The PERFECT Argument for Evaluating Claims, Counterclaims, Reasoning, & Evidence

Ok, it's not that I'm excited people are still arguing over keeping marine mammals in captivity. I don't like conflict. Plus I have been to Sea World a zillion times and am so glad I got to see killer whales and other marine mammals up close. But people are still arguing about keeping killer whales in captivity.

And, even though a lot has changed since 2013's documentary Blackfish, did you know that killer whales continue to be sold worldwide, ending up in tanks at new amusement parks that are not nearly as nice as Sea World?!

And, did you know marine biologists came up with an idea for how to keep killer whales in captivity and keep them happy at the same time? Anyway, arguing is not what I'm excited about. I'm excited about finally finding the PERFECT argument that contains it all: claims, counterclaims, reasoning that is sometimes sound and sometimes not (sides call each other's reasoning "fallacious"), so much evidence you could call sufficient, and some evidence that is quite possibly irrelevant.

Finding an argument like this for your critically thinking students to evaluate is extremely hard to come by! I've read a lot of argumentative informational text, and it's not easy to find all the things students are supposed to learn how to do in Common Core State Standard RI.8, which states:

This is RI.8.8: "Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced."

This lesson meets so many standards in Reading Informational Text, Reading in Science & Technical Subjects, and even Reading in History/Social Studies. You could say this is EXACTLY what the creators of Common Core were going for!!! It is really engaging and kids become the most active of learners.
Check out the lesson! It is great for middle schoolers, high schoolers, heck even adults!

WANT MORE ENGAGING READING FOR YOUR STUDENTS? WANT TO HAVE THEM PRACTICE ALL 10 READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARDS SKILLS? STUDENTS KEEP REPORTING HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE TEXTS!!! TRY BOTH VOLUMES: