Writing an Argumentative Research Essay
Martha Jackson, English Language Arts and Writing
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In this six week asynchronous writing course, middle school students learn to write an argumentative research essay with easy to follow steps. Students complete an argumentative essay on a topic of their own choosing with teacher feedback.
Class experience
US Grade 6 - 8
Intermediate Level
This comprehensive self-paced writing class will take learners through the entire argumentative essay-writing process. At the end of the course, students will have completed a polished final draft of an argumentative research essay on a topic of their choosing. This is an asynchronous class-- there are no live meetings, but students will receive direct feedback on their own essay throughout the course Each lesson focuses on a different element of writing an argumentative research paper,...
6 lessons//6 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1PrewritingResearch (how to select credible sources, annotating, etc); selecting a topic; logical fallacies (spotting and avoiding them in research and writing)Week 2Lesson 2PrewritingPlanning / Prewriting: Bubble Maps, Thesis Statements and Outlines; submit outline for feedbackWeek 3Lesson 3Rough DraftUsing Text Evidence in Paragraphs (explaining and analyzing research in paragraphs), Active Verbs vs Passive Verbs, Transition Sentences, In-text citations (parenthetical references)Week 4Lesson 4Rough DraftStrengthening Your Argument: Word Choice, Avoiding Second Person, Dealing with the CounterargumentWeek 5Lesson 5Rough DraftWriting Introductions, Conclusions, and Works Cited, submit rough draft for feedbackWeek 6Lesson 6Final DraftRevising and Editing Strategies; submit final draft for feedback
Over this course students will learn how to write an argumentative research paper, from selecting a topic to correctly formatting a works cited page. Students will learn how to spot logical fallacies and bias, and will apply this knowledge to their writing. A complete paper will be written during the course, and students will learn skills that can be applied to any future essay writing.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, and held a Professional Teaching Certificate in Florida to teach English in grades 6-12. I have experience teaching writing in public middle and high schools. For the past several years I have taught small group homeschool classes on essay writing, including how to write argumentative essays.
Homework Offered
As students are writing papers in this class, homework will be assigned that is specific to the task that was covered in the week's videos. Students can generally expect to spend about an hour a week on homework (in addition to watching the videos and completing optional activities), some assignments will require less of the student. Some students may want to spend more than an hour each week on assignments, but it is not required or expected. Homework assignments are focused on learner's own essays, and each week is broken down into specific, manageable tasks.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
All submitted work will receive personalized feedback before students move on to the next task, specifically the outline and rough draft. There are no set deadlines for this class. I am happy to provide feedback on work whenever it is completed. Learners and parents have the option of receiving a letter grade at the end of the class on their final paper. A grading rubric will be provided at the beginning of class for these students.Grades Offered
Learners and parents have the option of receiving a letter grade at the end of the class on their final paper. A grading rubric will be provided for these students. Grades will be given to any student who requests them.
This class is easily adaptable to students with dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, dysgraphia, etc. Students can use any adaptive technologies including, but not limited to, talk to type. Lessons are broken down in manageable sections.
Students should be able to write a basic essay on their own to do well in this class.
-- a non-black ink pen (blue, red, green) (for weeks 1 and 6) -- pencil and paper -- a folder to keep track of handouts and work -- handouts will be provided before each class and will need to be printed before class begins. -- learners will need internet / library access to complete research on a topic of their choosing, as well as to view videos for this course
None. However, because students are able to select their own topic for their research essay, parents / guardians should ensure that it fits within what they feel is appropriate for their learner.
none
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Popular
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(499)
Hi! My name is Martha Jackson. I mainly teach writing and literature, and I absolutely love it. My classes focus on breaking down complex ideas into bite-size pieces, giving students concrete tools to grow in specific areas (conducting research,...
Self-Paced Class
$13
weekly or $75 for all content6 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks of teacher feedback
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 31 learners
Ages: 11-14
