English 11 · Week 11 · The American Dream and Belonging
Evaluating Seminal Arguments
Evaluating reasoning in landmark court cases and speeches.
- Students will
- Students evaluate reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including legal reasoning.
- SEL skill
- Judge reasoning on its merits instead of by the speaker
- What it looks like
- Students judge arguments by reasoning, not by who makes them.
- Content focus
- Evaluating seminal arguments
- Format
- Small group problem-solving
Responsible decision-making
Responsible decision-making is choosing what to do or say after weighing what is fair, safe, and likely to happen next. More responsible decision-making activities
What you get
A teacher guide with what to say, step by step, plus student pages and a supports page for students with diverse learning needs, including those with IEPs. Print or Project it, or assign it in Google Forms and Google Docs for Google Classroom. Your first 10 activities are free.
Standards
- RI.11-12.8: Reading: Informational Text, Grades 11 to 12, Standard 8
- CA ELD standards: ELD.PI.11-12.7 Evaluating language choices; ELD.PI.11-12.11 Justifying and arguing
- CA ELA/ELD Framework theme: Meaning Making
- Works with: Any nonfiction
Fits these textbook chapters
- StudySync Grade 11, Unit 2: The Individual
- myPerspectives English Language Arts Grade 11, Unit 3: Power, Protest, and Change
- HMH Collections Grade 11, Collection 2: Building a Democracy
- HMH Collections Grade 11, Collection 4: A New Birth of Freedom
Textbook names are used only to help you find activities that fit what you teach. RoseThread Connect is not affiliated with these publishers.
More responsible decision-making activities for English 11
- Rhetoric of Revolution Responsible decision-makingAnalyzing persuasive rhetoric in revolutionary era writing.
- The American Dream Debate Responsible decision-makingArguing whether the American Dream is still possible.
- Rhetorical Analysis Essay Responsible decision-makingWriting a rhetorical analysis of a speech.
- Synthesis Across Sources Responsible decision-makingSynthesizing multiple sources with integrity.
Previous: The American Dream Debate · Next: Rhetorical Analysis Essay
RoseThread Connect activities are drafted with the help of AI and shaped by educators. Students never have to share anything personal. Our five SEL skills are informed by CASEL's SEL Framework; RoseThread Learning is not affiliated with or endorsed by CASEL.