Pros and Cons Lisa Johnson Lincoln County Middle School Language Arts Watch The Video Utopia Dystopia Quick write your first thoughts Discuss Making a Claim In this unit we will make a claim on whether or not society would benefit from a utopian society We will back our claim up w ID: 436657
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Slide1
Utopia/DystopiaPros and Cons
Lisa Johnson
Lincoln County Middle School
Language ArtsSlide2
Watch The Video
Utopia / Dystopia
Quick write your first thoughts.
Discuss.Slide3
Making a Claim
In this unit we will make a claim on whether or not society would benefit from a utopian society. We will back our claim up with valid reasoning and relevant evidence.
Claim: An
argument that people can either agree or disagree with.Slide4
What is your response to this statement?
“Just as a day is a balance of dark and light, so is life
.”
Write.
Discuss. Slide5
What might our initial working claims look like?
Because of the struggles that humans face, a utopian society would be better.
Even though humans face struggles that can be very tragic, a utopian society would not be better.Slide6
Watch the video and complete It Says/I Say chart
In your notebook, create a t-chart. On the left side write “It Says” and on the right side write “I Say.”
Utopia - The Perfect World
As you watch the video, record what it says about utopian societies on the “It Says” column of your chart.
Discuss.Slide7
“I Say!”Now take some time to record your thoughts about the video in the “I Say” column.
Discuss.Slide8
Using the information you acquired watching the video, write a paragraph explaining your thoughts and feelings about the possibility of living in a utopian society. Use
sentence
starters
like the ones below. Be sure to go beyond just reporting what was said. COMMENT about each fact or idea that you mention.
“The video
[insert the title] explains
…”
“ According to …”
“Supporting my example, …”
“Just as the commentator in the video explains…….”
“Although the video says …”
“While the video explains …”Slide9
Sample Student Response
According to the video, “Utopia, A Perfect World,” humans crave a society free from depression, war and hunger. I wonder if that would even be possible, considering how selfish and unkind we are as a human race. Could we ever overcome our self-centered human traits in order to create such a society?Slide10
Peer Review
Review your partner’s new paragraph(s). Did he/she use sentence starters that show where the evidence came from? Did he/she make a comment about the
evidence?
“The video explains……..” “ Although the video says…….”
As the video states……..” “According to……….”
1. Underline the starters you find.
2. Make a * anywhere you see an opportunity for your partner to add one of these phrases.
3. Circle the comments your partner wrote about the evidence (the facts).
4. Draw an arrow to show where your partner COULD make comments about the facts.
5. Switch papers and talk about your suggestions
.Slide11
ResearchRead the Article
Experiments with Utopia
available at
www.ushistory.org
.
Looking at the title, what do you think the main idea of the article will be?
Discuss.
First reading: Highlight important terms and
definitions
.
(
This
will help you later when we quote the text
.)Slide12
Second Reading
Divide into groups:
RE-READ
Experiments with Utopia
by
www.ushistory.org.
For the
first reading you highlighted important terms and definitions:
For the second reading:
On
Sticky notes, capture the most important
information
that stands out to you as a group. Slide13
Add To Your Writing
Using the evidence from the article
Experiments with Utopia,
add to
the
writing that you have already done. Has the article changed your opinion in any way? What evidence
might
you add from the article that can back up your
working
claim?
Re-read
what you have written so far.
Then write what you are now thinking. These questions may help:
Is a utopian society a good idea? Would it help us solve our many social issues? Is it even important to worry about solving these problems?
Explain your thinking.Slide14
What’s your answer to the problem? What should we do HERE? NOW? Bring it
home.
Let’s brainstorm claims about this issue.
Good claims
Show the writer’s
position
on the issue
We should or we should not …
It would be better to ….
Try to narrow the topic
.
You
could focus on human suffering, depression or universal health
care, for example.Slide15
Possible Claims
The world would be a better place if we lived in utopian societies.
Universal health care would solve the problem of our government having to pay for the uninsured.
A utopian society would
end the
violence that has overtaken our world.
A utopian society would restrict human feelings and make it impossible for us to have fulfilling lives.Slide16
Brainstorm and “Vet” Our Claims
Let’s create a class list of claims!
Does the writer take a position on the issue, pro or con?
Does the writer narrow the topic? How?
Can we see what direction the writer plans to go? How
?
Is the claim debatable, defensible, and compelling? In other words, is there evidence that could be used to support it AND would readers care about this angle on
te
topic?
Choose one that interests you. Slide17
Here’s What I am Thinking
Write your claim at the end of your notebook entry and then write a paragraph or more explaining what needs to happen.Slide18
More ResearchRead the article
From Utopia to Dystopia: Technology, Society and What We Can Do About It,
by
Alijandro
Garcia De L Garza.
Using the “Connecting Evidence to a Claim: Argument Planner,” write down any information about the article that stands out to you. This evidence can be used as you continue to build your claim.Slide19
Completing a Draft from Your Notebook Entries Using a Kernel Essay Structure (
Bernabei
)
Overview
of the
problem (
Would society
benefit from a utopian
society?)
Some
people think
…….(the opposition)
But
h
ere’s
what I’m thinking
…….(your claim and evidence)
In
the end, I say
……….(conclusion—what you want your audience to do or believe)
Each of these sections
will have 1 or more paragraphs.Slide20
The “Big” Section of Your Essay is this one:
But Here’s What I’m Thinking…
That’s where you will
cite
e
vidence and explain how it supports your claim.
Review
the chart, notes, and article for any
support
that will help you convince your readers.
Select
the most
compelling
and
relevant
pieces of evidence and try to apply them to your claim.
Use
a starter to introduce each piece of evidence (fact). Explain how and why it helps you prove your claim.Slide21
Completing the Draft: Write a conclusion
(IN THE END, I SAY)
Leave us with something to think about.
You might ask a rhetorical question or leave us with a thought-provoking quote.
Make clear what you want us to do or believe about utopian societies. Slide22
Revision: Kicking out the scaffolding
Overview
of the
problem
Some
people think
…….
But
h
ere’s
what I’m
thinking…
In
the end, I
say…
Change these words
to ones of your own!
They were just here
to help you organize.
Consider removing the “I” and just SAY it!