Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

End of Unit Writing Competency Example

Sample On-Demand Argument Writing Prompt, Text Set, Student Samples, and Rubric: A group of parents and teachers in your school have made a proposal to the school board. In their proposal, they are suggesting that the school join in a national movement called “Shut Down Your Screen Week.” The parents and teachers in the group believe that not using any electronic media for an entire week would be good for students for many reasons.

However, the teachers have decided they would like to hear from the students before they decide.

You have three texts to read relating to the issue: “Social Media as Community,” “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” and “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price.” As you read and re-read these texts, think about what they show you about the issue. Think about what position you will take and what evidence you will use to support your thinking. Finally, write an essay, in the form of a letter to the teachers, explaining your thinking. For the essay, your Focusing Question is: Should your school participate in the national “Shut Down Your Screen Week?” Be sure to use evidence from the texts, as well as your own knowledge, to support and develop your thinking. ● Full Prompt and Text Sets ● Argument Rubric ● Annotated Student Samples - Pro ● Annotated Student Samples - Con Scaffolds

● All Day ELA, Professional Learning Armory

General

● 9 Mini-Moves for Argument Writing ● NCTE Position Statement - Understanding and Teaching Writing: Guiding Principles ● Learning Through Writing Strategies (Avid)

Writing

● Text Annotation (Avid) ● Guiding Questioning ● Close Reading Route ● The Three Phases of the Critical Reading Process (Avid) ● Think-Alouds and Structured Dialogue (Avid)

Reading

● Text-Dependent Questions ● Accessing Complex Texts

● Structured Academic Discussions ● The Big List of Discussion Strategies (Cult of Pedagogy)

Speaking and Listening

● Middle School Debate ● Public Service Announcement based on personal interest ● Student Shark Tank Project ● Create an infographic, podcast, profle, turning point essay, proposal, or photo essay ● Write an OpEd and submit to the local newspaper/media outlet ● Submit for publication: learn how to write a query letter, research publications for submissions, submit essay or narrative for publication

Extensions

Language Expectations for Multilingual Learners

Multilingual Learners will construct informational texts in language arts that: ● Introduce and defne topic and/or entity for audience ○ Opening statements to identify type of information (describing, comparing/contrasting, classifying) ● Establish objective or neutral stance ○ Declarative statements to provide objective, factual information

○ Technical word choices to add precise and descriptive information without evaluative language (the effects versus devastating effects)

Source: WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition

Last Updated June, 2023 Middle School ELA, Page 24