As content literacy teachers, we can utilize argumentative writing regardless of our subject area. How can students support their claims with evidence and/or reasoning? How can you implement writing so that it is engaging and meaningful for students?
Resources
Read: Choose articles that would be appropriate to your subject content area from the following articles.
- Argument Writing Across the Content Areas (4 page article)
- Argument Writing: 4 Reasons Why It’s Writing Priority Number One (2 page article)
- Strategies for Teaching Argument Writing (2 page article)
- Argument Based Math Talk (3 page article)
- Incorporating Scientific Argumentation into Your Classroom (1 page article with multiple links)
Prompt
Design three writing prompts that are specific to your content area, that will both elicit a student’s critical thinking and give them an opportunity to use their argumentative skills. Ensure each writing prompt is (1) accessible and inclusive for all students (2) connected to a topic you teach in your content area class and (3) can be measured.
The following prompts are designed to be inclusive and accessible, focusing on real-life or imaginative scenarios. They encourage students to isolate a variable in an equation and provide ample opportunity for measurement and argumentation. The last problem is for more advanced students.
Environmental Conservation Context:
- Prompt: “Consider a scenario where a conservation group is trying to preserve a certain species of trees in a forest. The group has found that the number of trees (T) per acre for optimal growth should follow the equation ‘3T + 7 = 31’. Write a discussion piece on the importance of maintaining this balance in the ecosystem. Use your algebraic skills to isolate ‘T’ and explain the ideal number of trees per acre. Argue why maintaining this balance is crucial for the forest’s health, using evidence from your calculation and ecological principles.”
Historical Problem-Solving Scenario:
- Prompt: “Imagine you are a mathematician in ancient times, tasked with solving a riddle for the king. The riddle is expressed as the equation ‘4z – 12 = 20’. Your goal is to find the value of ‘z’. Write a narrative explaining your problem-solving process, including how you isolate ‘z’ in the equation. Discuss the strategies you used and how they reflect the mathematical knowledge of your time. Conclude by reflecting on the significance of algebra in solving practical problems in historical contexts.”
Real-Life Application of Algebra:Prompt:
- “Imagine you are a budget advisor for a community event. You have a total budget of $500. The cost of each item needed for the event can be represented by the equation ‘5x + 20y = 500’, where ‘x’ represents the number of banners and ‘y’ represents the number of tables. Write an essay explaining how you would advise the committee to allocate their budget. Justify your recommendations by solving the equation for one variable and discussing various combinations of banners and tables that meet the budget constraints. Reflect on how different choices impact the event.”
