Building Writers

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Argumentative Writing: Argue with Yourself!

Here is an activity to get students “arguing with themselves.” The goal is to build critical thinkers who represent opposing arguments fairly. First, play the video for students. Then discuss as a class. After that, play the video one more time. Once students have a firm understanding of the task, pass out the worksheet provided. It works like a charm in my classes! Worksheets:

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Simon Biles Article and Comprehension Questions

Here is another “5-minute reading activity.” The goal is simple: get students reading and answering text-based comprehension questions. That’s it. I use these activities with my reluctant readers. Students watch the video, read the text, and answer the questions. These activities have been great for building “psychological momentum” for my students. When students are not used to reading, they resist. They fake read, cheat, copy, etc. This activity is set up for students to succeed

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What is Your Greatest Strength and Weakness?

Here are two common interview questions that I like to use as writing prompts. I have students write 150 words or more for each prompt, and I assign them together. Prompt 1: What is Your Greatest Strength? Prompt 2: What is your Greatest Weakness?

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