Writing II Module 11

Monday

Instruction

💡

Final changes to your expository essay should be made by the end of April 6, 2026 (in Expository Essays).

For those who have not completed a first draft…

💡 Today is the last day to complete your expository essay.
Group Feedback for those who have completed a first draft (five paragraphs) and those working on increasing your originality score.
1. If you are working on increasing your originality score, see ELT Cast 126: How to increase one’s originality score when writing an academic text.
2. Five paragraphs, between 120-180 words between 5-8 sentences
3. Title with 6-12 words, centered, bold, main words are capitalized.
4. Formatting five paragraphs: double space, regular indentation of 0.5 inch indentation, avoid extra spacing,
5. Formatting references: French (hanging) indentation, single space within each reference and double space between each reference
6. Topic sentences: begins with the main clause, Begins with a noun clause (no subject pronouns), no linking verbs (”to be”, “to become”, etc.) in the main clause. Copula (linking) verbs
7. Introduction Paragraph: Hook, background (one citation), thesis statement
8. Conclusion Paragraph: restate and reword thesis statement, significance, closing statement.
9. Check for Acceptable fonts (APA).
10. Avoids and phrases to avoid…
  1. people
  2. there is/are
  3. Demonstratives
  4. important, importance, importantly, it is important, it is essential, it is vital
  5. population
  6. very Why avoid “very”?
  7. “can”, Modal verbs
11. Check to see that each citation has a reference and each reference has a citation.
12. The M.E.A.L. Plan: A Comprehensive Approach to Paragraph Development:

Action Steps - Peer Feedback

💡

Your objective is to partner up with a classmate to check each other’s work based on what we discuss today in class.

Leave comments in your writing partner’s Word document in Expository Essays.

Tuesday

Instruction

💡

Today in class I will ask that each of you confirm if what you currently have in Teams is your final draft.

Conferences
1. Andrea E
2. Daniela
3. Diana
4. Jesus
Group Feedback for those who have completed a first draft (five paragraphs) and those working on increasing your originality score.
1. If you are working on increasing your originality score, see ELT Cast 126: How to increase one’s originality score when writing an academic text.
2. Five paragraphs, between 120-180 words between 5-8 sentences
3. Title with 6-12 words, centered, bold, main words are capitalized.
4. Formatting five paragraphs: double space, regular indentation of 0.5 inch indentation, avoid extra spacing,
5. Formatting references: French (hanging) indentation, single space within each reference and double space between each reference
6. Topic sentences: begins with the main clause, Begins with a noun clause (no subject pronouns), no linking verbs (”to be”, “to become”, etc.) in the main clause. Copula (linking) verbs
7. Introduction Paragraph: Hook, background (one citation), thesis statement
8. Conclusion Paragraph: restate and reword thesis statement, significance, closing statement.
9. Check for Acceptable fonts (APA).
10. Avoids and phrases to avoid…
  1. people
  2. there is/are
  3. Demonstratives
  4. important, importance, importantly, it is important, it is essential, it is vital
  5. population
  6. very Why avoid “very”?
  7. “can”, Modal verbs
11. Check to see that each citation has a reference and each reference has a citation.
12. The M.E.A.L. Plan: A Comprehensive Approach to Paragraph Development:
13. All comments should be removed from your final draft of your expository essay.

Action Steps - Peer Feedback

Will vary.

Wednesday

Instruction

💡

Today we begin thinking about forming an argument.

Argumentative examples
1. Prompt 1: Take a position: Artificial Intelligence should be used by students as a personalized tutor rather than being banned as a cheating tool.
2. Prompt 2: Argue one side: Digital literacy is now more important than traditional literacy (reading and writing on paper) in the modern workforce.
3. Prompt 3: Agree or disagree: Universities should prioritize funding for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) over the Arts and Humanities to meet global economic demands.

List of topics

Student Argumentative Topic Assignments

Student	Assigned Topic
Alejandro	Governments should ban single-use plastic bags nationwide.
Alexa	Working from home is more productive than working in an office.
Alondra	Social media does more harm than good for teenagers.
Anahi	All high school students should complete community service hours to graduate.
Andrea E	Public transportation should be free in large cities.
Andrea J	Animal testing for medical research should be allowed.
Angel	School uniforms improve student behavior and academic performance.
Angeles	Companies should be restricted from collecting personal data without consent.
Carlos	Students learn better from digital textbooks than from printed textbooks.
Caro	Museums and cultural sites should have free entry for students.
Dani	Technology is making people less able to communicate face-to-face.
Dayned	The use of smartphones should be prohibited during class time.
Eduardo	It is better to live in a big city than in a small town.
Itzel	Governments should invest more in renewable energy than in fossil fuels.
Jesus	Schools should use AI tools to help grade student writing.
Karla	Exams are the best way to evaluate students’ learning.
Karol	Countries should prioritize economic growth even if it harms the environment.
Kateryn	People should be required to vote in national elections.
Massiel	The legal driving age should be raised to 18 (or higher).
Monste	Online friendships can be as meaningful as in-person friendships.
Naomi	Governments should provide free university education to all qualified students.
Natalia	It is better to start working after high school than to attend university.
Nubia	Fast food advertising should include stronger health warnings.
Perla	Public libraries are still essential in the digital age.
Renata	Schools should teach practical life skills (cooking, taxes, repairs).
Rubi	Tourism benefits local communities more than it harms them.
Said	People should be allowed to own private cars in city centers.
Samanta	Watching movies is a better way to learn a language than reading books.
Selena	Governments should limit children’s time playing online games.

Action Steps

Bookmark and begin reviewing Writing II: Unit III - Argumentative Essay.

Strategy
1. Take a side or choose a position. What do you support?
2. Based on your experiences, list three to five examples that support your position. Do not look up anything, refer to any websites, etc.
3. Create a topic sentence (main idea) of your point, your position, or one that supports the side you are taking.
4. Describe the examples you listed in two (evidence) sentences and state what, how, why, when, where, with whom, etc. Again, examples should be based on your experiences, so no citations and avoid looking anything up.
5. Create one analysis sentence where you comment, explain, analyze, etc.
6. Conclude your paragraph with a linking sentence that would segue into another paragraph or you may include a summarizing sentence.

Will discuss in class…

Thursday

Instruction

Bookmark and begin reviewing Writing II: Unit III - Argumentative Essay.

💡

Today we begin thinking about forming an argument.

List of argumentative topics

Student	Assigned Topic
Alejandro	Governments should require restaurants to display carbon-footprint labels on menus.
Alexa	University classes should adopt a four-day week schedule.
Alondra	Schools should start later in the morning for students aged 15–18.
Anahi	Public libraries should loan more than books (tools, cameras, or tablets) for free.
Andrea E	Cities should charge a fee for driving cars into downtown areas to reduce traffic.
Andrea J	College students should be required to take a course on media literacy and misinformation.
Angel	Schools should replace most traditional exams with project-based assessments.
Angeles	Social media companies should be legally responsible for removing harmful misinformation quickly.
Carlos	Students should be allowed to use AI writing assistants if they disclose and reflect on the use.
Caro	Governments should subsidize healthy foods (fruit and vegetables) more than processed foods.
Dani	Employers should prioritize skills-based hiring over requiring a university degree.
Dayned	Smartphones should be allowed in class only for specific learning tasks, not for personal use.
Diana	Schools should teach a required course on artificial intelligence literacy (how AI tools work, their limits, and ethical use).
Eduardo	Countries should limit short-term rentals (like Airbnb) to protect local housing.
Itzel	Governments should invest more in public parks and green spaces than in new highways.
Jesus	Universities should provide free mental health counseling sessions to all students.
Karla	Schools should require students to learn basic personal finance (budgeting, credit, taxes).
Karol	Governments should ban targeted advertising to minors online.
Kateryn	Voting should be optional, but election day should be a national holiday.
Massiel	City governments should expand bike lanes even if it reduces space for cars and parking.
Monste	Streaming platforms should be required to limit auto-play features to reduce screen addiction.
Naomi	Universities should cap tuition increases based on inflation to keep education affordable.
Natalia	Companies should offer paid internships instead of unpaid internships in all fields.
Nubia	Fast food restaurants should be restricted from opening within a certain distance of schools.
Perla	Schools should require a minimum number of reading hours per week across all subjects.
Renata	Governments should require companies to provide at least two weeks of paid sick leave.
Rubi	Tourist destinations should limit the number of visitors per day to protect local culture and nature.
Samanta	Schools should include a mandatory course on respectful communication and conflict resolution.
Selena	Parents should delay giving children a personal smartphone until at least age 14.

Action Steps

Evidence should be descriptive by answering any of the following question words: what, why, when, where, how, with whom, etc. Avoid subjective tone: “it is important”, “it is great/good…”
Even though evidence should be specific examples, avoid transitional phrases like, “For example…” or “For instance”, etc. Your first evidence sentence does not require a transition, but your second evidence sentence could include an addition-type of sentence connector: Also, in addition to…, additionally, moreover, furthermore, besides, equally, as well as, etc.

💡

Considerations:

Find your assigned argumentative topic listed above. Take a side or choose a position. What do you support? You should only choose one position.
Write your name and date at the top of a clean sheet of paper.
Below your name and date, write your assigned topic listed above.
Below your assigned topic, list three to five specific examples - from personal experience - that support your position. Do not look up any information online.
Below your brainstorming list of specific examples, develop one five-sentence paragraph.
1. Create a topic sentence (main idea) of your point, your position, or one that supports the side you are taking.
2. Describe the examples you listed in two (evidence) sentences and state what, how, why, when, where, with whom, etc. Again, examples should be specific and should be based on your experiences, so no citations and avoid looking anything up.
3. Create one analysis sentence where you comment, explain, analyze, etc. that links the evidence to the main idea (topic sentence).
4. Conclude your paragraph with a linking sentence that would segue into another paragraph or you may include a summarizing sentence.
Below your paragraph, indicate whether you support the initial claim or counterclaim.

Friday

Instruction

Bookmark and begin reviewing Writing II: Unit III - Argumentative Essay.

💡

Today we’ll focus on defining an initial claim, counterclaim, and rebuttal.

Review A Claim.
1. An initial claim is the main position of the writer. The writer is for or against something or they agree or disagree with something.
2. A counterclaim is to state what is wrong or weak about the initial claim.
3. A rebuttal is to state what is wrong or weak about the counterclaim.

List of argumentative topics

Student	Assigned Topic
Alejandro	Governments should require restaurants to display carbon-footprint labels on menus.
Alexa	University classes should adopt a four-day week schedule.
Alondra	Schools should start later in the morning for students aged 15–18.
Anahi	Public libraries should loan more than books (tools, cameras, or tablets) for free.
Andrea E	Cities should charge a fee for driving cars into downtown areas to reduce traffic.
Andrea J	College students should be required to take a course on media literacy and misinformation.
Angel	Schools should replace most traditional exams with project-based assessments.
Angeles	Social media companies should be legally responsible for removing harmful misinformation quickly.
Carlos	Students should be allowed to use AI writing assistants if they disclose and reflect on the use.
Caro	Governments should subsidize healthy foods (fruit and vegetables) more than processed foods.
Dani	Employers should prioritize skills-based hiring over requiring a university degree.
Dayned	Smartphones should be allowed in class only for specific learning tasks, not for personal use.
Diana	Schools should teach a required course on artificial intelligence literacy (how AI tools work, their limits, and ethical use).
Eduardo	Countries should limit short-term rentals (like Airbnb) to protect local housing.
Itzel	Governments should invest more in public parks and green spaces than in new highways.
Jesus	Universities should provide free mental health counseling sessions to all students.
Karla	Schools should require students to learn basic personal finance (budgeting, credit, taxes).
Karol	Governments should ban targeted advertising to minors online.
Kateryn	Voting should be optional, but election day should be a national holiday.
Massiel	City governments should expand bike lanes even if it reduces space for cars and parking.
Monste	Streaming platforms should be required to limit auto-play features to reduce screen addiction.
Naomi	Universities should cap tuition increases based on inflation to keep education affordable.
Natalia	Companies should offer paid internships instead of unpaid internships in all fields.
Nubia	Fast food restaurants should be restricted from opening within a certain distance of schools.
Perla	Schools should require a minimum number of reading hours per week across all subjects.
Renata	Governments should require companies to provide at least two weeks of paid sick leave.
Rubi	Tourist destinations should limit the number of visitors per day to protect local culture and nature.
Samanta	Schools should include a mandatory course on respectful communication and conflict resolution.
Selena	Parents should delay giving children a personal smartphone until at least age 14.

Action Steps

💡

Make sure you write your paragraph as consecutive sentences and not a list of sentences.

Find a partner who has a topic you want to counter or provide a rebuttal; that is, a topic that you can offer a counterclaim.
Follow the same instructions as yesterday:
1. Write your name and date at the top of a clean sheet of paper.
2. Below your name and date, write your counterclaim or rebuttal to your partners position.
3. Below your assigned topic, list three to five specific examples - from personal experience - that support your position. Do not look up any information online.
4. Below your brainstorming list of specific examples, develop one five-sentence paragraph, writing in the third person and avoid subjective tone like saying, “it is good/better/worse”, etc.
  1. Create a topic sentence (main idea) of your point, your position, or one that supports the side you are taking.
  2. Describe the examples you listed in two (evidence) sentences and state what, how, why, when, where, with whom, etc. Again, examples should be specific and should be based on your experiences, so no citations and avoid looking anything up.
  3. Create one analysis sentence where you comment, explain, analyze, etc. that links the evidence to the main idea (topic sentence).
  4. Conclude your paragraph with a linking sentence that would segue into another paragraph or you may include a summarizing sentence.

For April 13, 2026, you will be asked to do the following based on an argumentative prompt provided in class:
1. Find your assigned argumentative topic listed above. Take a side or choose a position. What do you support? You should only choose one position.
2. Write your name and date at the top of a clean sheet of paper.
3. Below your name and date, write your assigned topic listed above.
4. Below your assigned topic, list three to five specific examples - from personal experience - that support your position. Do not look up any information online.
5. Below your brainstorming list of specific examples, develop one five-sentence paragraph, writing in the third person and avoid subjective tone like saying, “it is good/better/worse”, etc.
  1. Create a topic sentence (main idea) of your point, your position, or one that supports the side you are taking.
  2. Describe the examples you listed in two (evidence) sentences and state what, how, why, when, where, with whom, etc. Again, examples should be specific and should be based on your experiences, so no citations and avoid looking anything up.
  3. Create one analysis sentence where you comment, explain, analyze, etc. that links the evidence to the main idea (topic sentence).
  4. Conclude your paragraph with a linking sentence that would segue into another paragraph or you may include a summarizing sentence.

Benjamin L. Stewart

Explorer

Writing II Module 11

Monday

Instruction

Action Steps - Peer Feedback

Tuesday

Instruction

Action Steps - Peer Feedback

Wednesday

Instruction

Student Argumentative Topic Assignments

Action Steps

Thursday

Instruction

Action Steps

Friday

Instruction

Action Steps

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subject	Writing II