EDPG #4- Content Knowledge

The competent, caring, professional educator understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry,
and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make
the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Rationale Statement for EDPG #4
For EDPG #4 I have included a lesson plan that I created during my field experience for a 10th
grade English class in preparation for writing an argumentative essay. The lesson plan outlines
specific steps in how to create a thesis statement and uses a modeling approach to instruct the
proper structure of a thesis statement. As an English/Language Arts educator, it is important that
I understand and utilize a structured approach to writing and model examples for students to
learn from. By taking a scaffolding approach, students will learn one skill before moving to the
next, and will be successful in applying their knowledge.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Education Department
Lesson/Activity Plan Template
Teacher Candidate: Angie Hudgens
Name of Lesson: Crafting a thesis statement for an argumentative essay.
Subject

English

Grade 10

Rationale for Lesson: To instruct students on how to write an appropriate thesis statement using
research and opinion for an argumentative essay.
Learning Outcomes: Students will craft a thesis statement that is one declarative sentence
incorporating their main idea for the argumentative essay.
Assessment of Student Outcomes: Students will create thesis statements based off of provided
photos. These statements will be reviewed for appropriate structure.
Related Foundations/Indiana Academic Standard:
9-10.W.1

Write routinely over a variety of time frames for a range of tasks, purposes,
and audiences; apply reading standards to support analysis, reflection, and
research by drawing evidence from literature and nonfiction texts.

9-10.W.3.1 Write arguments in a variety of forms that

Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing
claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among
claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while
pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the
audiences knowledge level and concerns.
Use effective transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion,
and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and
evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
Establish and maintain a consistent style and tone appropriate to purpose and
audience.

 Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the
argument presented.
9-10.W.4

Apply the writing process to

Plan and develop; draft; revise using appropriate reference materials;
rewrite; try a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant
for a specific purpose and audience; and edit to produce and strengthen
writing that is clear and coherent.
Use technology to generate, produce, publish, and update individual or
shared writing products, taking advantage of technologys capacity to link to
other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically (e.g.,
use of publishing programs, integration of multimedia).

Materials Needed: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, internet connection, photo prompts,
presentation questions for students to answer, photograph prompt worksheet, thesis statement
video
Lesson/Activity Presentation:
Anticipatory Set: This week you are going to write an argumentative essay about using
animals in biomedical research. Your information will come from the two informative articles
read in class I Acknowledge Mine by Jane Goodall, and Use of Animals in Biomedical
Research by the American Medical Association. Today we will focus on how to write a clear
and concise thesis statement to guide your writing.
Teaching Procedures: Powerpoint presentation
Argumentative essay outline
introductory paragraph
topic sentence or question
state the two sides to the argument
state your opinion
incorporation your thesis statement
Cant move on to body of paper until thesis statement is solid
thesis statement example
Why Create a Thesis Statement?
a thesis statement guides your paper
narrows your topic
allows you to express your opinion about the topic
what is it NOT

a weak argument for one side of the issue

must be clear and concise, and backed by research
Guides your research into the topic
What is a thesis statement? (video)
summarizes your position
provides a roadmap for readers
tells your readers what the paper is about
organizes your research
Characteristics of a thesis statement
short, clear, and concise sentence (I feel, I believe- NO)
directs the reader's attention to your opinion
why should I care?
should be debatable (can have two sides and differing opinions
one main idea with evidence to support opinion
declarative statement with no qualifiers: might, maybe, perhaps NO
How to write a good thesis statement (formula handout)
make the topic specific
continue with a debatable phrase
explain the significance to the audience (research points to support
opinion)
Examples of good thesis statements
People should study a foreign language because language learning
strengthens the memory, enlarges the vocabulary, and builds an
appreciation for foreign cultures.
What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more
than normal, long-term cycles of climate change.
Bad thesis statements
will sound weak, wishy-washy
will state your person opinion (I believe, I feel)
will not state a narrowed, clear point of view
Drug use is detrimental to society.
too broad of a topic
is not concise (what type of drugs? illegal? prescription?)
how is it detrimental?
Photograph prompt
choose a photograph and craft a thesis statement
any opinion or angle you wish to use

Guided & independent practice:

Photograph prompt thesis statement practice
students will create a thesis statement based on the prompt

 can take any position

Closure:
Argumentative thesis statement
begin crafting your thesis statement in class today
will be checked in class
Differentiated instruction: Visual learners benefit from the presentation on the screen as well
as the photo prompt for practicing how to write a thesis statement.
Multicultural emphasis: n/a
Technology: PowerPoint, Word, photos from internet
Reflection on Lesson:
By having the students write out my bullet points from the presentation on their handouts, it
helped them remember each step when creating a thesis statement. During the photo prompt
portion, many did not have to be prompted on the proper structure for the thesis statement.
There were a few students that did not pay attention to the presentation and did not do the
handout as we went along. It may have been that they were either not interested in learning, or
that my presentation was too boring for them. In the future, Id like to add a few videos that
would be fun additions to the process.