationship between an author’s purpose, point of view, and chosen text type. 172 Lesson 2 Writers identify environmental topics for argumentative speeches. 174 Lesson 3 Writers use and create questions to begin researching environmental topics. 177 Lesson 4 Writers gather multiple sources on a topic, considering credibility and identifying bias. 179 Lesson 5 Writers use strategies for paraphrasing factual information and practice using these strategies in the research process. 182 Lesson 6 Writers use an outline to construct and draft their arguments. 184 Lesson 7 Writers use Aristotle’s Appeals to strengthen their argumentative writing. 187 Lesson 8 Writers plan text features and visuals to clarify the information in their arguments and publish their texts. 189 Lesson 9 Writers adapt their writing to oral presentations, selecting visuals to enhance their speeches. 192 Lesson 10 Writers develop public service announcements that address their environmental issues. 194 Glossary 197   Appendixes Grade 6 Appendixes Appendix 6.1 Summary Characteristics and Process 199 Appendix 6.2 Biographies 200 Appendix 6.3 Analyzing Biography graphic organizer 210 Appendix 6.4 Close Reading and Listening Protocol for Speeches 211 Appendix 6.5 Transcripts of Speeches 212 Appendix 6.6 Tracing and Evaluating an Argument in Historic Speeches graphic organizer 218 Appendix 6.7 Advancing an Argument graphic organizer 219 Appendix 6.8 Sample Speeches #1 and #2 220 Appendix 6.9 The Power of Words and Phrases Worksheet 224 Appendix 6.10 Key Terms in Argument Writing 226 Appendix 6.11 Argument Analysis Worksheet 227 Appendix 6.12 List of Argument Topics 228 Appendix 6.13 The Power of Persuasive Speeches 229 Appendix 6.14 Persuasive Speech Checklist 230 Appendix 6.15 Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions Menu 231 Appendix 6.16 Respond to the Argument Guide 233 Appendix 6.17 Power Speaker Checklist 234   Grade 7 Appendixes Appendix 7.1 Sample Argumentative Writing Pieces 235 Appendix 7.2 Elements of Argumentative Text Graphic Organizer 243 Appendix 7.3 Three Tests for Analyzing Argumentative Text 244 Appendix 7.4 5Ws and 1H to Determine Source Credibility 245 Appendix 7.5 Refuting a Counterclaim in Argumentative Text Graphic Organizer 251 Appendix 7.6 Analyzing Emphasis in Argumentative Text 252 Appendix 7.7 Characteristics of a Well- Written Social Media Post 253 Appendix 7.8 Will I Be Persuaded? Graphic Organizer 254 Appendix 7.9 Sample Argumentative Text: Genetically Modified Foods: Healthy Enough to Eat 255 Appendix 7.10 Argumentative Text Revising and Editing Checklist 257 Appendix 7.11 List of Transitional Words and Phrases 258 Appendix 7.12 Rules for Collegial Sharing of Writing 259 Appendix 7.13 Three Compliments and a Suggestion Feedback Form 260   Grade 8 Appendixes Appendix 8.1 ”I Wonder” 261 Appendix 8.2 Sample Argumentative Texts #1—8 262 Appendix 8.3 Tracing an Argument 276 Appendix 8.4 Reading Visuals Graphic Organizer 277 Appendix 8.5 Reading Editorial Cartoons Graphic Organizer 278