ED500+2013-14+seminar+assignments

Welcome to ED500 "Teaching argument writing" seminar 2013-14. This page will be regularly updated with current assignments for the seminar.

1) Read Hillocks, preface, introduction, and chapter 1. (Jennifer Spencer will share a lesson or activity based on this chapter.) 2) Your plan for teaching argument this academic year. Your plan may take any form you like, but it should:
 * Due October 24, 2013**
 * be tied to the Common Core State Standard(s) for your grade level
 * include clearly define learning goals
 * list assignments/tasks you will use to __teach and assess__ students' ability to write arguments


 * NOW DUE JANUARY 23, 2014 (formerly due 12/12/13, the class that was canceled due to weather)**
 * Read Hillocks, chapters 2 and 4 (I suggest reading chapter 4 first, then chapter 2)
 * Read Toulmin, chapters 1, 2 and "Postcript"
 * Please post your plan here (see #2 above) for teaching argument this academic year. A very drafty draft is just fine -- whatever you have envisioned so far.


 * Due February 6, 2014**
 * Read Hillocks, chapter 3
 * Read Toulmin, chapters 3 & 4


 * Due February 20, 2014**
 * Read Hillocks, chapter 5
 * Read Toulmin, chapters 5 & 6


 * Due March 20, 2014**
 * Read Hillocks, chapter 6
 * Read Toulmin, chapters 7 & 8
 * Write an extended definition for a concept of your choice (see directions below)


 * Due April 23, 2014 (Note: this is a Wednesday!)**

>>>
 * Read "Considering competing points of view" (this is chapter 3 from //Teaching Students to Write Argument// by Smagorinsky et al, 2011.) Chapter is attached to this email. //How might you use or modify the 'structured process' activities Smagorinsky et al present?//
 * Read Toulmin chapter 10 "Redressing the balance"
 * If you're not familiar with the Westphalian Treaties (that established the Peace of Westphalia in 1648), do yourself a favor and read the Wikipedia introduction (yes, Wikipedia!) to this important piece of history **before** you tackle chapter 10. Peace of Westphalia 1648
 * What does Toulmin blame on the Westphalian Settlement? How does it relate to his argument about reason?
 * What does this chapter have to do with teaching students to write arguments? With the current emphasis on the distinction between //persuasion// and //argument//?
 * What does Toulmin mean by "a pragmatic view of theorizing" (p. 172)

> // If you are taking ED500 for credit, please turn in the above assignment at our final meeting on May 21 //
 * Due May 21, 2014 (Note: this is a Wednesday!)**
 * Read Hillocks, chapter 7
 * Read Toulmin, chapter 13 ("Postscript"). This short chapter recaps the whole book. You may have read it back in October, but now it should all make much more sense!
 * Put “arguments of judgment” into practice:
 * 1) __ Write (or revise) a prompt __ for an argument of judgment that you would like to assign in a class. This might be a literary argument (based on a text or texts) or an argument based on 'real-world' issues.
 * 2) __ Outline an activity or set of activities __ for helping students develop criteria to define relevant concepts that they will need to understand, in order to make a well-reasoned argument in response to your prompt.
 * 3) __ Outline an activity or set of activities __ for helping students understand and consider competing points of view in their argument.
 * 4) __ Create (or adapt) a rubric or scoring guide __ that you might use to assess students' writing on this assignment.